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WHITE CHRYSANTHEMUM

Narrator Greta Jung tells the heartbreaking story of two sisters who were parted by history and their intervening years of pain in Japanese-occupied Korea. Hana and Emi are fisherwomen, known as HAENYEO. As the two sisters are separated by conflict, oppression, and time, Jung's soft voice brings across the grief of irredeemable tragedy. Soldiers are an ever-present danger, and one day Hana is forced to make the ultimate sacrifice. She becomes a sex slave, a "comfort woman," to the Japanese army for years. The chapters journey forward and backward in time, taking listeners from the harsh realities of Korea in the mid 1940s to Emi's guilt as an old woman who is searching for her older sister. Jung captures the love and loss in her lyrical delivery.

Pub Date: Jan. 30, 2018

Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins

DD ISBN: 9780525497660

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026

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    'TIL THE WELL RUNS DRY

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    An astonishingly unique historical novel, which begins in Trinidad in the 1940s, this is an example of the best that an audiobook can offer. The two narrators, Ron Butler and Bahni Turpin, are superb choices who move the listener smoothly between the two main characters. Farook and Marcia Garcia are star-crossed lovers who don’t have fate on their side. Turpin evokes the rhythms of English as spoken in Trinidad, lyrical, and rhythmic. Through her confident narrative style, Marica Garcia comes across as a strong, beleaguered young woman. Her trials evoke empathy in the listener. Butler establishes the contorted choices that face Farook as an Indian man who is prevented by racism from marrying his true love. This sprawling tale spans Trinidad and the United States, from the 1940s-1960s.

    Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2015

    Duration: 13 hrs

    Publisher: Tantor Media

    Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026

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      1356

      In this stand-alone novel set during the Hundred Years' War, Thomas of Hookton, hero of Cornwell's Grail Quest trilogy, returns with his band of mercenaries in pursuit of the sword of Saint Peter—a holy relic said to bestow great power. Naturally, others are also in pursuit and are determined to win the sword at any cost. Jack Hawkins delivers a stunning performance of this dramatic novel of political intrigue and military battle. Throughout, he effortlessly distinguishes characters from all over Western Europe through various accents. Hawkins's thoughtful reading reveals the emotions of the characters, enhancing their portrayals. His performance is full of energy during Cornwell's signature battle scenes, offering the listener a visceral experience of war.

      Pub Date: Jan. 8, 2013

      Duration: 12 hrs

      DD ISBN: 9780062209344

      Publisher: Harper Audio

      Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026

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