Set during the Civil War, this harrowing coming-of-age story finds 14-year-old Robey Child on a journey to find his father, a soldier, on the fields of Gettysburg. Accompanied by an almost mystical black horse that he acquires shortly after setting out, he encounters unrelenting cruelty, deceit, and carnage along the way. This journey forces him to grow up too soon and alters his understanding of himself and the world. Ed Sala takes a respectful, matter-of-fact approach that allows listeners to endure the grim unfolding of the narrative. His gravelly voice, which is low and calm, provides a perfect counterpoint to the violence and chaos. While not for the squeamish, this powerful audiobook will resonate with listeners long after the story ends.
Pub Date: 2007
Duration: 7 hrs, 15 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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