Even if you think you know Dame Margaret (Maggie) Smith through her redoubtable performance as the Countess of Grantham in “Downton Abbey,” you will find much to savor in Sian Thomas’s narration of English theater critic Michael Coveney’s informative and enjoyable biography. The book traces Smith’s life and career from her childhood flair for comedy (much to her mother’s disapproval) to her later theater and film fame, and includes many tales of her personal and working relationships with other stars. The stories are fun, although the wealth of names is occasionally daunting. But Thomas’s well-paced performance and crisp, finely tuned voice keep one interested.
Pub Date: Dec. 29, 2015
Duration: 14 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781427271532
Publisher: Macmillan 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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