From the opening notes of a jazz tune, the listener is transported to 1920s New York City. Narrator Tavia Gilbert gives unique voices to a myriad of characters, further drawing the listener into the story of young artist Jenny Bell and her experiences at Louis Comfort Tiffany's esteemed artists' workshop, Laurelton Hall. With constant vigilance to keep her dark past a secret, Jenny strives to start a new life as an artist capturing light. Gilbert showcases her excellent narrative skills through the variety of the characters' backgrounds. There are a couple of missed opportunities to sing songs instead of reciting the words, and Gilbert's narration of Jenny often sounds overexcited. But neither of these substantially distract from the story. A worthy listen.
Pub Date: Aug. 7, 2018
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781508261070
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ayla, one of the "others," is adopted by a clan of Neanderthal cave people. She struggles to conform to their ways, but her advanced human traits overwhelm and threaten their primitive culture in this initial installment of an immensely popular series. Although the story might benefit from abridgment, Rowena Cooper easily carries out the formidable task of enlivening the mostly silent and stereotypical characters with consistent, diverse personalities and human dimension. Through skillful phrasing and inflection, she maintains the reader's interest and suspense, especially with Ayla and her plight, throughout this rambling and imaginative story.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This lyrical, sensual novel of woman's lot in Manchu, China, is as well researched as it is well written. Authentic in tone, it's nonetheless written for Westerners by a Western expert on China. Moreover, Susan Clark performs the demanding text superbly, with only occasional signs of fatigue. For the most part she not only sustains the quaint diction and Asian atmosphere, but also, creates whole worlds with her voice. She acts the book, rather than reads it, and, in so doing, turns a pretty trifle into a stupendous beauty.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Literature
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
