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Title: The Portrait

Author: Iain Pears

Narrator: Peter Capaldi

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-09-07

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The power balance between the two shifts dramatically from what it had been, with the critic now the passive subject while the painter struggles to capture the character of the man, as well as his image on canvas. And as the painting develops, so a story begins to emerge: one of betrayal, hypocrisy, forbidden love, suicide and ultimately murder. Reminiscing with ease and familiarity one minute, anger and menace the next, MacAlpine eventually reveals why he has accepted the commission of this portrait, why he left London mysteriously at the height of his success, and why, now, with dark determination, he feels ready to return.

Set against the dramatic, untamed landscape of Brittany, during one of the most explosive periods in art history, The Portrait is a darkly atmospheric, psychologically complex, macabre, and chilling tale from a master storyteller.

Critic Reviews:

"Beautifully written and disturbing, The Portrait is as good as anything the author has done." (The Times)

"It's obvious the artist plans to murder his sitter ¿ the suspense, artfully sustained, lies in finding out why." (Sunday Telegraph)

Members Reviews:

Compelling read.

Loved this dark thrilling book many years ago and have re-read it a number of times. Thoroughly enjoyed the narration by Peter Capaldi. So perfect a personification of Henry MacAlpine

a good story, a wonderful narrator

The story is good. I'm not familiar with the author's work otherwise, but this is well worth the listen. It helps if you have some interest in art because the story is immersed in that world, but it's enjoyable in any case. It repays multiple listens... I finished it the first time and immediately turned it back to the beginning to play it again. The last 45 minutes or so are really gripping... I kept giving sudden gasps that made my husband ask what I was listening to.

The story is told as a sort of conversation wherein only one person speaks, and I think some people, particularly with the print version, are put off by this, but that is much less of a problem with the audio version because of the magnificent Peter Capaldi, who adds the beating heart to the whole thing. I expect the print version must suffer by comparison without Capaldi's brilliant interpretation and delivery. I recommend this audiobook enthusiastically!

A tour de force.

This is a remarkable book. The artist, who speaks throughout is an extraordinarily intense person. I will certainly listen to this again as there were many arresting moments I wanted to hold on to. There are moments of penetrating analysis of the creative process and the role of critics. It is a deeply philosophical work narrated by Peter Capaldi with a chilling and ferocious authority. I don't know if he has narrated other books but he is astounding in this work. What a perfect voice for the book! He identifies so completely with the character that it goes beyond performance. He speaks as if possessed by the spirit of the artist with great emotional subtlety, expressing the heightened sensibilities of a visionary and also sardonic wit and bile. Very highly recommended.

I intend to follow this author closely.

Excellent performance by Peter Capaldi

What a voice, and how well did the narrator bring the (fascinating) story to life!

Set in the arts scene of the early 20th century, this novel, written by an art historian, explores the dynamic between painters, critics, art dealers etc.

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Title: Sheltering Rain

Author: Jojo Moyes

Narrator: Judith Boyd

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-19-07

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 50 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

On Coronation night the ex-pat community in Hong Kong gathers for a celebration party, and 21-year-old Joy falls in love at first sight. She is engaged within 24 hours, but will not see her fiancé again for a year. Fifteen years later, when Sabine, her mother and grandmother are brought together, not only a deeply buried family secret is discovered, but also some fundamental truths: about the conflict between love and duty, about women's choices, and about mothers and daughters.

©2002 Jojo Moyes; (P)2003 W F Howes Ltd.

Critic Reviews:

"There are plenty of fireworks among the three and the strong supporting cast as old secrets come to the surface in this absorbing family drama." (Publishers Weekly)

"The Irish setting and warmly described family relationships will appeal to fans of Maeve Binchy." (Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

good

the story is good - characters are largely well drawn (although kate is a bit of a cartoon character) but the book really comes alive in the parts dealing with hong kong in the 50s. In my opinion Moyes is at her best in dealign with the war/post war era (this book is probably not as good as ship of brides but still worth a listen).

Where the book is weaker is in the reading - the actress in question can come across as a bit one dimensional . That said it is still a good listen.

So So JoJo

This is JoJo Moyes' earliest novel and does suffer in comparison with her later works. The story is a fairly standard family drama based around upper middle class colonial types living a life of decaying gentility in rural Ireland and nursing a few bitter secrets. I must admit I didn't really warm to the fox hunting horsey theme and was slightly aghast that a North London vegetarian teenager could change her principles quite so easily. Her mother is irritatingly daffy and the grandmother is very hard to love, but despite this the story is reasonably interesting and I stuck with it to the end. The narrator was good but I did get a bit weary of the plummy accents. If you haven't read a JoJo Moyes book before, I recommend you don't start with this one.

Another Jojo Moyes' masterpiece!

Where does Sheltering Rain rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

This is right up their with the best of Jojo's books.

What about Judith Boyds performance did you like?

The narration was excellent!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I didn't want to put it down.

Any additional comments?

Enjoy!

Another brilliant storyline from Jojo Moyes

Would you listen to Sheltering Rain again? Why?

I would definitely listen to it again as it was such an entertaining story and I could really identify with all of the characters

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sheltering Rain?

Too many to choose from!

What does Judith Boyd bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you had only read the book?

She brings warmth and fun to the telling of the story. She interprets the characters of the story superbly.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both....I balled my eyes out when the old horse died!!!

Any additional comments?

I have loved all of Jojo Moyes books that I have listened to. She is a superb storyteller and keeps you hooked the whole way through her books.

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Title: The Pattern of Her Heart

Author: Tracie Peterson, Judith Miller

Narrator: Linda Stevens

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-17-07

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 54 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Award-winning authors Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller set this compelling novel in 1857 America. As Jasmine and her husband thank God for delivering their daughter from certain death, tragic news arrives. Yellow fever has decimated Jasmine's Mississippi family. And now the Houstons must leave their Massachusetts horse farm to face the challenges of Willows Plantation. But soon their desire to free the plantation's slaves kindles a strife that threatens both their resolve and their safety.

©2005 Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller; (P)2007 Recorded Books

Members Reviews:

This is book 3

This is book 3 of the series. I wish they would tell you that. I would have liked to have heard book the books in order, had I known

loved all

wished more in series. would like to have seen characters continue to grow and evolve thru the civil war and afterwards.

Storyline Excellent, Reader too slow

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The editing of the narration was poor. Pauses in narration were in very weird places.

Any additional comments?

Don't let the narration keep you from listening to this book. The storyline is good.

historic value

it was travel thru the south from a northern perspective light reading kept my attention

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Title: Night Angel

Author: T. Davis Bunn, Isabella Bunn

Narrator: Isabella Bunn

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-19-07

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 19 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

It is 1834. Former runaway Serafina Gavi has grown very close to her godly friend, John Falconer. When her Venetian parents, with whom she now lives in Washington, D.C., declare Falconer an unsuitable match, she tearfully informs him. But after these aristocrats witness the matchless nobility of Falconer's character and his unflinching courage, they ask him how they can possibly repay his kindness. And then a dangerous secret mission takes Falconer far away to a world of glittering gold and elusive emancipation.

©2006 T. Davis Bunn and Isabella Bunn; (P)2007 Recorded Books

Members Reviews:

konikins

I liked Nobel Fugitive better. What happened to John's accent? I liked him better with an accent.

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Title: Mozart's Sister

Author: Nancy Moser

Narrator: Virginia Leishman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 46 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-15-07

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 28 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Eleven-year-old Nannerl is arguably the best keyboard player in all of Europe. Yet, because her six-year-old brother, Wolfie, can play almost as well as she, he receives virtually all the praise and adulation. Traveling far and wide with her family, she and her brother perform before the crowned heads of Europe. Social convention and public clamor relegate her to living life in the shadow of a prodigy. When will Nannerl ever realize her own dreams and aspirations?

©2006 Nancy Moser; (P)2007 Recorded Books

Critic Reviews:

"Realistic to the point of feeling as if I was almost living with the family, Mozart's Sister highlights the life of Baroness Maria Anna Walburga Ignatia Berchtold zu Sonnenburg who preferred to be known simply as Nannerl Mozart. Written entirely in first person style from Nannerl?s point of view, Mozart's Sister is a fascinating story that takes readers on a behind-the-scenes journey into the life of the Mozart family." (romancejunkies.com)

Members Reviews:

Un-listenable

I downloaded Mozart's Sister thinking the story sounded very interesting, but I neglected to listen to the sample before purchasing it. I am sorry to say that my wife, her parents, and I preferred hunting around for NPR stations in the rural Midwest on a long car trip to continuing to listen to this book. The writing is very heavy-handed, leaving little to interpretation or imagination. States of mind of the characters are bluntly stated rather than suggested by actions or environment. We got through 20 minutes and turned it off.

Just couldn't get into the book.

What could Nancy Moser have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I enjoyed Moser's book about Martha Washington, but this book was too slow for me.

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Title: Staying Alive

Author: Alexander Fullerton

Narrator: Nicolette McKenzie

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-27-06

Publisher: ISIS Audio Books

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

When wartime secret agent Rosie Ewing read Alexander Fullerton's four novels based on her adventures in German-occupied France, she wrote to him suggesting that he might like to hear the story of her first mission.

©2006 Alexander Fullerton; (P)2006 Soundings

Members Reviews:

Did enjoy

Strange but ironic ending. Very well written. Thank you. I will buy another later on.

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Title: A Beggar in Jerusalem

Author: Elie Wiesel

Narrator: Frederick Davidson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-04-06

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 14 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Weaving together myth and mystery, parable and paradox, Wiesel beckons the reader on a spiritual journey back and forth in time, always returning to Jerusalem.

Critic Reviews:

"Very remarkable, indeed, outstanding." (New York Times Book Review)

"Perhaps the first major novel to bring to bear on the destiny of the Jew all the resources of modern European literary experience combined with the storytelling techniques of the Hasidic masters." (Washington Post Book World)

Members Reviews:

Narrator ruins the story

Imagine a man with very tight butt cheeks, a long nose, and a pinched chest, trying to imitate British royalty, looking down his nose with disdain. This is Frederick Davidson in a very cramped nutshell.

Few can bear his voice, and yet he is repeatedly hired to destroy some of the most serious works of literature. Why? Perhaps it is a lack of care. Perhaps listeners want to pretend they are uptight British royalty.

But if you actually want to listen to the books, keep your distance. If you are an author, stipulate in your contract that you refuse to have your book desecrated by this man. If you are a publisher, please sleep on it. And if you have ties to the mafia...

If somebody would only blacklist him or give him voice lessons or demand more sincerity and less pretense. You can't fault a man for having a bad voice or being a bad reader, but for deliberately sounding like a disdainful imperial ass: the criminal code has only begun to grapple with this novel phenomenon.

Captivating story from first to last chapter

I liked the different stories within the story. Interesting characters and interesting dialogue throughout the whole read.

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Title: The Collaborators

Author: Reginald Hill

Narrator: Michael Tudor Barnes

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-07-06

Publisher: ISIS Audio Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 48 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Fiercely patriotic, and the wife of a Jew, Janine had always been outspoken in her condemnation of the Nazis. Abwehr intelligence officer Günter Mai judged her the unlikeliest of recruits for his network of informants, resistant to all the usual triggers...until the Gestapo's reign of terror intensified, and her children were rounded up for deportation.

This is a powerful tale of conscience and betrayal, as shocking as it is moving. It poses uncomfortable questions about the priorities of personal and national loyalty in a time of war.

Critic Reviews:

"The best living male crime writer in the English-speaking world." (Andrew Taylor)

Members Reviews:

Seamless twining of threads

Reginald Hill twists and twines his story threads so smoothly. Set mainly in Paris during WWII, this is a compassionate look at collaboration in all its shades of grey. Despite being an examination of personal versus national responsibilities, this is a 'cracking good yarn' with wonderful characters and an exciting plot. I found it hard to put down. The narration really added depth to the characters. The narrator used regional accents to give subtlety to the 'station' and 'power' of certain characters. The regional accents were British and not every listener will be familiar with these, but it's worth getting to know them as they will add to your range of aural understanding.

Extraordinary !

Complicated characters and French names made this book a challenge for me but persistence shed light on at part of WWII that I know so little about ??? Occupied France and the French Resistant. All questions of quilt/innocence are complicated and Reginald Hill knits the plot brilliantly.

Great listen but I listened to it twice before I understood who was doing what to whom. Worth it !!!

wonderful

Reginald Hill is a treasure ... beautifully written and wonderfully told.

would highly recommend to anyone interested in this time period.

Hill proves he was more than just a mystery writer, but a historian as well.

the narrator is one of the best in the business

Unfortunate

The book is narrated by a British man with a heavy British accent. Unlike many other good audiobooks, the narrator doesn't bother trying to do accents that fit the nationality they are reading (French, German, etc) but just reads with different British accents. Also, the book itself is about an incredibly dense wife who is hopelessly ignorant to the ways of the world. The book is a giant cliche, and unfortunately isn't that interesting.

the Collaborators

I had only listened to Hill's Dalziel and Pascoe novels until now. It was an exellent listen tI couldn't stop listening too. There was a small amount of mystery in it, life in Paris under the Nazi's and what one women had to do to protect her family

Highly recomended

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Title: Timothy; or, Notes of an Abject Reptile

Author: Verlyn Klinkenborg

Narrator: Josephine Bailey

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-30-06

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 17 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

This is the story of a tortoise whose real life was observed by the 18th century English curate Gilbert White, author of The Natural History of Selborne. For 13 years, Timothy lived in White's garden, making an occasional appearance in his journals. Now Klinkenborg gives the tortoise an unforgettable voice and powers of observation as keen as those of any bipedal naturalist. The happy result: Timothy regales us with an account of a gracefully paced, eight-day adventure outside the gate, and entertains us with shrewd observations about the curious habits and habitations of humanity.

Wry and wise, unexpectedly moving, and enchanting, Timothy will surprise and delight people of all ages.

Critic Reviews:

"Hilarious and revealing...Verlyn Klinkenborg's perception of the interconnectedness of life is sublime." (Booklist)

"Charming and most enjoyable...Klinkenborg's prose is a pleasure to hear." (The New York Times)

"Magical...Timothy comes down off the shelf of the Natural History Museum and comes alive." (Chicago Tribune)

"[A] gorgeous hybrid of naturalist observation, novelistic invention and philosophical meditation...studied, beautiful reflections on the present and memory, earth and weather, love and utility, human and beast. This is a wholly unexpected and astonishing book." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

No abject reptile, this!

As an avid reader of all sorts of literature, philosophy, medicine, history, etc for more yrs than I care to count, I never knew there was a book like this. Immediately after the first listening, I listened again, and later, twice more. Hurrah for a turtle's view of the human world! A quiet pleasure, like a conversation with an old, dear friend.

unusual, wonderfully charming

This is not a book for those seeking action and thrills, but is lovely and beautifully written. Timothy, a tortoise, is spirited away from the Mediterranean to the garden of an English clergyman. We see the inexplicable strangeness of two-legged beings through Timothy's eyes, and are given the rare opportunity to enjoy the gentle wisdom of this almost other-worldly species.

It is a bit difficult, in the beginning, to understand the accent and old-fashioned language, but hang in there. As you become used to the cadence and tone, you will come to appreciate the lyrical quality...well worth the effort!

wow annie dillard in a turtle shell!

This turtle is a keen observer of humans and the natural world. I was drawn into her shell and tremendously enjoyed this tale. I feel anyone who appreciates Annie Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker Creek will love this book. The book is based off an actual naturalist's journal kept in the late 18th century England. The author gave the turtle powers of great observation, knowing and feeling. I so enjoyed picture after picture of the natural world recounted by this turtle. I also was filled with empathy. I really loved the narrator. She kept it flowing through the entire book. I'll be looking for more by this author.

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Title: Night Journal

Author: Elizabeth Crook

Narrator: Kimberly Farr

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 56 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-14-06

Publisher: Books on Tape

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 27 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Meg, however, Bassie's granddaughter, finds the family lore oppressive. When an excavation on the old Bass family property beckons a now-elderly and viper-tongued Bassie back to the fabled land of her childhood, Meg only grudgingly consents to accompany her. Determined not to live under the shadow of her ancestry, Meg has never even read the journals. But when an unexpected discovery casts doubt on the history recorded in their pages and harbored in Bassie's memories, Meg finally succumbs to the allure of her great grandmother's story and ventures even deeper into Hannah's life to unlock the mystery at the journal's core.

Reminiscent of Carol Shields' The Stone Diaries and the novels of Anita Shreve, The Night Journal is an enthralling tale in which Indian ruins, majestic desert hotels, and the hardship and boldness of frontier life fit seamlessly with a modern-day story of coming to terms with loss, family secrets, and shattering truths that lie shrouded in memory.

Critic Reviews:

"Crook's third novel...blends mystery, chick-lit-style romance, and historical fiction for a glimpse of the current and past American West." (Publishers Weekly)

"Warmly drawn....A multilayered narrative of impressive historical perspicacity, enriched by the author's loving attention to character." (Kirkus Reviews)

Members Reviews:

INTERESTING HISTORICALLY, BUT NEEDS EDITING

Would you listen to Night Journal again? Why?

NO, It was rather drawn out and could have been told in half the time.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Didn't think there was sufficient character development to love or hate the characters.

What about Kimberly Farrs performance did you like?

Nice voice

Who was the most memorable character of Night Journal and why?

Hannah...the other characters were frustratingly inept in their development.

Any additional comments?

The historical facts surrounding this novel were extremely interesting as well as the description of life as it was in the late 1800's.

Well written, excellent, historical fiction.

Well written literature, excellent story woven together at the end. Based on historical facts. Highly recommend reading, listening to this book!