Narrator George Guidall turns in a fabulous performance, bringing emotional depth and technical excellence to this story. Abraham Lincoln is now a cultural as well as political icon, as evidenced by films, TV programs, and this audiobook, which reimagines Lincoln’s life from 1832 to 1840. The story is told from the point of view of Lincoln’s fictional best friend, Cate Weatherby, who sees an ambitious, thoughtful, possibly depressed young man begin to form into what will later become a towering intellect and compassionate national leader. Guidall knows just where to pause and vary his voice to capture the moment and give us something to think about. He also seems to be invested in the book, bringing a fictional Lincoln vividly to life.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2016
Duration: 14 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781490602400
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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