Twenty-first-century listeners may find themselves discomfited by the jaunty tone of Kevin Foley’s perfectly faithful reading of Leckie’s account of Guadalcanal—one of the seminal battles in the Pacific war. A post-Vietnam audience is likely to be dismayed by the portrait of war as glorious and heroic, with Marines consistently greeting the prospect of imminent death with gallows humor and steely determination. We are less able to accept an account of war that gives little credence to the idea that men were terrified or reluctant or doubtful. That hardly renders the account of Leckie—who was one of those Marines—as without merit. Foley creates a pantheon of memorable characters on both sides, and even if we reject much of the romanticism in the performance, the drama and the stakes remain potent.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2011
Duration: 13 hrs
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Reader Michael Prichard delivers a convincing rendition of Archie Goodwin, the burly right hand of the portly Nero Wolfe, world-renowned gourmand and detective. Prichard preserves the 1970s setting and 1950s origins of the story, bringing listeners a well-paced narration of murder and politics--a combination of elements that usually guarantees an exciting listen. This audio entertainment is as well formed and fragrant as one of Wolfe's hothouse orchids (the stout sleuth cultivates them by the hundreds in his town house greenhouse) as Goodwin walks us through an explosive murder investigation and political wheeling and dealing in a tough yet intelligent read.
Pub Date: Jan. 15, 2006
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Partners
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This collection of eight short stories contains gentle tales of fantasy and magic--not the magic of wizards and wands, but of wishing mats and enormous cats and gifts brought by the winds. In a lovely English accent, Lizza Aiken quietly narrates these stories in which magic and good fortune often come to those who deserve it. Although her pitch changes little, she registers a range of emotions--from the sadness of a girl whose necklace of raindrops has been stolen to the joy of a child who moves from a hard life and a ramshackle trailer to a happy home amid the clouds. A NECKLACE OF RAINDROPS would make a soothing choice for a family car trip after a long day.
Ages 6+Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2016
Duration: 1 hr, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781101915721
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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