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Title: The Art of Mending

Author: Elizabeth Berg

Narrator: Joyce Bean

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-25-08

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 52 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Laura Bartone anticipates her annual family reunion in Minnesota with a mixture of excitement and wariness. Yet this year's gathering will prove to be much more trying than either she or her siblings imagined.

As soon as she arrives, Laura realizes that something is not right with her sister. Forever wrapped up in events of long ago, Caroline is the family's restless black sheep. When Caroline confronts Laura and their brother, Steve, with devastating allegations about their mother, the three have a difficult time reconciling their varying experiences in the same house. But a sudden misfortune will lead them all to face the past, their own culpability, and their common need for love and forgiveness.

Critic Reviews:

"A nuanced account of a family's implosion, with enough ambiguity and drama...to keep any reader intrigued, right up to the fittingly redemptive ending." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Berg never disappoints

Elizabeth Berg has a terrific insight into secrets of all things "relationship." This work visits the lives of two sisters, their mother and the damage of secrets of the past.

What???

I like Berg's work, and, for the most part, enjoyed this listen.

As I don't want to be a spoiler, I will only say that the ending makes me think that either the main characters are Zen masters or are highly skilled in denial.

Or, as a third option, perhaps Ms. Berg was simply overworked and late for her publisher's deadline.

Still, Berg makes interesting intrigue out of the stuff of ordinary lives, distinguishing her work from others in the genre, and elevates her narrative from what would be generic "chic lit" in the hands of skilled but less perceptive writers.

The Art Of Mending ~

For those who find forgiveness by way of Truth and for those who find the truth in way of forgiveness ~

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Title: No One You Know

Author: Michelle Richmond

Narrator: Carrington MacDuffie

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-10-08

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 51 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Decades later, Ellie receives a piece of evidence never found with her sister's body: Lila's notebook, filled with mathematical formulas. It will lead her to a hundred-year-old mathematical puzzle, to a lover no one knew Lila had, to the motives and fate of the man who profited from their family's anguish...and to the deepest secrets even sisters keep from each other.

Critic Reviews:

"As complex and beautiful as a mathematical proof, this gripping, thought-provoking novel will keep you thinking long after the last page has been turned." (Family Circle)

Members Reviews:

Predictable but still GOOD

Predictable but still a good read. That is my summation of No One You Know. The plot was compelling, but I could tell everything that was going to happen. Otherwise, the writing was good. I recently read The Nightingale, and I was comparing and contrasting this book with that one. I thought The Nightingale had a predictable plot AND schlocky writing. This book at least had decent writing. Other things I liked about it: I have never read a book that had a character who was involved in the coffee business. Since I love coffee, I found the explanations about the coffee trade to be interesting. One of the other major characters was a serious mathematician. The author threw in a lot of info about mathematical theories and concepts that were sort of interesting as well.

I think the most predictable thing or the predictability problem with this book was with the characters. I guess they were too black and white. As the descriptions rolled out, one could tell that THIS person was going to be BAD or THAT person was going to be a good one.

(spoiler alert here )

I especially disliked the characterization of Jim Thorpe. He was really a creepy guy, but the main character really liked him for some strange reason. The descriptions of him were predictably creepy as well. However, since the main character did like him, the author threw in a few supposedly likeable traits. These traits never made up for his creepiness. In the end he was kind of dropped, or I didnt get what she was trying to say about him at the end of the book. He deserved more of a comeuppance if not a jail sentence, but instead well, it seems he just drifts off into no mans land.

The best thing about it was that I enjoyed reading it and wanted to finish it. Thats always a good thing :)

Most intelligent book

I've listened to in ages. If you're not into math, don't be concerned at all. The Pact and ...Fog...had me going crazy (5 star crazy) but, nevertheless, crazy. I have just purchased her 4th book. I love her writing and the narrators.

Enjoyed this Book So Much!

I enjoyed this book so much! I loved the Math, the Coffee Tasting, the Travel, and San Francisco. I think Ms. Richmond has a lovely way about her prose, but what I loved most was the rich tapestry of new information that I got just as wrapped up in as the story. I was fascinated by the explanation of a perfect number, and found myself wondering what my own favorite number might be and Ive always been a bit of a math phobic. I was equally fascinated by the information about coffee tasting and the attributes that might equip someone to be a good taster. I found the business of this story very enriching to the experience of this book.

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Title: Made in the U.S.A.

Author: Billie Letts

Narrator: Cassandra Morris

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-19-08

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 65 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

While Lutie shoplifts for kicks, Fate spends most of his time reading, watching weird TV shows, and worrying about global warming and the endangerment of pandas.

As if their life is not dismal enough, one day, while shopping in their local Wal-Mart, Floy keels over and the two motherless kids are suddenly faced with the choice of becoming wards of the state or hightailing it out of town in Floy's old Pontiac. Choosing the latter, they head off to Las Vegas in search of a father who has no known address, no phone number, and, clearly, no interest in the kids he left behind.

Made in the U.S.A. is the alternately heartbreaking and life-affirming story of two gutsy children who must discover how cruel, unfair, and frightening the world is before they can come to a place they can finally call home.

Members Reviews:

Mixed feelings

Morris does a great job in the first 2/3 of the story with the voices of Lutie, Fate, and all the folks they meet along the way, but the action pivots for the final section, making the overall work into two clumsily grafted stories; I'll leave it at that for spoiler reasons.

I listened through that final part to find out what happens to the kids, but they become essentially a background, subplot to another story. That section concerned a Mexican-American family, who had been in the States for a long time, but were read as having very heavy accents, sounding more Italian (or I suppose Argentinean) than Mexican to me! I considered putting away the audio, and reading it to finish off the book, but my library has a long reserve list for the print version.

The book itself won't please everyone: folks who like the final part, which I found somewhat sappy, would likely find the second section too "graphic" (Letts does pile it on a bit thick with misfortunes).

Not sorry I got the book, but I highly doubt I'd read another Letts, but I do recommend Morris' narration of "Elsewhere"!

Startlingly hauntingly real regarding abuse and redemption

Child neglect and abuse are ugly. Letts writes realistically yet pulls back allowing the listener breathing room knowing the horrific cost to children when innocence is stolen without going into too many details. I wish more were to read/listen to this not so fictionalized result of debauchery. The redemptive value of how love with patience can heal is also well told. Loving families are safe. That is, love of the unconditional kind.

Billie Letts doesn't disappoint!

Ever since Where the Heart Is, I have been in love with Billie Letts books, and this one did not disappoint. The narrator did a nice job, until she had to do a mexican accent...it sounded more like a mix between a middle eastern accent and an italian accent.

Billie Letts did go outside the box of her typical writing, but I don't want to spoil anything. For anybody who has read her other books, there's a good chance you will enjoy this book as well.

Good story

Great story but be prepared for way too much vulgarity, crudity, and profanity. I think it would have been better and could have told just as well without so much.

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Titre: Ni d'Eve ni d'Adam

Auteur: Amélie Nothomb

Narrateur: Sylvie Testud

Format: Unabridged

Durée: 3 hrs and 57 mins

Langue: Français

Date de publication: 05-20-08

Éditeur: Audiolib

Evaluation: 4.5 sur 5 sur 3 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Résumé de l'éditeur:

"Stupeur et tremblements pourrait donner l'impression qu'au Japon, à l'âge adulte, j'ai seulement été la plus désastreuse des employés. Ni d'Eve ni d'Adam révélera qu'à la même époque et dans le même lieu, j'ai aussi été la fiancée d'un Tokyoïte très singulier."

Amélie Nothomb.

© Editions Albin Michel 2007

© Audiolib 2008

Revues par les critiques:

La presse en parle

"(...) En la lisant, on rit, on pleure, on n'a qu'une envie : partir découvrir le Japon."

Tatiana de Rosnay, Psychologies

Avis des membres:

J'ai beaucoup aimé lire ce livre, mme si ce ...

J'ai beaucoup aimé lire ce livre, mme si ce n'est pas mon favori de Nothomb (pour l'instant aucun de ses autres livres que j'ai lus n'a détrné Stupeur et Tremblements). Je l'ai lu d'une traite, ce qui prouve que j'ai apprécié le livre ! On retrouve le style d'Amélie Nothomb, son humour, sa personnalité, dans une histoire touchante et particulière.

Five Stars

Fun book. Well read.

Superbe écriture

Superbe écriture, émouvante, savante, humour... et intelligence pour ceux qui ont séjourné au Japon sans trop comprendre ce qu'il leur arrivait... et qui du coup s'y retrouvent bien. A lire en mme temps, après ou avant Stupeur et tremblements.

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Title: The Senator's Wife

Author: Sue Miller

Narrator: Blair Brown

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-08-08

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 194 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Once again Sue Miller takes us deep into the private lives of women with this mesmerizing portrait of two marriages exposed in all their shame and imperfection, and in their obdurate, unyielding love.

Meri is newly married, pregnant, and standing on the cusp of her life as a wife and mother, recognizing with some terror the gap between reality and expectation.

Delia Naughton, wife of the two-term liberal senator Tom Naughton, is Meri's new neighbor in the adjacent New England town house. Delia's husband's chronic infidelity has been an open secret in Washington circles, but despite the complexity of their relationship, the bond between them remains strong.

What keeps people together, even in the midst of profound betrayal? How can a journey imperiled by, and sometimes indistinguishable from, compromise and disappointment culminate in healing and grace? Delia and Meri find themselves leading strangely parallel lives, both reckoning with the contours and mysteries of marriage, one refined and abraded by years of complicated intimacy, the other barely begun.

Here are all the things for which Sue Miller has always been beloved: the complexity of experience precisely rendered, the richness of character and emotion, and the superb economy of style, fused with an utterly engrossing story.

Critic Reviews:

"Provocative.... Miller brings into stark yet uplifting relief the limitations of morality when confronted with love." (Kirkus Reviews)

Members Reviews:

I felt cheated

I was completely engaged by this story until the very disturbing ending, which made me feel cheated. The relationship between the two neighbors in the novel -- one a newlywed in her late 30s, the other a woman of about 75 who has had an unorthodox marriage to a prominent politician -- is very rich and compelling. The often irritating younger character, Meri (does this woman ever think of the consequences of anything she does?), blossoms within the friendship, and the older character, Delia, is fascinating -- as fiercely loyal as she is independent.

But what Miller decides to do with these women and their husbands at the end of the book is disturbing and distasteful -- without revealing the ending, I can say that I felt as if the time and energy I invested in these characters was wasted. I'm giving it three stars because parts of it are wonderful, but I honestly felt betrayed as a reader/listener at the end.

Daring and Inspiring

If this were only a basic tale of the devolution and redemption of two marriages and two women it would be enough, written with Sue Miller's skillful rendering of detail and sensitive exploration of emotional nuance. But Miller punctuates the situations with a moment of daring that is truly original, that elevates this novel from the realm of a simple still life into a powerful and affirming narrative that inspires and empowers. Brava!

Really Engaging

I loved this book. It was similar in feel to "The Corrections" by Jonathan Fraizer.

The characters, ALL of the characters, while not always 'likable' are certainly human and behave in ways we have all witnessed people behave. Even the end, while I too was disappointed, it was, as the entire book was, true to life. I would have liked to have it end differently, but this book was telling its own story, and its characters had their own personalities and weaknesses.

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Title: Forever Rose

Author: Hilary McKay

Narrator: Sophie Aldred

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-27-07

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Rose's family members are always busy doing their own things. At least she still has her friends at school, but Mr. Spencer is always shouting about SATs and now he's cancelled Christmas! But thankfully he can't cancel the Christmas school trip.

©2007 Hilary McKay;

Members Reviews:

Forever Rose

lovely, funny, full of great characters that you can really care about.

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Title: Twelve Red Herrings

Author: Jeffrey Archer

Narrator: Alec McCowen

Format: Abridged

Length: 5 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-01-07

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Twelve Red Herrings is the third collection of irresistible short stories from a master storyteller. Cleverly styled, with richly drawn characters and ingeniously plotted story lines, each of the 12 tales ends with a delightfully unexpected turn of events.

Critic Reviews:

"Outstanding...white-knuckle suspense and witty denouements." (Daily Express)

"Archer hits the bull's eye with an exemplary collection of short stories." (Daily Mail)

Members Reviews:

The new O. Henry

Jeffrey Archer can do no wrong.....well of course he went to jail for perjury, but that does not diminish his writings. I love everything he writes. His novels are spare but fast paced with great plots. So are his short stories As short stories go, there is always a twist at the end, so it is best to just read them one at a time so as not to become jaded.

Twelve Red Herrings

These short stories were very good but not as interesting as the longer books by Mr. Archer. The last story with four different endings was the best, showing the vivid imagination of this author. It will be liked by readers who enjoy short stories.

My favourite short story author

My favourite short story author. When I start reading his stories I cannot stop till I get to the end. Thanks

Please give us more Jeffrey

I think Jeffrey Archer is .one of the best short story writers out there and I wish he would write more. Short sharp and pithy just the way I like them

Short Stories Left Me a Little Empty

Archer is my favorite author. This collection of short stories is OK, but not his best work.

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Title: The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs

Author: Alexander McCall Smith

Narrator: Hugh Laurie

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-05-07

Publisher: Hachette Audio UK

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 12 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

In the sequel to Portuguese Irregular Verbs, our hero, Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld, is the unlikely choice to address veterinarians in the Ozark mountains of Arkansas; is dogged by dachshunds; becomes embroiled with that notorious Coptic schismatic, the Duke of Johannesburg (and his victim the Patriarch of Alexandria); and finally ends up being mobbed as the star attraction on a Mediterranean cruise ship.

©2003 Alexander McCall Smith; (P)2004 Time Warner AudioBooks

Members Reviews:

A treat for Hugh Laurie fans

If you could sum up The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs in three words, what would they be?

Acerbic. Witty. Amusing.

What did you like best about this story?

I'm sure anyone familiar with the absurdities of the life of an Academic will find this hilarious. McCall-Smith's invention of the von Igelfeld character is truly inspired; one of my favourites!

What does Hugh Laurie bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Hugh Laurie's outrageously silly German accent as von Igelfeld absolutely adds to the humour, he has great fun with the nuances.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommended, McCall Smith fans won't be disappointed with these charming stories

Made me snigger

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

Auf jeden Fall! Definitely!

What did you like best about this story?

The locations, the ironic undertone of the character descriptions, the insight into the uptight German professor's mind.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Predatory German widows on the cruise ship! The sausage dog lecture was a delight!

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

Yes.

Any additional comments?

More books in the series, please, Mr. McCall Smith

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Titre: Seras-tu là ?

Auteur: Guillaume Musso

Narrateur: Hervé Lavigne, Véronique Groux de Miéri

Format: Unabridged

Durée: 8 hrs and 14 mins

Langue: Français

Date de publication: 12-04-06

Éditeur: Editions VDB

Evaluation: 5 sur 5 sur 3 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Résumé de l'éditeur:

Un seul geste aurait suffi pour tout changer.

Qui n'a jamais rêvé de revenir à cet instant décisif où le bonheur était possible?

San Francisco. Elliott, médecin passionné, ne s'est jamais consolé de la disparition d'Ilena, la femme qu'il aimait, morte il y a trente ans. Un jour, par une circonstance extraordinaire, il est ramené en arrière et rencontre le jeune homme qu'il était, trente ans plus tôt. Il est revenu à l'instant décisif où un geste de lui peut sauver Ilena. Et modifier l'implacable destin qui a figé son sort à jamais.

Un stupéfiant face-à-face, une histoire d'amour bouleversante, un suspense à couper le souffle.

L'auteur

Né en 1974 à Antibes,

fait sa première rencontre avec la littérature à dix ans, devenant par la suite un féru de lecture. Après un long séjour aux États-Unis et des études de sciences économiques, il exerce avec conviction le métier de professeur.

En mai 2001, son premier roman,

, sort aux Éditions Anne Carrière. Il est accueilli par de très bonnes critiques qui saluent "les premiers pas d'un véritable écrivain". Promesse amplement tenue avec

...

© Editions XO, 2006

© Livres Audio V.D.B., Octobre 2006

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Title: The Hot Flash Club Chills Out

Author: Nancy Thayer

Narrator: Carrington Macduffie

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-14-06

Publisher: Books on Tape

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 71 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

When a long time Haven client asks the gals to housesit her Nantucket hideaway for the summer, they're beyond thrilled; the cozy island enclave is the perfect place to shop, swim, chill, and plan Marilyn's upcoming wedding to Ian, her Scottish fiance. And Marilyn desperately needs the break, since Ian's grown son has crashed at the couple's place with no departure date in sight.

Soon after they arrive, the other hot flashers surrender to their own summer flings: Shirley entertains a steamy dalliance with a scruffy, sexy local fisherman that could lead to something deeper; Faye finds her dream house, but restoring it could be a costly nightmare; craft-maven Polly is enthralled by the island's bounty, from shell art to lightship baskets; and even hardboiled Alice swoons with romantic adventure, or is it seasickness?

But this lovefest among the sand and ocean breezes is not without its consequences. Each woman must determine for herself what she is willing to give up in order to hold onto what she has found. And all of them fear that Shirley is on the brink of making a huge mistake, one that threatens their harmony and their business. But these concerns may be eclipsed by the mystery surrounding the disappearance of family heirlooms at the house where they are staying, and rumors that the place harbors spirits other than Grey Goose and Tanqueray.

Nancy Thayer continues her hugely successful Hot Flash series with this wickedly funny, delightfully bawdy tale. These irresistible women spring to life: along with their passions, their sorrows, their joys, and, most importantly, their friendship.

Critic Reviews:

"Thayer's resilient, reassuring friends lend credence to the adage that old age is not for sissies." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Enjoyable, light, and I can identify!!

I was looking for a book to enjoy and take my mind away while I did long hours of finishing a complex quilting job, and this book was perfect. While I don't have the money or the luxury of time that these characters had, obviously, to enable them to spend much of their summer on Nantucket, I could certainly identify with the experiences that life in their 50's and 60's brought to The Hot Flash Club members! I enjoyed the distinct personalities of the various women, and appreciated the fact that they had lives that included meaningful work, both the ups and downs of family (and a hint of realistic co-dependency), and yes, romance and even sex! It's nice to find some light, enjoyable but well-written reading about my own age group. I plan to download the other books in this series for more summer pleasure. The narrator did a good job with the characters, and was a good voice to listen to, too,

You go Hot Flash Club

I enjoyed this book so much, I went for more. I am so glad you wrote a book about middle age girls, their dreams, drama, love and life. Like I said I needed to go for more.

Wonderful reality read!

I loved this series..

I hope there is more to come.

Easy listening... with tantalizing events throughout.

Too many characters

Good story however too many characters that it was hard to keep straight who was doing who. I feel it needed one or two main characters and just fill in the rest with little detail.

Great Fun!

I love the hot flash series. The plot is complicated, but still realistic. I feel that it is reading about many aspects of my life with a twist.