An opera star becomes the unlikely rescuer of Clara, a girl left penniless and on the brink of madness after the sudden death of her guardian. Clara haunts her benefactor's elaborate house in Gramercy Park and is discovered by prospective tenant Mario Alfieri, a tenor whose heart turns out to be as golden as his voice. He is shocked by Clara's loneliness and informs her she deserves a better life. Snobbish New York society is shocked by this turn of events, and an enthralling tale ensues, told skillfully by Alyssa Bresnahan. She offers subtle changes in tone and accent and delicately heartbreaking cracks in poor Clara's voice. This is truly a worthwhile listen.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2002
Duration: 15 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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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