Discover the Libray of Best Audiobooks in Fiction, Literary

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Title: The Twins

Author: Tessa De Loo

Narrator: Edwina Wren

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-31-08

Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 19 votes

Genres: Fiction, Literary

Publisher's Summary:

Originally published in the Netherlands in 1993, De Loo's first novel to be translated into English explores the enmity that existed between Germans and the rest of Europe after World War II. This moving tale addresses notions of guilt and responsibility in a sensitive, thought-provoking manner, without exonerating or condemning.

Twins Anna and Lotte Bamberg are born in Cologne but orphaned and separated when they are five. While Lotte is taken in by Dutch relatives, Anna is raised by her grandfather in rural poverty. With the advent of war, their lives take very different turns: Lotte!s family hides an assortment of refugees, while Anna finds love with a soldier of the Reich.

Besides two unsuccessful brief meetings, they have no contact until a chance encounter in the Belgian resort town of Spa about 40 years after the war. Anna is eager to reestablish their relationship, yet Lotte is more reluctant. As she gradually comes to understand that not all is black and white, she is able to find her sister again. While some may sense (and resent) an apologist tone to the novel, readers are asked to look deeply into themselves and others before making blanket judgments.

Editorial Reviews:

This award-winning novel follows twins Anna and Lotte Bamberg, born in Cologne in 1916 but orphaned and separated before World War II. The women reunite by chance in their 70s in the resort town of Spa, where they spend a great deal of time trying to get to know each other again. Both have suffered greatly, but while Anna stayed in Germany and married a man who joined the Reich, Lotte was been raised in Holland with a family that sheltered Jews. Anna is brash and crude, and although she tries to make Lotte understand her life, the latter projects onto Anna her deep resentment of all things German. A subtle, lyrical novel that performer Edwina Wren narrates with a sensitive, lilting grace.

Members Reviews:

Disturbing but it makes you think

Not an easy listen, because it's a tough story. Well written, though, with good and believeable character development.

A worthy subject but terribly dull in the telling

Don't judge the book just by this review because I gave up less than half way through.

First, the narration. It's narration is irritating. Everyone is read with a very poor version of a German accent. Even the Dutch characters have German accents, which makes no sense (The Dutch accent speaking English is totally different to a German accent.) Why it had to be done with accents at all is a mystery to me.

The story should have been fascinating ... WWII from the perspectives of twins raised separately in Germany and Holland - what a great premise! But I failed to engage with or sympathise with either main character, and kept getting lost and confused in the story. I don't like writing bad reviews (the author and narrator have worked hard on this), but hey, that's the value of reviews - they have to be honest and helpful. I was bored, bored, bored.

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Title: Hotel Honolulu

Author: Paul Theroux

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-27-08

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 28 votes

Genres: Fiction, Literary

Publisher's Summary:

A writer accepts a job as a manager of a low-rent hotel in Hawaii. He acts as a witness to the hotel's cast of characters, chronicling their stories and ultimately regaining his will to write.

©2007 Caryl Phillips; (P)2008 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic Reviews:

"... somberly beautiful and lacerating ... Phillips [is] a virtuoso, prizewinning novelist with a biographer's avidity for fact ..." (Booklist), starred review

Members Reviews:

Shockingly warped!

I have been an avid Theroux fan and can recommend any of his non fiction titles,but it seems a lot of his fiction is centered around and obssesion with incest and matters of an often sexual nature that I find somewhat disturbing.The parts where they delve into the mind of a prostitute are somehow intresting.I have often wondered what drives a woman to do such things.I think it is the stories of incest that are simply sickening.Of course these things do happen in real life and fiction mirrors real life.I just have to wonder why he must resort to such shocking methods to draw the readers intrest?There is some redeeming symbolism.The story about the step father with the hook for a hand was intresting.The ironies are also thought provoking.Fiction delves into the deep annuls of our minds,which can sometime harbor some serious psychological problems.I am just not sure I was prepared to see such a dark side in a book that is set in Hawaii.

Big Buzz Kill

I finally couldn't finish listening to this because it presents a very disturbing vision of humanity. The stories, one after another, are unrelentingly about people who are sad, lonely, gruesome, cruel, predatory, perverted, victimized, and on and on without amusement at their eccentricities or fondness for their foibles. I finally couldn't get through to the end to find out if there is some kind of redemption. Maybe it's that the main character gets back his will to write? So he wrote this mess.

Theroux sees it how it is.

don't usually write reviews but (in fairness to this superb book) I owe it to Mr. Theroux. yes, it follows the lives of multiple characters connected through the Hotel Honolulu (as the previous reviewer said. No, they are not tragic as in the term 'victimized' would imply but real people that unless you are extremely sheltered, you would have met. What makes it great is that in their ordinary lives, they speak to us through the novel, & remind us of our fallibilities--but that we can get on with it all the same. Not everyone is looking for a light at the end of the tunnel and why should everyone have to? The characters and stories here represent this realism without justifying it, apologizing for it ...but it is nonetheless exceptionally entertaining and need not be read on a deep level.

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Title: Gilead

Author: Marilynne Robinson

Narrator: Tim Jerome

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-25-08

Publisher: Hachette Audio UK

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Fiction, Literary

Publisher's Summary:

Pulitzer Prize, Fiction, 2005

National Book Critics Circle Award, Fiction, 2005

Chosen by the New York Times Book Review as one of the top six novels of 2004.

In 1956, toward the end of Reverend John Ames' life, he begins a letter to his young son, a kind of last testament to his remarkable forebears.

Critic Reviews:

"It is a book of such meditative calm, such spiritual intensity that is seems miraculous that her silence was only for 23 years; such measure of wisdom is the fruit of a lifetime." (Neel Mukherjee, The Times)

"Writing of this quality, with an authority as unforced as the perfect pitch in music, is rare and carries with it a sense almost of danger - that at any moment, it might all go wrong. In Gilead, however, nothing goes wrong." (Jane Shilling, Sunday Telegraph)

Members Reviews:

Dour Reading Failed to Resonate

What disappointed you about Gilead?

I was very interested in listening to this book, but the dour reading style of the narrator induced a profound depression in my soul. Maybe it's an accurate rendition of the character's voice, but I had to cut and run before the first chapter was out.

A salve to the soul and a joy

Any additional comments?

The narrator of this beautiful book is an elderly priest in 1956 reflecting on his life in the small mid west town of Gilead. He is a tremendously appealing character -wise and sympathetic and flawed. It's a very human, sweet and profound book about families and small towns and troubles and belief. The last ten minutes had me close to tears and when it finished I found I'd been holding my breath. A joy.

Beautiful story, excellent narration

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. Although I am not at all religious, I do have a spiritual side and from time to time I ponder my values, what my purpose in life is and whether I'm being the best person I can be. In this beautiful story, that is exactly what John Ames also did, and I very much enjoyed reflecting on his ideas and observations - strengths, foibles and all. Everything about this book was serene and uplifting. It was a treat to listen to.

Have you listened to any of Tim Jeromes other performances? How does this one compare?

Tim Jerome is a first-class narrator. The more audiobooks I listen to, the more I have come to appreciate the incredible talent of professional narrators like Jerome. The tone, timing, rhythm and pace and character understanding are all spot on. I will definitely be looking out for more of his work.

A deeply moving story

This is a profound and beautiful book which is read very well indeed. It is heavily theological in places but I would recommend it highly to any thoughtful person.

slow star to an engrossing parable

I chose Gilead after reading many postive reviews and noting that it won the Pulitzer prize for fiction. This is effectively a letter from an elderly preacher to his young son, telling the story of his history and relationships.

It took a long time for me to engage with the character of the narrator. there was a level at which I was skeptical that a father was write such things to his son, and from another perpective, the monologue restricted the panorama of characters.

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Titel: Hitze

Autor:: Bill Buford

Erzähler: Wiglaf Droste

Format: Abridged

Spieldauer: 4 hrs and 5 mins

Sprache: Deutsch

Veröffentlichungsdatum: 06-30-08

Herausgeber: Der Hörverlag

Kategorien: Fiction, Literary

Zusammenfassung des Herausgebers:

Wiglaf Droste macht Bill Bufords Küchenerfahrungen in seiner Lesung zum satirischen Gaumenschmaus, zum humorvoll-geistreichen Schmankerl. Vorsicht, nicht während des Zwiebelschneidens hören Sie müssen sonst lachen, bis Ihnen die Tränen kommen!

Kritik Bewertungen:

Ein grandioses Werk und absolut familientauglich.

-- NDR Info

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Titel: Nachtzug nach Lissabon

Autor:: Pascal Mercier

Erzähler: Christian Berkel, Peter Fricke, Günter Lamprecht

Format: Unabridged

Spieldauer: 2 hrs and 45 mins

Sprache: Deutsch

Veröffentlichungsdatum: 10-29-07

Herausgeber: Der Hörverlag

Bewertung: 5 von 5 von 1 Stimmen

Kategorien: Fiction, Literary

Zusammenfassung des Herausgebers:

Es beginnt eine rastlose Suche kreuz und quer durch Lissabon - nach einem anderen Leben und nach einem ungewöhnlichen Arzt und Poeten, der gegen die Faschisten kämpfte.

In Sven Strickers Hörspielinszenierung lassen Boris Aljinovic, Peter Fricke, Victoria Trauttmansdorff, Felix von Manteuffel, Peter Weis und viele andere herausragende Sprecher eine vielstimmige Welt entstehen, durch die die Lissaboner Straßenbahn rattert und leise der Fado klingt.

Kritik Bewertungen:

Ein Vademecum für Seele, Verstand und Herz.

--Die Welt

Mitglieder Bewertungen:

Wunderschön!

Eine tiefsinnige Geschichte, die literarisch wunderbar geschrieben ist. Das Buch macht Lust auf mehr Literatur bester Qualität. Mir gefallen wenige Bücher so gut.

Ein wunderbares Buch

Die Story ist herrlich. Ich habe die ganze drei Stunden gleich zugehort. Ich hab auch gleich Das Buch gekauft. Sehr Gut!

A gripping read . . .

Englisch ist meine Muttersprache. Nicht deutsch. Trotzdem, las ich dieses Buch auf deutsch und es hat sich sehr gelohnt. Dieses Buch hat mich berührt. Es ist kein Krimi aber ist trotzdem spannend. Es handelt sich um einen Lehrer, namens Gregorius, kurz vor der Pensionierung, der ein sehr ein verschränktes Leben führt. Durch Zufall nimmt er ein Faden auf, das ihm dadurch einem Leben mit Begehren, Zuneigung und Geborgenheit schenkt. Ich konnte das Buch einfach nicht zur Seite lassen. Viel interessanter war es mit Gregorius mit Adriana, Melodie, Jorge und den vielen anderen in Lissabon die Zeit zu verbringen als die Glotze anzuschauen. Ich habe gelacht, erstaunt, erschrak, und am Ende, getrauert, da das Buch schließlich ein Ende hatte. Ich bin jetzt anders, weil ich dieses Buch gelesen habe.

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Title: Elizabeth and Her German Garden

Author: Elizabeth von Arnim

Narrator: Nadia May

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-16-06

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 60 votes

Genres: Fiction, Literary

Publisher's Summary:

Indoors are servants, meals, and furniture. There, too, is The Man of Wrath, her upright Teutonic husband, inspiring in Elizabeth a mixture of irritation, affection, and irreverence. But outside she can escape domestic routine, read favorite books, play with her three babies and garden to her heart's content. Through Elizabeth's eyes we watch the seasons, from May's "oasis of bird-cherries and greenery" to the time when "snow carpets her Pomeranian wilderness". And each season brings with it new events as friends and neighbors come and go, all wonderfully recorded with Elizabeth's uniquely witty pen.

(P)2000 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic Reviews:

"Rarely is there a book that when read once, one wishes to start rereading right away. Here is one. Elizabeth's memoir is read with elan and obvious relish by Nadia May." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

Cavorting in the Gardens

This book is a solitary walk through the flower gardens, into the forest, down by a stream. Getting away from people is a recurring theme in Elizabeth von Arnim books: The Solitary Summer, The Enchanted April, Elizabeth and Her German Garden and even works such as Princess Priscilla's Fortnight have that element of escape from people. Yes, it is peaceful although issues with various gardeners complicate life along with the self satisfied superiority of the Man of Wrath. There is a gentle humor, and unfailing pleasure in observing the day to day, even hour to hour changes in the gardens. There is unabashed enjoyment of her babies, the fresh air, the gardening work and the time alone to think. One can feel the garden solitary quiet. I loved the idea of Elizabeth escaping into the snow covered gardens, then when she is sure that she is alone, dances and cavorts in the dark. Her friends from town were absolutely sure that she felt abandoned and lonely without the crowds and parties. No indeed, she felt liberated and exhilarated to be away from the noise and insipid conversations.

I have grown quite used to and fond of Nadia May's narrations as I listened to her on a couple dozen audio books in my collection ranging from Agnes Grey, Middlemarch, Northanger Abbey and Pride and Prejudice. She is consistent and I have found that trait particularly valuable in a narrator.

Not as good as Enchanted April

I bought this book because I LOVED Enchanted April .I found myself bogged down after the first disc HOW COULD ONE BOOK BE SUCH A GREAT ONE AND THIS ONE SO MEDIOCRE?I l really like Nadia May so I thought It would be a winner. The narration is fine its the story that fails to capture my attention. Nadia May narrated "The Childrens Hour" by Marcia Willett and it it excellent.I will still pay attention to anything narrated by Nadia May but hesitate about any more of Von Armins books.

Spoiled, Privileged and Rich--Complaints in Diary

I read this book because Elizabeth von Arnim wrote the beautiful story, The Enchanted April. The way she represented the inner workings and vulnerability and awakening joy of those 4 women made me feel close to her. She truly conveyed the hopes and fears of the women in that book. This is somewhat of a diary. I guess I shouldn't judge her on her personal writings, but it reflected a spoiled, hauty, self centered, self indulgent rich wife. There didn't seem to be a speck of humility or vulnerability in her.

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Título: La Montana Magica [The Magic Mountain]

Autor: Thomas Mann

Narrador: Daniel Quintero

Formato: Abridged

Duración: 2 hrs and 42 mins

Idioma: Español

Fecha de publicación: 03-24-06

Editor: Yoyo USA, Inc

Calificaciones: 4 de 5 de 14 votos

Categorías: Fiction, Literary

Resumen del editor:

In this dizzyingly rich novel of ideas, Mann uses a sanatorium in the Swiss Alps, a community devoted exclusively to sickness, as a microcosm for Europe, which in the years before 1914 was already exhibiting the first symptoms of its own terminal irrationality. The Magic Mountain is a monumental work of erudition and irony, sexual tension and intellectual ferment, a book that pulses with life in the midst of death.

Opiniones de los miembros:

Heard it was good... audiobook not in English

Where does La Montana Magica [The Magic Mountain] rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

If you know Italian you are in luck, if you don't, you need to wait for another version

What did you like best about this story?

A smart and pretty Russian chick turned me onto it... although she spoke several languages

Have you listened to any of Daniel Quinteros other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

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

laugh, when I realized it would not be English

Any additional comments?

Wait for a language that you are fluent in and it will be great.

this audio is in Spanish

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

As I said in the title, beware that this book is in Spanish and not in English. I do not speak Spanish, so for me this was a waste of money, and I can't comment on any other aspects of it.

Versión resumida

La versión es resumida, al final se hace un poco confusa frente a la versión original. Se omiten algunas secciones que darían claridad al final de la historia.

Muy buena narración

Boring

Too boring but well read. A waste of time. No real essence to the story

It's in Spanish!!!!

What disappointed you about La Montana Magica [The Magic Mountain]?

Couldn't understand one word. Obviously, I should have noticed that this was being read in Spanish; but I didn't; and I've wasted a whole credit.

Would you ever listen to anything by Thomas Mann again?

No idea

How did the narrator detract from the book?

You tell me.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Fury

Any additional comments?

Is there any way I can get my credit back? This is such a waste.

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Título: La Madre [Mother]

Autor: Maximo Gorky

Narrador: Laura Garcia

Formato: Abridged

Duración: 3 hrs

Idioma: Español

Fecha de publicación: 03-10-06

Editor: Yoyo USA, Inc

Calificaciones: 4 de 5 de 8 votos

Categorías: Fiction, Literary

Resumen del editor:

This book gives a broad and generalized picture of life in Russia on the eve of the Revolution of 1905. The narrative is based on events which took place in the town of Sormovo.

Opiniones de los miembros:

bueno libro aunque un poco tedioso

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Gorky es siempre recomendable para todos !!!

Would you recommend La Madre [Mother] to your friends? Why or why not?

La madre es una bonita historia ,llena de mucho patriotismo ,pero con partes de la historia un poco tediosas

What about Laura Garcias performance did you like?

no es mi preferida ,pero es aceptable

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

no lo creo

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Título: Mario y el Mago [Mario and the Magician]

Autor: Thomas Mann

Narrador: Carlos Zambrano

Formato: Abridged

Duración: 2 hrs and 59 mins

Idioma: Español

Fecha de publicación: 10-13-05

Editor: Yoyo USA, Inc

Calificaciones: 4 de 5 de 2 votos

Categorías: Fiction, Literary

Resumen del editor:

Mario, hipnotizado por un mago procede contra su voluntad: el pequeno senor Friedemann, un lisiado que ha logrado adaptarse a la vida, hasta que una coqueta despierta en el deseos que habia logrado reprimir y el ansia vital de la otra historia, son muestra de la brillantez del gran autor y Fono-Libros presenta orgullosamente estas obras maestras.

© & (P)2001 Disonex S.A.

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Título: Candido [Candide]

Autor: Voltaire

Narrador: Laura Garcia

Formato: Abridged

Duración: 2 hrs and 47 mins

Idioma: Español

Fecha de publicación: 09-16-05

Editor: Yoyo USA, Inc

Calificaciones: 4.5 de 5 de 12 votos

Categorías: Fiction, Literary

Resumen del editor:

A flamboyant and controversial personality of enormous wit and intelligence, Voltaire remains one of the most influential figures of the eighteenth-century Enlightenment. Candide, his masterpiece, is a brilliant satire of the theory that our world is "the best of all possible worlds".

Opiniones de los miembros:

excelente

una obra indispensable para desarrollar la cultura y el hábito de la lectura. totalmente recomendable

Condensado pero excelente narración

Esta es la versión condensada , se salta bastante , sin embargo la narración es excelente, lenguaje muy claro y excelente dicción.

NO para optimistas

Would you consider the audio edition of Candido [Candide] to be better than the print version?

Este audiolibro es una buena elección práctica, no se necesita leer la versión impresa.

What did you like best about this story?

Aunque es una obra sumamente pesimista, la narración y los sucesos son muy interesantes, no hay tiempo para aburrirse.

Have you listened to any of Laura Garcias other performances before? How does this one compare?

Nunca había escuchado a Laura García como lectora de un libro, debo confirmar que estuvo excelente en "Cándido" y su voz es muy agradable.

Any additional comments?

"Cándido" es un clásico de la literatura universal, no se pierdan esta versión en audiolibro. Eso sí, cuidado porque es un libro pesimista en todos los sentidos.