In 1984, at the age of 22, Ronald Cotton was convicted of raping Jennifer Thompson and imprisoned for 11 years. After he was exonerated, he forgave his accuser, and together they tell their story in this work. Narrator Karen White’s tense delivery suggests Jennifer’s fear during the rape and the long-term trauma she suffered afterwards. White also mirrors Thompson's regrets and her resolve that Cotton receive restitution. In contrast, Richard Allen’s characterization of Cotton suggests his naïveté as a young black man accused of rape. Allen reflects Cotton's initial compliance with the police, his anger at the horrors of prison, his growing faith over the years, and his gratitude for those who helped him achieve his release. Both narrators successfully portray the development of the friendship between Cotton and Thompson-Cannino.
Pub Date: March 17, 2009
Duration: 8 hrs
Publisher: Tantor Media
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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