Download the Best Full Audiobooks in Fiction, Historical

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Title: Honour this Day

Author: Alexander Kent

Narrator: Michael Jayston

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-01-10

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 72 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

September 1804: England stands alone against France and the fleets of Spain, anticipating invasion. Vice-admiral Richard Bolitho has his own troubles to settle at home too. But his time on land is broken by an urgent summons from the King. Once more Bolitho hoists his flag above the veteran 74-gun ship Hyperion and sets sail - this time with a new squadron headed for the Caribbean. Ordered to plan and effect a daring raid on the Spanish Main, Bolitho spares himself nothing - from there to Antigua, where he rediscovers a passion that defies every convention and threatens his reputation. And the future of the Hyperion is at risk too. Set to clear the path to victory, there is a constant fear that this may be her final battle.

Members Reviews:

Another Jayston Success!

Once again, Michael Jayston's reading is superb!

So much so that I am hesitant to purchase the latest from Alexander Kent because Michael is not the reader.

Kent's novels make for great company as I cover my weekly 1,000+ kilometres!

I found the change in the pronunciation of the lead Character's Name, somewhat annoying and quite mystifying. Having been accustomed to hearing it a particular way, I cannot understand why the same reader would suddenly change it.

The other minor annoyance is the fact that not all Kent's Books with Richard Bolitho, appear to be in Audio form. This leaves gaps in the continuity of Richard Bolitho's career!

Having said that, I would not hesitate to recommend the Books to anyone!

Ray Banks,

Rockhampton. Qld.

Australia.

not the best

Story was compelling but not at the same level as the earlier ones in the series.

1. first half was almost entirely personal drama with minimal sea/war strategy.

2. Graphic love scenes, while fitting for this book, seem out of place in the series and are far outside my personal reading interest.

3. transitions in the book were often difficult to follow and I had to rewind frequently to figure out what was happening by filling in missing steps myself (I am sure the audio version made this more pronounced).

4. While not a major issue, the narrorator changed the pronunciation of Bolitho, this was distracting and a bit frustrating.

It's really irritating me.

Any additional comments?

I'm only a few chapters into the book but it is really grating on me to the extent that I'm not listening to the story but waiting for the next time I hear "Boleetho". It's beyond me why after listening to 16 or 17 books, the way in which the name of the main character is pronounced has to change. This one might have to be returned! Others might find this to be of no consequence, perhaps it's just me - I'm not sure.

Bit of a change

Good story but a bit disconcerting to hear the main character name pronounced differently from all the other books. Didn't Sound anything like David Jayston reading it yet at the end it did say he was reading it?

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Title: The Good Soldier Svejk

Author: Jaroslav Hasek

Narrator: Sam Kelly, Adrian Lukis

Format: Original Recording

Length: 1 hr and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-28-10

Publisher: BBC Worldwide Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 12 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation by Christopher Reason of the satirical Czech novel by Jaroslav Hasek.

This tale charts the exploits during the First World War of European Forrest Gump Svejk, in his progress through the ranks of the Austro-Hungarian army. Good-natured and garrulous, Svejk becomes the Austrian armys most loyal Czech soldier when he is called up on the outbreak of the First World War - although his bumbling attempts to get to the front serve only to prevent him from reaching it.

This story of a little man caught in a vast bureaucratic machine combines dazzling wordplay and piercing satire to create a hilariously subversive depiction of the futility of war.

Starring Sam Kelly as Svejk and Adrian Lukis as Lukas. Directed by Gary Brown.

Members Reviews:

I'm going to have to read this again!

I enjoyed this immensely when I first heard it on the radio more than 20 years ago, in fact so much that I read the book. So when I found it again here I couldn't wait to listen again, still just as funny and entertaining; some humour would seem to be timeless. I liked the use of English accents which might, on the face of it, seem odd but added to the characterisations.

The odd thing is I could have sworn there was more, an incident with some "iron water". This obviously means I'm going to have to find the book.

A good soldier, but a great radio comedy.

Enjoyed every minute of this. Sam Kelly is sublime as Svejk. it's like Forest Gump in Eastern Europe.

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Title: The Bells

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Richard Harvell

Narrator: Paul Michael Garcia

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 50 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-14-10

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 65 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Dazzling, enchanting, and epic, The Bells is the confession of a thief, kidnapper, and unlikely lover - a boy with the voice of an angel whose exquisite sense of hearing becomes both his life's tragic curse and its greatest blessing.

Moses Froben was born in a belfry high in the Swiss Alps, the bastard son of a deaf-mute woman, banished to the church tower to ring the Loudest and Most Beautiful Bells Ever each day. His life is simple but content, until the day his father recognizes Moses' singular sense of hearing and its power to expose his sins. Cast into the world with only his ears to protect and guide him, Moses finds refuge in the choir of the historic Abbey of St. Gall and becomes its star singer, only to endure the horrifying act of castration, meant to preserve his angelic voice and turn him into a musico.

In a letter to his son, Moses recounts his humble birth in eighteenth-century Switzerland and his life as a novice monk, and he tells of the two noble friends - and a forbidden lover - whom he cherished during the chaotic years he spent in Mozart's Vienna as apprentice to the great Gaetano Guadagni. But in this letter he also reveals the astonishing secrets of his past and answers the question that has shadowed his fame: How did Moses Froben, world-renowned musico, come to raise a son he could never have sired?

Recounting his birth in the 1700s in a belfry high in the Alps, to his appearance on Europes greatest stages, this epic novel is the story of the greatest ears on earth - from a deaf mother's cries, to the beating of a forbidden lover's heart, to the arias of Vienna's greatest opera house, and the deadly booming of the world's loudest, most glorious bells.

Editorial Reviews:

A novel set predominantly inside the great opera houses of Europe, The Bells is written with great attention to music, performance, and sound. With this unique emphasis, Richard Harvells story of an underprivileged boy growing up in the Swiss Alps only to later become one of the greatest musicians in Vienna is best experienced through the theatrical narration of Paul Michael Garcia. Garcias performance further enhances the gravitas Harvell has achieved in The Bells, offering a vocal rendition that serves the novels acute understanding of early music history very well.

In The Bells, Harvells thoughtful investigation of 18th-century classical music explores its rich beauty, but it also does not shy away from the darker corners of the art. Born in an impoverished village cast away in the Swiss Alps, Moses Froben had endured considerable hardship in his youth. His gift of music came from his mother, a deaf-mute woman disbanded from society who spent her days ringing the bells of the church tower in the village. Her pregnancy caused both her and her unborn son great misfortune, but when young Moses washed up on the shores nearby St. Gall, a kind monk took him into the Abbey, where his gift of music was eventually discovered and nurtured. This nurturing did not come without further abuse, though, when the director of the boys choir betrayed the comfort Moses had found in the abbey by castrating the young boy in order to preserve his beautiful soprano voice (a horrific act that, though controversial, was alarmingly prevalent in this era).

When the act was discovered in the Abbey later when Moses voice and angelic appearance did not change, he was looked upon with both grave pity and mild disgust.

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Title: People of the Longhouse

Subtitle: North America's Forgotten Past

Author: W. Michael Gear, Kathleen O'Neal Gear

Narrator: Joshua Swanson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-20-10

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 58 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Born in a time of violent upheaval, young Odion and his little sister, Tutelo, live in fear that one day Yellowtail Village will be attacked. When that day comes, and Odion and Tutelo are marched away as slaves, Odion's only hope is that his parents are coming to rescue them.

They are. But War Chief Koracoo and Deputy Gonda think they are tracking an ordinary war party herding captive women and children to an enemy village. Instead, they are following close on the heels of a legendary evil, an old witch-woman named Gannajero, who captures children for her own purposes.

Critic Reviews:

"The multitalented Gears, husband-and-wife archaeologists and best-selling authors, score a literary bull's-eye as they weave another vivid narrative thread into their stunning tapestry of Native Americana." (

Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Mixed Feelings

I had mixed feelings on this one. Like all the Gear's novels it was well researched, well writen, violent, and interesting. I was interested all the way through, a good read, well narrated too. It has well developed charactors, from the female war chief Koracoo, her estranged husband and deputy Gonda, vicious and scary witch Ganajero, and many others. My problem was the end. It felt like the the authors ran out of time or something and just cut off the book. Things were building up to an exciting climax then it's over. Still worth listening to, just slightly frustrating. I wish Audible would get one of their truly fantastic ones, like "People of the Lakes" (their best in my opinion) or "People of the Lightning". Back to this one, it is violent, violence towards children this time, not super graphic, but still might be hard for some to take. Might be more of an adult's book, although I think I started reading their books as a teenager, so I'm sure some teens would enjoy it too.

WHAT HAPPENED///

I have to say that disappointing doesn't begin to describe my opinion of this book. What happened, their fixin to go and get the other children.......then what?

I've read all of the "People Of The..." books and this was a true let down. Can I get my money back or do the Gears really want to loose so many readers with this horrible offer?

where is the rest of the story?

Coming to the end of the audio book, I went looking for the missing sections. What happened? I am left with a tangle of plot lines.

Read it for the History

On the one hand, I love the study of the past. The historical insights garnered from the introduction were worth the price of the book. But my challenge with this book was in the anglicized portrayal of the Native Americans. To me they thought, spoke and reacted like white people. Getting into the head of a living culture requires a submersion into a mindset. This in no way effects my respect to the authors for their valuable historical insights.

Did I miss a few chapters? Abruptly ended

why did the story abruptly end without completion. Very disapointed with this book and author.

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Title: Fortune's Favorite

Author: Colleen McCullough

Narrator: Michael York

Format: Abridged

Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-08-10

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 51 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Return to ancient Rome, where politics, ambition, and greed collide in the fortunes of two fiercely powerful men: Lucius Cornelius Sulla, the great general who returns from exile to be installed as dictator, and then stuns Rome with his startling self-imposed retirement; and Pompey, the young scion of an enormously powerful rural family, who determines to leapfrog over the traditional milestones to Roman political pre-eminence by any means necessary.

Passionate, ambitious, and larger than life, these men play out their fortunes against rebellious elements in Spain, dangerous rumblings in the East and the doomed slave revolt of the tragic figure Spartacus. But a greater threat to their place in history awaits - the fiery young warrior Julius Caesar, exploding now into manhood, his priest's robe shed in a most surprising manner. A newcomer to military glory and the Senate, he earns a formidable reputation as diplomat, lawyer and politician.

In fascinating and unrivaled grandeur, Fortune's Favorites sows the seeds of Caesar's terrible rivalry with Pompey, and sets into motion the events which will finally enable him to tower over history for all time.

Members Reviews:

Narration a little lacking

A lively reading, but not very flexible - 90% of the people in this book have a nasal "upper class twit" voicing, to the point where during conversations I couldn't tell who I was listening to. There simply isn't an adequate vocal library.

This makes this book, the abridged version of which at times sounds like a recitation, a little tedious to listen to.

Fantastic Story, abridged again...

If you could sum up Fortune's Favorite in three words, what would they be?

Historical power plays.

What did you like best about this story?

I like the opportunity to follow the development of these events and characters of Republican Rome through several books.

Have you listened to any of Michael Yorks other performances before? How does this one compare?

Now, I have. He has narrated the subsequent books in this series and I find him the best. Though he uses regional British accents for some of the characters, one gets the intention even if the geography is misplaced.

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

No

Any additional comments?

Abridgement, no good.

great book

Love the book but so much better as an audible book. The performance was awesome

READ the Book Do Not Listen to Abridged Version

Would you try another book from Colleen McCullough and/or Michael York?

Yes

Would you ever listen to anything by Colleen McCullough again?

Yes

Would you be willing to try another one of Michael Yorks performances?

Unsure - If he learned to pronounce the characters in the books correctly (Kickero rather than Cicero).

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

Disappointment. Having read the book, I was looking forward to listening to the series. However, The Grass Crown, Fortune's Favorites, Caesar and Caesar's Women were in abridged version rather than unabridged. The abridged Grass Crown was OK since I knew the story. Fortune's Favorite Was AWFUL. The abridgment was horrible and the narrator didn't know Latin or was unwilling to pronounce people and places correctly.

Any additional comments?

The books and story are fantastic.

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Title: Gwenhwyfar

Subtitle: The White Spirit (A Novel of King Arthur)

Author: Mercedes Lackey

Narrator: Anne Flosnik

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-03-09

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 95 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Gwenhwyfar moves in a world where gods walk among their pagan worshipers, where nebulous visions warn of future perils, and where there are two paths for a woman: the path of the Blessing or the rarer path of the Warrior. Gwenhwyfar chooses the latter, giving up the power that she is born into.

Yet the daughter of a king is never truly free to follow her own calling. Acting as the "son" her father never had, when called upon to serve another purpose by the Ladies of the Well, she bows to circumstances to become Arthur's queen - only to find herself facing temptation and treachery, intrigue and betrayal, but also love and redemption.

Critic Reviews:

"The author of the popular Valdemar series displays her talent for creating a new and surprising story from familiar material." (Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

Good Book, Distracting Narrator

I really enjoyed this book. I love Mercedes Lackey, and this retelling of the King Arthur story was exciting and interesting, especially considering it is not a story I usually enjoy, at all.

However I did find the narration a bit distracting. I often felt like the narrator was spitting words at me, overworking the pronunciation. Even during scenes that could have used a softer tone everything felt overenunciated. Once I got into the story I was able to ignore it most of the time but there were a few times that I found it distracting

I love the "Arthur" Legend new slant

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

First I'd like to say I have roughly 6 different books on the "King Arthur" Legend. All are different, and in this case the story was taken from a woman's point of view. Many people complain about Anne Flosnick's narrations in many of her books she's narrated. I enjoy her narration and I have over 40 books with her narrating. You should always listen to the free snip it that Audible offers, this way you can her the narrator. I find it amazing when people complain about Simon Vance or John Lee because of their British accent.....Please.

What did you like best about this story?

Looking at the Arthur legend from a female perspective, but not just any female, a female warrior, who eventually become his wife.

What does Anne Flosnik bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

I enjoy Anne Flosnik and have no problems with her narrations, as a matter of fact many of us have favorite narrators and look for their name when a new book comes out. I have a list of about 20 that I really enjoy I guess it's a matter of having an ear for an accent. I

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

Well it was kind of long but I finished in two days and really enjoyed it.

Any additional comments?

Almost every one who reviewed this liked the story but complained about the narrator. If it's that bad and you think you'll never listen to it again contact Audible and see if you can get your credit back, or if you paid for it they will refund your credit card. People should talk more about content, or bad editing or distracting music.If you have a problem with narration maybe a recommendation would be good. I tried to listen to "50 Shades of Gray" using the free listen, It was ling finger nails on a chalk board to me. So I'll never listen to it on Audible.

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Title: Fire in the East

Subtitle: Warrior of Rome, Book 1

Author: Harry Sidebottom

Narrator: Stefan Rudnicki

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-29-09

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 148 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

So unfolds an epic drama - a story of empire, heroes, treachery, courage, and most of all, of brutal, bloody warfare.

The spectacular flair for explosive action and depth of literary and geographic knowledge, as well as the psychological complexity of the characters, makes Fire in the East the most authoritative historical adventure novel this year.

Critic Reviews:

"Sidebottom's prose blazes with searing scholarship." (

The Times, London)

Members Reviews:

Was a Bit Sharpe-ish

I am big fan of military history based fiction, mostly in Medieval to the 1800's, therefore I was more than happy to try a new author and a new era. To start the equipment, army organization, and location settings/descriptions were well executed, but good descriptions are not enough alone. I have listened to most of Bernard Cornwells books, and noticed striking similarities to those stories and this one. An example is a bit on the nose, but the main character is from an area/class seen as inferior, somehow rises to command, and is resented for these things. I know this is not unique to Cornwells novels, however this story line is no longer original and cliché for this genre. The second, a bit less obvious is the Hibernian (Irish) sidekick devoted to the main character, much Harper like in the Sharpes series. Those are just a few, however having realized the similarities really took me out of the story. The story line was weak, unoriginal, and poorly executed. The main character commits a major crime in the start of the book, but the author never gives a reason why. Instead the author tries to convince us the character is honorable and not one to sway from his principles. The author also uses cheap tricks to try and awe the readers. I am no prude, but there was an overly graphic sex scene that did not move the story forward. It was if the author was trying to use the shock of the scene to convince the reader of the grittiness of the story. I have no desire to continue with the series and would not recommend it when there are other superior works that have the same storyline.

As good as historical fiction gets...

How lucky I was to stumble across this little gem of a series. Harry Sidebottom takes us to the Roman Empire, c. 260 AD, a time period (235-280 AD) where 25 emperors reigned and the Empire was wracked with rebellion and invasion. Roman commander Ballista is tasked with defending one of the Empire's easternmost outposts against the Sassanid Persians. Unfortunately, due to the state of the Empire, Ballista must also deal with rampant intrigue in the Roman upper ranks.

Mr. Sidebottom has a knack for describing in vivid detail the brutality, violence, and excess of the late Roman period - a time of "iron and rust" as he describes it in the third book of this series. Stefan Rudnicki's narration was also excellent. I greatly enjoyed it and I highly recommend this and the others in the series.

Book started a bit slow

Harry Sidebottom is a fellow in ancient history at Oxford. His expertise shines though this book of historical fiction. The book is set for the most part during the Sassanid siege of Dura Europos (thinly disguised as the City of Arête. In the third century AD, the Roman Empire was in turmoil as civil war tears Italy apart and emperor follows emperor in rapid succession. The protagonist is Marcus Clodius Ballistra, a barbarian prince.

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Title: Colter's Hell

Author: Gary McCarthy

Narrator: Gene Engene

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-18-09

Publisher: Books in Motion

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 11 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Pursued by her vengeful husband, the lovers fought their way into the mythical land, and then fought to stay. But their fight was only the beginning of a grander tale of a land's destiny, a nation's hunger, and of the violence, vision, and tragedy that would make Yellowstone a legacy of all Americans.

Members Reviews:

outstanding book

this is a great book if your into the old west, and historical travels of those who first travel the parts unknown.

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Title: Women of the Bible

Subtitle: Jael's Story

Author: Ann Burton

Narrator: Effie Johnson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-04-09

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 15 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Ann Burton - best-selling author of Rahab's Story - pens a sweeping historical novel about the Biblical heroine who risks all by wielding a tent peg and mallet. In this compelling tale of faith, courage, and romance, Jael boldly seizes a pivotal opportunity to free Israelites - and herself - from years of oppression.

Listen to more titles in the

series.

©2006 Penguin Group (USA) Inc.; (P)2007 Recorded Books, LLC.

Members Reviews:

An engaging story

SPOILER ALERT (well it's a spoiler if you haven't read what the Bible says about Jael - I don't give lots of details though)

On the whole this was a wonderful book - well-written, engaging, thoroughly enjoyable. I thought it was going to be a 5-star review for it... until I reached the part that actually corresponded with scripture.

Let me be fair and say Burton had reasons for how she wrote the story and her logic was solid enough that I plan to read at least one more of her books before deciding whether she's an author I'll read more of. From her perspective she felt Judges 4 and 5 accounts of Jael were inconsistent. I can understand why she felt that way, but personally - since I believe in the inerrancy of the Word - if I read something that seemed contradictory I would assume there was something *I* was not understanding, not that there was an error in the word. I would have respected her more as a writer if she'd accepted the challenge and found a way to write a story that made BOTH accounts of Jael fit. And personally I think the Judges 4 account of the killing actually fit with the character of Jael as she'd written her.

The other thing that just hit me funky was the whole "spirit of the tigress" bit. As a believer I want only one spirit operating - the HOLY Spirit. I know it's simply a way of speaking that she's using and it didn't make me hate the book by any means, but honestly it did detract for me.

All that said there were MANY details about the book I thoroughly enjoyed! I loved the relationships between the woman, the way Burton painted the scenes, how Jael's heart was drawn to Yahweh-Shalom, the interactions between Jael and Levi... all wonderful! Eager to start onWomen of the Bible: Deborah's Story: A Novel: Deborah's Story: A Noveltonight :)

Reader Lover

This author is not the best I have read, however, I enjoy reading so yes, this book is a great enjoyment for me, thank you.

Nicely done.

I enjoyed this story.It was nice to get a perspective on one of the little known women of the Bible. I always enjoy historical fiction and I liked the way this author placed her research into the novels to make it believable and give insight to the ways and culture of the day. The story itself was engaging and I didn't want to put it down. Makes me thankful for the circumstances I find myself in today instead of having to live back then. God's plan for all of us is perfect. Really liked the take this writer had on the story. Makes a lot more sense than some accounts I"ve heard. I like that she also writes to the reader after the story giving background on why she wrote as she did. Nice job Ann.

Women of the Bible: Jael's Story

This is an interesting story about Jael and her cruel husband who also had 2 wives and 2 concubines. These 3 ladies were like sisters who work togwther and support one another when their husband was not around.

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Title: Pretty Birds

Author: Scott Simon

Narrator: Christina Moore

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-21-09

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 28 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Teenaged Irena and her parents are forced into hiding when Bosnian Serbs launch their war of ethnic cleansing against Muslims. But Tedic, a strong-willed Muslim man, convinces Irena to become a sniper and take up the defense of her home and people.

A deadly chess game, Irena's story plays out against the backdrop of a city brutalized by war. Based entirely on true events, Pretty Birds is a powerful and striking tale.

Members Reviews:

In amongst the Shells...

This is not a happy book. In many ways, it's brutal and tragic and angry. Scott Simon has written about a time, a place, a people, primarily through the eyes of Irena.

Irena is a 17-year-old high school basketball star at the start of the war. Seemingly overnight, everything changes for her and her family. Friends, relatives and strangers get killed just for standing in line for water, people live in shot-out buildings, simply existing ias an act of defiance against those who want a greater Serbia and their Muslim neighbors dead.

I first read this book in my early 20s, and I didn't like Irena much. Now that I'm older, I understand her motivation, how idealism and hope can morph into radical defiance.

Scott Simon is a terrific writer, Christina moore is a great narrator. Pick up this book if you're at all interested in this time and place, and one young girl's coming of age in the middle of it.