Letitia Baldrige is most famous for her role as social secretary in the Kennedy White House. However, the most interesting stories of her memoir come from earlier years, when she worked in the American embassies of Paris and Rome. The narrator, Anna Fields, has a clear alto voice and conveys the excitement of a young woman who finds herself in the diplomatic and social center of Europe just after WWII. Sometimes Fields emphasizes words or phrases too much, but aside from this occasional irritation, she captures the talent and energy that has carried Letitia Baldrige through the many remarkable events of her life.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2002
Duration: 15 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
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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