Reviews of Women’s Fiction Audio Books
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Patience and Sarah by Isabel Miller
Readers: Janis Ian
and Jean Smart
Short Review: Touching lesbian love story, set in early 1800s and read beautifully. The two readers each read the portion of the story told from a single point of view. It really works. -
Winter’s Bone by Daniel Woodrell
Reader: Emma Galvin Short Review: A stark, beautifully written and expertly read novel about an overburdened girl in dire straits.
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Wild Decembers by Edna O’Brien
Reader: Suzanne Bertish Short Review: A beautiful book, poorly served by bad audio quality and frequent mispronunciations.
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Nice to Come Home To by Rebecca Flowers
Reader: Carrington MacDuffie
Short Review: A sweet first novel brought to life by an excellent reader. We meet Prudence Whistler as her life starts to fall apart - but it is easy to find joy in her self-discovery. Romantic and charming, a lovely 'comfort' book for a rainy day.
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The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Readers: Jill Tanner and Bianca Amato Short Review: A gothic novel of intrigue about family history, fame, women, writing, truth, and secrets. It is read gorgeously by two readers who both have velvety, rich voices and lovely diction.
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The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Readers: Cassandra Morris and Barbara Rosenblat Short Review: A good but flawed book with two narrators of differing skill.
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Possession by A.S. Byatt
Reader: Virginia Leishman Short Review: An intricate, beautiful, arguably overlong book beautifully read by a very talented narrator. This isn't a book for everyone, but it was definitely a book for me.
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3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares
Reader: Kimberly Farr Short Review: The summer before high school, three old friends grow, change, and find their way back to themselves.
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A Mercy by Toni Morrison
Reader: Toni Morrison Short Review: A beautiful book, but difficult to listen to at times. Dr. Morrison is a wonderful reader in small doses, but perhaps should have handed this book over to a pro to read in its entirety.
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The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
Readers: Bernadette Dunne, Katie MacNichol, and Mark Bramhall Short Review: This is a great book, but the audio version has a flaw that really annoyed me. I want a re-cut, just for me, sans music. I doubt I'll get it.
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The Joys of Love by Madeleine L’Engle
Reader: Maggi-Meg Reed 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.
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Hope in a Jar by Beth Harbison
Reader: Orlagh Cassidy Short Review: Shallow beach-read sort of book. Estranged best friends reunited by twenty-year high school reunion. You probably already know if you would hate it based on this description.