For those who love historical fiction, this title will be a rare find. The facts of the Japanese internment camps run during WWII by the Empire become personal through Eng’s heroine, who wanders the Cameron Highlands in 1951. As her wish to create a garden in memory of her dead sister leads her to a Japanese gardener, the listener learns the story of her own survival. Anna Bentinck gives voice to the wounded female protagonist in a precise and measured cadence. Her rendering of Japanese accents, however, leaves much to be desired. The dialogue of the male Asian characters is affected and lands heavy on the ear. Her pitch, tone, and pace reflect the somber themes of the novel itself. For those looking for a lively read, this may not be the title as the unfolding mysteries occur at a measured pace and in subdued voice.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2013
Duration: 15 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781470338060
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This audiobook is initially daunting. Sixteen hours long and constructed of subtle—at times, even confusing—shifts in point of view, it may feel overwhelming in the first hour. But sticking with George Newbern’s narration and Gilbert’s prose yields great rewards. Newbern’s performance is funny, thoughtful, heartrending, and utterly engrossing. When the famous, now aging, author A.N. Dyer calls his distant sons to his side, Newbern is provided ample characters to animate, and he does so with perfect pacing and what seems like an innate understanding of the novel. He creates a rhythm that makes the changing perspectives easy to follow and Gilbert’s details accessible. & SONS is a perfect example of how a skilled narrator can make a good book even better.
Pub Date: July 23, 2013
Duration: 16 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780385359566
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Following multiple lives over six decades, this is a story of cultural shifts, the effects of racial prejudice, and family secrets. Joy Osmanski's narration is engaged and easy to listen to. There are times when her narration is uneven and character accents are inconsistent, but she moves the story along at an excellent pace. Will Damron capably narrates a few descriptive paragraphs at the beginning to set the scene. During the '50s, as bombs are explode in Nevada's deserts to entertain Las Vegas tourists, four sets of characters experience the destruction caused by prejudice and social upheaval in their lives. The author skillfully integrates the lives of vivid and realistic characters, bringing them to a satisfying and surprising denouement in the final chapters.
Pub Date: May 2, 2017
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781508234715
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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