In 1864, after her father is arrested by Union militia troops, 18-year-old Adair Colley is forced to trek North to safety with her two younger sisters. While on the road, she is falsely accused of being a collaborator and sent to prison. Poet and memoirist Paulette Jiles crafts a harrowing epic that spotlights the disastrous effects of war upon the innocent. Chapters begin with excerpts from letters and Civil War documents, offering a credible, unsentimental look into an area we know little about--the wartime treatment of women. Karen White's reading is intelligent and precise. She does little or no character interpretation, however, leaving the narration lackluster when it could be exciting, dispassionate when it should be engaging. Nevertheless, exceptional writing and absorbing subject matter make for fascinating listening.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2003
Duration: 14 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Harper 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
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