Kathleen
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The Poisonwood Bible
- By: Barbara Kingsolver
- Narrated by: Dean Robertson
- Length: 15 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 14,712
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 12,316
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 12,338
The Poisonwood Bible is a story told by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a fierce, evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959. They carry with them everything they believe they will need from home, but soon find that all of it - from garden seeds to Scripture - is calamitously transformed on African soil. What follows is a suspenseful epic of one family’s tragic undoing and remarkable reconstruction over the course of three decades in postcolonial Africa.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Listen to the sample first!
- By Cheryl D on 07-30-08
- The Poisonwood Bible
- By: Barbara Kingsolver
- Narrated by: Dean Robertson
A wonderfully entertaining saga
Reviewed: 07-30-09
Barbara Kingsolver spins a fascinating tale of family life in the Congo as the country spirals into chaos. The novel has a wonderful sense of place - we can almost smell the jungle - and we come to know each character intimately. A gripping story, told with empathy and humor.
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2 people found this helpful
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The Northern Clemency
- By: Philip Hensher
- Narrated by: Carole Boyd
- Length: 25 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 42
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 13
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Story4 out of 5 stars 14
Beginning in 1974 and ending with the fading of Thatcher's government in 1996, The Northern Clemency is Philip Hensher's epic portrait of an entire era, a novel concerned with the lives of ordinary people and history on the move. Set in Sheffield, it charts the relationship between two families: Malcolm and Katherine Glover and their three children; and their neighbours the Sellers family, newly arrived from London so that Bernie can pursue his job with the Electricity Board.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Boring people behaving badly
- By Kathleen on 06-25-09
- The Northern Clemency
- By: Philip Hensher
- Narrated by: Carole Boyd
Boring people behaving badly
Reviewed: 06-25-09
I am an optimist by nature, so I stuck with this book to the end, always hoping it would get more interesting. It never did. The saga eventually petered to an unsatisfying conclusion, and I felt I had wasted 25 hours of my time listening to it. The narrator does a nice job of differentiating the different characters and accents, but her talents are wasted here.
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3 people found this helpful
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Restless
- By: William Boyd
- Narrated by: Rosamund Pike
- Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,714
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 830
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 825
"I am Eva Delectorskaya," Sally Gilmartin announces, and so on a warm summer afternoon in 1976 her daughter, Ruth, learns that everything she ever knew about her mother was a carefully constructed lie. Sally Gilmartin is a respectable English widow living in picturesque Cotswold village; Eva Delectorskaya was a rigorously trained World War II spy, a woman who carried fake passports and retreated to secret safe houses, a woman taught to lie and deceive, and above all, to never trust anyone.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Favorite Book of 2007
- By Susianna on 12-27-07
- Restless
- By: William Boyd
- Narrated by: Rosamund Pike
Intriguing
Reviewed: 04-20-09
Absolutely wonderful narration, elegant writing and a thoroughly enjoyable book. I agree with the readers who commented that the second story is a little weak, but the main story pulls you along with irresistible force. More books by this author please!
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5 people found this helpful
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The Devil in the White City
- Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
- By: Erik Larson
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 14 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 30,930
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 25,558
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 25,547
Two men, each handsome and unusually adept at his chosen work, embodied an element of the great dynamic that characterized America’s rush toward the twentieth century. The architect was Daniel Hudson Burnham, the fair’s brilliant director of works and the builder of many of the country’s most important structures, including the Flatiron Building in New York and Union Station in Washington, D.C. The murderer was Henry H. Holmes, a young doctor who, in a malign parody of the White City, built his “World’s Fair Hotel” just west of the fairgrounds.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A Rich Read!
- By D on 09-18-03
- The Devil in the White City
- Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America
- By: Erik Larson
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
An excellent read
Reviewed: 02-16-09
The author skilfully weaves together two amazing stories. I was completely unaware of the Chicago Worlds Fair, but after reading the book I was so intrigued I had to google it for some pictures (the only downside of audible books: mental images only). The depravity of the "devil" is truly mind-boggling, and well documented by the author. Narrator Scott Brick does a sterling job, as always.
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Change of Heart
- By: Jodi Picoult
- Narrated by: Nicole Poole, Stafford Clark-Price, Jim Frangione, and others
- Length: 15 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,503
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 700
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Story4 out of 5 stars 696
Known for tackling hot-button issues in her timely fiction, Jodi Picoult has sold millions of books. Change of Heart explores capital punishment and organized religion through the tale of death row inmate Shay Bourne. Bourne's last request is to donate his heart to his victim's ailing sister. The situation gets more complicated when Bourne begins performing miracles in full view of witnesses - including his Catholic spiritual advisor.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing
- By Sue on 03-07-08
- Change of Heart
- By: Jodi Picoult
- Narrated by: Nicole Poole, Stafford Clark-Price, Jim Frangione, Danielle Ferland, Jennifer Ikeda
Not a page-turner
Reviewed: 04-29-08
I am a huge fan of Jodi Piccoult, but I agree with a couple of the other reviewers that this was way too reminiscent of The Green Mile. Jodi is usually wonderful in constructing well-rounded characters and thought-provoking moral dilemmas, and though the characters were fully formed and likeable (especially Maggie), I failed to feel involved with the central moral issues. For me, there was a great deal too much religious philosophy and biblical discussion, which seemed to slow the whole drama down to a snail's pace. However, the story was well read by a good cast of characters, so it was modestly entertaining.
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4 people found this helpful
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Seascape with Body
- By: Raymond Flynn
- Narrated by: Steve Hodson
- Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 12
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 3
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 3
Years after Alice Draper's death her murderer remains unpunished, and six of her lovers still have their lives blighted by suspicion. Exiled to the seaside town of Eddathorpe, DI Robert Graham expects to have lots of time to brood about his failed marriage and his formerly promising career. Instead, he finds himself drawn into the Draper case, and unwittingly takes the lid off of a surprising variety of scandals, some of which involve senior policemen.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Sexist
- By Rhonda on 04-16-07
- Seascape with Body
- By: Raymond Flynn
- Narrated by: Steve Hodson
A seaside soap opera
Reviewed: 03-08-08
A likeable main character and his dog, but the story dragged slowly to its unsurprising conclusion with too many thinly drawn characters and little excitement along the way.
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1 person found this helpful
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Water for Elephants
- By: Sara Gruen
- Narrated by: David LeDoux, John Randolph Jones
- Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 23,003
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 14,542
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 14,620
Why we think it’s a great listen: Some books are meant to be read; others are meant to be heard – Water for Elephants falls into the second group, and is one of the best examples we have of how a powerful performance enhances a great story. Nonagenarian Jacob Jankowski reflects back on his wild and wondrous days with a circus. It's the Depression Era and Jacob, finding himself parentless and penniless, joins the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Rosie the bull elephant?
- By Randall on 07-22-07
- Water for Elephants
- By: Sara Gruen
- Narrated by: David LeDoux, John Randolph Jones
Great storytelling
Reviewed: 12-16-07
This book was highly recommended to me by a friend, and I am equally enthusiastic. The narrators are excellent, and add greatly to the enjoyment of the book. I was sorry to reach the end of the book, but the conclusion was satisfying - if implausible. Suspend your disbelief and let yourself be carried away by the magic of the circus.
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Vanishing Acts
- By: Jodi Picoult
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Julia Gibson, Jim Jenner, and others
- Length: 16 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,119
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 619
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Story4 out of 5 stars 617
Jodi Picoult, the New York Times best-selling author of Second Glance and My Sister's Keeper, is a master at crafting powerful stories that are filled with suspense. In Vanishing Acts this acclaimed author delivers the gripping tale of a woman caught between her forgotten past and her uncertain future.
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5 out of 5 stars
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One of the Best!
- By Cindy Carson on 03-20-05
- Vanishing Acts
- By: Jodi Picoult
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Julia Gibson, Jim Jenner, Robert Ramirez, Sharon Washington
A dreary tale
Reviewed: 11-02-07
I am a big fan of Jodi Piccoult, and in previous books (My Sister's Keeper, Mercy) she has tugged my heartstrings, made me shed a tear or two and explored moral dilemmas - all while crafting a taut narrative with believable, likeable characters. Vanishing Acts disappointed on all fronts. The main characters were whiny and disfunctional and the whole thing dragged on for way too long.
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6 people found this helpful
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Bliss
- By: O.Z. Livaneli
- Narrated by: Anna Fields
- Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 145
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 60
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Story4 out of 5 stars 59
In rural Turkey, Meryem is raped by her uncle. Outcast for shaming her family, she is expected to kill herself. Her commando cousin instead tells her he will take her to Istanbul. By chance, they meet Irfan, a celebrity professor who has left his wife, and the three embark on a journey that shows what unexpected things can happen in the space between wounded people.
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4 out of 5 stars
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A fascinating journey
- By Kathleen on 06-11-07
- Bliss
- By: O.Z. Livaneli
- Narrated by: Anna Fields
A fascinating journey
Reviewed: 06-11-07
The author guides his characters on a journey of self-discovery, and along the way we gain insight into the traditions, contrasts and conflicts of modern Turkey. Anna Field gives another bravura performance, adding immensely to the listener's enjoyment. The translation was a little weak on the nautical terms, but apart from that minor quibble the book was very enjoyable and added to my understanding of the region.
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7 people found this helpful
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The Bookwoman's Last Fling
- A Cliff Janeway Novel
- By: John Dunning
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 280
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 157
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Story4 out of 5 stars 153
Tempted out of his bookstore into the world of horseracing, Janeway accepts an invitation from wealthy horse trainer H.R. Geiger to travel to Idaho and look at some rare first-edition books. The books are stunning, flawless children's classics that render the usually eloquent Janeway speechless.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Wish I could enter "unrated"
- By karen on 09-14-13
- The Bookwoman's Last Fling
- A Cliff Janeway Novel
- By: John Dunning
- Narrated by: George Guidall
A total disappointment
Reviewed: 05-23-07
I listened to the entire book, hoping to find some redeeming spark, but even the ending was weak and contrived. The characters were one-dimensional, the dialog was completely unbelievable, the plot implausible and the whole thing was utterly pointless. One of the worst books I have ever read. Sorry to be so negative, but my rating would be less than 1 star.
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5 people found this helpful