Katharine Norbury meanders like a quiet stream through the British countryside, interspersing sad memories with quiet walks from the ocean to the river mouth. Norbury's lovely British accent and soft tones capture the low-key wandering and introspection at the center of this memoir. After a miscarriage, Norbury walks to take her mind off her sorrow, sometimes taking along her daughter, Evie. Her grief and depression are palpable in her voice. She recounts the death of her father, her mother's illness, and her fruitless efforts to meet her birth parents after treatment for breast cancer. But THE FISH LADDER isn't all dark. Norbury expresses wonder at magical stories of queens, salmon, and the success of a fish ladder in Pitlochry. Her sudden burst of energy to escape the ferocious biting midges in Scotland is almost light.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2016
Duration: 7 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: Bolinda Audio
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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