Listeners follow the true stories of Zhuang Liehong and his wife, Little Yan, Chinese immigrants who sought asylum in the U.S. following Zhuang's leadership of pro-democracy protests in his Southern Chinese village of Wukan. Narrator Angela Lin's clear, feminine delivery is well paced and comfortable as she describes the political situation that led to the couple's departure from China as well as their struggles to adapt and survive in Flushing, New York. Lin's pronunciation of the Chinese words that are incorporated into the beginnings of each chapter and intermittently throughout the text sounds authentic. Her voicing of male characters tends to sound a bit forced, while the female characters generally sound more realistic.
Pub Date: March 20, 2018
Duration: 12 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780525526506
Publisher: Random House 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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