Alexandra Potocka captivatingly delivers the true story of Anglo-Americans Jennifer and John Dobbs after they were separated from their parents in China during WWII. Listeners meet their family as they enjoy a privileged lifestyle, which includes fine Western clothing, lavish vacations, and the services of maids. Potocka captures 8-year-old Jennifer's viewpoint as she and her brother, John, attend school, learn Chinese, and play outside, always protected by servants. Well-rendered sights, smells, and myriad accents give this audiobook the feel of a travelogue. Then the parents go missing on a shopping trip to Hong Kong, and the children must make a harrowing journey to the U.S., which involves passing through many countries. This story allows listeners to view war from a child's perspective.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2024
Duration: 8 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Peach Pit Productions
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
James Michener tells the real stories behind the man and his books. The recording is read with skill and consistency although the reader does little to enhance the robust, larger-than-life incidents related in the book. Due to the first-person narrative format, there is no opportunity for the narrator to change his voice. This makes some chapters monotonous as they go on and on in the typical Michener style. The listener may also become confused because the stories are not told chronologically. This is not a great choice for the audio format, but Michener fans may stick with it to the end.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In a quest for a sense of inner contentment and self-worth, Gloria Steinem brings the reader on a journey of investigation and discovery. Steinem reads the text herself in a straightforward and friendly, but not intimate, presentation which is so easy to listen to it invites repetition--thus ensuring the painless relearning of the lessons of the book. It's difficult to tell from the reading that this audiobook is abridged; each section can stand alone. Nonetheless, the listener wished the book were unabridged. Steinem left me wanting to learn more.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Dove Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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