Author: Stephenie Meyer

Reader: Ilyana Kadushin

Short Review: One 17 year old girl who always felt different (and is a klutz to the extreme) crosses paths with a family of exquisite vampires. Romance and intrigue ensues. It grew on me, but it took a while.

Long Review: When the audio started, I was confused for a moment because the voice sounded so familiar. It took me a while, but I finally realized that it reminded me of the voice that Angela Goethals uses for Carmen in the The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and its sequels. Once I got past that, the reading was just okay. Unlike some of my favorite audio book readers, Kadushin seems to use virtually the same voice for everyone. This works to some degree because the book is told entirely from the point of view of its young female protagonist, Bella, but I have come to expect more.

I had sought out this book in particular because it seems to have such a cult following. My verdict is basically that I like the core ideas. I like Meyer’s reinterpretation of the vampire. I like Bella and Edward and Jacob.. and all the rest of the characters. I wonder at some of Bella’s motivations (which I won’t share because I don’t want to spoil anything for those of you planning on reading/listening to it). I felt like I was reading a prequel a lot of the time - as if this was all the background stuff that Meyer had to get out of the way before she could get to telling the real story.

I will say that a lot of the basic components of the store did ring true - Bella’s experience in school. Her relationships with her new friends and her parents. And I am clear that this is in many ways a Fantasy Romance. So - will I seek out the next book? Yes, though more due to the promise inherent in the legion of dedicated fans the series has than due to my own captivation with this particular book or reader.

Twilight is also available through the Simply Audiobooks Rental Program.

The Goose Girl

Author: Shannon Hale

Reader: Full Cast Audio

Short Review: A magical fairy tale brought to life by an amazing cast of readers. This modern retelling of a Grimm’s tale follows Ani, Princess of Kildenree, as she finds her own inner strength and true path in life. It is officially listed for Grades 6-9, but I am here to tell you that it is a fine choice for any adult interested in getting swept along by a well told tale of magic and strength.

Long Review: I loved it. It haunted me for days. Between the well written story and the amazing full cast recording - they had me hooked. I was a bit suspicious of the full audio aspect of it before I started. Most of my audio book experience has been with solo readers. I needn’t have worried - they were fabulous! It reminded me of an old school radio show.

The story is a classic tale of a princess forced to switch roles with her handmaid. In this version our princess is more than she appears and she discovers a lot about herself and what is important to her along the way. I don’t want to tell you too much but the title points out the obvious, our princess ends up as a goose girl. How she goes from being princess to goose girl and back again of course is the story - but there is so much more woven into it.

There are lovely details of how the world works and the types of people who populate it. For instance, there are those with the skill of ‘people speaking’. You know the ones who have this - the charismatic people who can walk into a room and turn everything their way? To balance out those with ‘people speaking’ we also have those who can speak to animals and rumors of a distant time when people could speak to the elements. It may sound hokey, but Shannon Hale (who recalled the original tale from her own childhood) pulls it together to build a world where magic lives quietly in the midst of the ordinary.

The story includes love, loss, loyalty earned, intrigue, betrayal and redemption. This is one of my favorite audio books of all time.