Formerly Sister Donata of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, Johnson tells her provocative, emotionally charged story about how a Texas teen became a religious sister. She recounts her struggles with sexuality, the order’s political pettiness, and her complicated relationship with Mother Teresa, who habitually referred to herself in the third person. As narrator, Johnson captures the spirit of intense devotion that drove her to a life of selfless love and service to the poor and delivers age-appropriate voices that reflect the 27 years covered in her story. Particularly strong are her accounts of the harsh realities of “The Rule” the sisters lived by, which demanded that they live like the poor they served. Personal names and touching between members weren’t allowed while self-flagellation and severe forms of physical penance were encouraged.
Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2011
Duration: 20 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780307876140
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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