In Tony Earley's earlier novel, JIM THE BOY, Jim Glass is 10 years old in Aliceville, North Carolina, during the Depression. In this novel, the world teeters on the brink of WWII, and Jim, a senior in high school, is in the throes of his first love. Alas, the object of Jim's affections, Chrissie, belongs to someone else. Earley offers a simple tale filled with pre-WWII optimism and sage counsel: "Being in love is like getting run over. Sometimes it kills you, and sometimes it don't." Narrator Kirby Heyborne manages to keep things nostalgic rather than ironic, bittersweet rather than sentimental. Heyborne's youthful voice convinces as Jim learns difficult lessons. Listeners of all ages will enjoy a brief respite with decent folks in a sweeter, gentler time.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2008
Duration: 7 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
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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