Author: Madeleine L’Engle
Reader: Maggi-Meg Reed
Extras: Introduction and interview with author’s granddaughter, Lena Roy
Short Review: This sweet story of romance and self-discovery is lovely. We join twenty-year-old Elizabeth’s for week of working in a summer theater in 1946. Beautifully read – a nice story for a dreamy afternoon.
The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place
Available from Audible.com
Author: E.L. Konigsburg
Reader: Molly Ringwald
Short Review: Solid story and well read. Twelve year old Margaret Rose’s summer turns into an exploration of what is important in life – and what you are willing to do to defend uniqueness, beauty and love.
The Chosen One from Audible.com The Chosen One from Amazon.com Author: Carol Lynch Williams Reader: Jenna Lamia Short Review: A good book about a controversial subject, improved by an excellent reading by Jenna Lamia. Long Review: Jenna Lamia is a true standout as a narrator, and I plan to seek out her other work. She [...]
Rag and Bone Shop Author: Robert Cormier Reader: Scott Shina Short Review: Cormier’s final novel, published posthumously, read by the talented Scott Shina. It’s disturbing, and upsetting, and good despite its flaws. Long Review: The title alone would have made me listen to this audiobook. I am an obsessive W.B. Yeats fan, and the title [...]
The Hunger Games Available from Audible.com Author: Suzanne Collins Reader: Carolyn McCormick Short Review: Creative, captivating and intense young-adult drama with a strong 16-year-old female protagonist and set in a brutal far-future. Decent reader, but I kept wishing for a bit more emotion in her reading. That said, the story was so captivating that I [...]
Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
Author: Beth Fantaskey
Readers: Katherine Kellgren & Jeff Woodman
Short Review: Fairly standard ‘boy meets girl, boy turns out to be vampire’ romance – but with a few twists you likely won’t expect. A pair of excellent readers, endearing characters and a fresh take on Romanian vampires make this a very enjoyable story.
Johnny and the Dead Author: Terry Pratchett Reader: Richard Mitchley Short Review: A standout story from Pratchett’s Johnny Maxwell trilogy, read with great personality and skill by Richard Mitchley. Our hero Johnny learns that he can see and speak to the Dead in his local cemetery, and winds up facing down corrupt, frightening enemies. Long [...]
The Book of Lost Things Author: John Connolly Reader: Steven Crossley Short Review: A decent book with a major flaw, read beautifully by Steven Crossley. Connolly’s book starts out as a promising depiction of the interior life of a bookish, depressed boy with apparently undiagnosed epilepsy and OCD. Unfortunately, it continues on into an all-too-familiar [...]
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory
Author: Roald Dahl
Reader: Eric Idle
Short Review: Dahl’s award-winning children’s book read wonderfully by Eric Idle.
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Good Omens Author: Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett Reader: Martin Jarvis Available on Audible.com Short review: One of my favorite humorous novels, expertly read by Martin Jarvis. I’m sure I’ll listen to this book over and over again. Long review: I have a deep and abiding love for this novel. I’ve read it on paper [...]