In a masterful performance, Deepti Gupta delivers this story of twin sisters who are torn apart by family mores in 1950s Bombay. She brings the ever-rising stakes for Jaya and Kamlesh to the listener in living color. Her nuanced performance captures each character, particularly determined and passionate Jaya. Gupta's subtle shifts in tone and accent also enhance the authenticity of the narrative. Her ability to convey emotional depth and cultural complexities draws listeners into the vivid world of postcolonial India. Listeners will feel intimately connected to the pain Kamlesh faces as she is pulled between pleasing her father and following her sister. Further, Jaya's struggles for independence from their conservative father are likely to garner their support. Overall, Gupta's eloquent delivery creates an unforgettable audio experience.
Pub Date: May 7, 2024
Duration: 15 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781666660791
Publisher: Dreamscape
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
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