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Title: Village Diary

Author: Miss Read

Narrator: Gwen Watford

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-04-10

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit

Publisher's Summary:

As I have been given a large and magnificent diary for Christmas... I intend to fill it in as long as my ardour lasts. Luckily, Miss Reads ardour lasts all year, encompassing every aspect of Fairacre life.

Whether embroiled unwillingly in her friend Amys marital hiccups, discussing the changing world with Miss Clare or the modern problems of good local education and rural impoverishment with the schools inspector and the doctor, she remains balanced, humorous and wise and never forgets either her most important charge, the mixed bag of children in her school, or the joys of the changing seasons.

Members Reviews:

Village diary

This is marvellous. The humour, the events, the history. All told in wonderful tones of english diction and great sense of humour. I lived it with her, and when it ended I rushed to buy another one in the series. Fantastic.

memories

A good listen on a sunny afternoon in a deck chair remembering your lost childhood, before the kids call they are hungry

Gentle, enjoyable series

What made the experience of listening to Village Diary the most enjoyable?

Rediscovering old friends in Thrush Green and Fairacre has been very enjoyable. I read all of Miss Read's books many years ago and having them read to me has been very pleasant.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Village Diary?

I enjoyed all of it.

Have you listened to any of Gwen Watfords other performances? How does this one compare?

Gwen Watford is an excellent narrator for Miss Read's books, She is by far the best of those I have heard.

Hooray For Miss Read

Whether it is a Miss Read novel or one of Thrush Green, I always feel soothed & happy listening to Gwen Watford narrating these stories. She is my absolute favourite for these books & is part of the magic. These are not fairy stories, but tell of everyday life, with its sadness & happiness, but from an era when values were different. Relish the nostalgia!

How Refreshing.

Such a truly delightful diary it takes me back to my tender years as a child and how much I now admire the hard work and patience that went into teaching back then but village life even then is so refreshingly brought to life with all the characters and such a wonderful narration by Gwen I really enjoyed this and have now downloaded more Miss Read to listen to.

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Title: Marrying the Mistress

Author: Joanna Trollope

Narrator: Lindsay Duncan

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 02-01-10

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit

Publisher's Summary:

Merrion Palmer has been Judge Guy Stockdale's mistress for the last seven years and his wife and two grown-up sons know absolutely nothing about her. Up until now, Guy and Merrion have enjoyed a blissfully, uncomplicated relationship in stolen moments in Merrion's flat, and to the rest of the world, Guy has played the part of model husband, father and grandfather.

But now the time has come for things to change. Guy has become conscious of wasted years and he wants to share his relationship with Merrion with the world. He wants, dammit, to marry her. Yet he is quite unprepared for the storm that will follow...

Critic Reviews:

"The court official leaned closer. 'What's gone past', he said, 'is not just an advocate, any old lady advocate. What's gone past is his Honour's totty.' And what's going past is the life of Guy Stockdale, a 62-year-old judge, who has been married forever, has two sons--Simon and Alan--and three grandchildren. For the past seven years, he's also had a mistress. Merrion Palmer is intelligent, attractive, and half Guy's age, which also makes her younger than both Simon and Alan. Her dad died when she was a toddler and she's well aware that Guy is something of a father substitute. For years the role of mistress has suited her, but, suddenly, this style of relationship isn't enough for either of them. They've both had enough of sneaking around and avoiding people, so Guy has momentously made up his mind to leave his wife, Laura, and marry Merrion. Marrying the Mistress dives into the shock waves that buffet the Stockdale family after Guy leaves Laura. The novel addresses the question of how his sons are going to cope, the explosive opinions of his forthright daughter-in-law Carrie and what his teenage grandchildren make of it all. Can any of them avoid taking sides? Should they? And what about the abandoned wife, Laura, a woman apparently so long-sufferingly self-sacrificing she makes Mother Teresa look selfish? From queen of the saga Joanna Trollope comes a dexterous portrayal of the causes and effects of marital breakdown." (Amazon.com review)

Members Reviews:

My least favorite Joanna Trollope book

What would have made Marrying the Mistress better?

I personally didn't enjoy the narrator of this title - I don't know if it was her inflection, or the writing, but I thought the characters were on the whole awful people.

Would you ever listen to anything by Joanna Trollope again?

I've previously really enjoyed all of the previous Trollope books - would consider another one.

How could the performance have been better?

Different narrator definitely.

What character would you cut from Marrying the Mistress?

The daughters Rachel and Emma - horrible girls, spoilt.

Any additional comments?

Just overall completely unimpressed.

Joanna Trollope at her best !

Would you listen to Marrying the Mistress again? Why?

Joanna Trollope explores family life presenting the intimate emotional heart of it.

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Title: The Brightest Star in the Sky

Author: Marian Keyes

Narrator: Gerri Halligan

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-12-09

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 57 votes

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit

Publisher's Summary:

Fate is on its way to the tenants of 66 Star Street, bringing with it love and tragedy, friendship and heartbreak, and the power to change lives....

One of them is falling in love; another is torn between two lovers. For some, secrets they want to stay buried will come to light, and for others, the unveiling of those secrets will have tragic consequences.

Members Reviews:

Not quite typical

This was the first audio-book I down loaded and I have to say I was very pleased. I had a 1600km car trip in front of me and I listened to it the whole journey.

Whilst I found it enjoyable it was not quite a typical Marian Keyes. There were more 'dark' overtones and it was more serious in parts than her usual free spirited style of writing.

All in all... not bad:)

Easy Listening

If you enjoy Marian Keyes, this is a novel similar to her others. The numerous characters live in one apartment building, we get to know some of their thoughts thanks to a "spirit" looking for ...the intent of which we are told almost at the end of the book. It sounds weird and at the word spirit, I probably would not have downloaded this book. While it does sound strange, it is not evil or wacky, it is a light book with some deep matter involved. Overall I did enjoy this very much, Marian Keyes is an author that does not disappoint.

Marian Keyes is my favourite

I love anything she writes, cant get enough of all/any of her writing. Very funny, real and sad. Quite different to most of her other books. I just love the Irish,

Involving

I loved the way I was sucked into the story. The characters where (some) funny and (some) very real and it was nice going on a rollercoaster with them.

The ending left me very satisfied

Chick Lit and Proudly Irish

Marian Keyes is always entertaining. I always really care about her characters. She certainly has the knack of bring people alive and making them individuals. In The Brightest Star, her plot is not 'deep and meaningful' and as 'easy reading' this is a treasure for a cold winter afternoon on the sofa with a wine and a box of chocolates. Gerri Halligan reads with fun and vitality.

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Title: The Glassblower of Murano

Author: Marina Fiorato

Narrator: Cristian Solimeno, Kate Magowan

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-12-09

Publisher: Audio Rights Solutions

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 106 votes

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit

Publisher's Summary:

A wonderful combination of mystery, historical intrigue, and love, written by an English/Venetian author, which tells a story of passion, genius and betrayal linking the present and the past.

Nora Manin decides to leave her fractured life in London to start again in Venice, and there begins to unravel the story of her ancestor, Corradino Manin, the greatest artist of glass that the island of Murano ever produced.

Members Reviews:

This is why we love historical fiction...

A gorgeous and decadent listen. One reviewer wrote that it was "operatically overblown", and I can only raise one eyebrow to this reviewer who has surely never been to Venice. Certainly the writer would have been helped by a sharper editor and perhaps a thesaurus (a few too many "peerless smiles" and offers of "respite" escaped the editor's pencil), although repetition was used elsewhere to great effect in weaving the stories of past and present together. So beautifully done that you can easily forgive a bit of contrivance here and there. I loved it and enjoyed floating in and out of old and new Venice. Kudos to the narrators, well chosen, whose performance added much to the experience. Great summer/holiday/treat read, well worth the credit. Recommended!

Great Story and Narration!!

One of those listens that is hard to put down. The characters were believable. The story was interesting. And the narrators were spot on. The descriptions of the glassblowing were of such that you could almost convince yourself you actually saw it!!

The only thing I didn't like about the audio was the instrumental between chapters. The instrumental wasn't bad but the volume was, irritatingly, louder than the narration.

Too quiet

This was a decent story but the readers used very quiet voices in order to mimic the style of the author and this made it very difficult to hear. I have been an Audible customer for more than seven years and never written a review. In this case, though, I felt like it was important for others who like to read while they do other things (like dishes) that they wouldn't be able to hear the readers.

Great book not so great production

I loved the book, the characters were memorable and the descriptions of Venice beautiful, but what producer would play music at least ten times louder than the voice level of the actors. I would be reading quietly at night and deep into the story then music would blare out loudly. Very off putting. Will definitely read this author again only if with a different audio producer.

Enjoyable

I am a Glassblower -Marina captured the essence of the 'feeling' of the Crystal.

Hated the Muzak between the chapters!

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Title: Twenties Girl

Author: Sophie Kinsella

Narrator: Rosalyn Landor

Format: Abridged

Length: 6 hrs and 29 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-14-09

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 42 votes

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit

Publisher's Summary:

When the spirit of Lara's great-aunt Sadie, a feisty, demanding girl with firm ideas about fashion, love, and the right way to dance mysteriously appears, she has one last request: Lara must find a missing necklace that had been in Sadie's possession for more than 75 years, and Sadie cannot rest without it. Lara, on the other hand, has a number of ongoing distractions. Her best friend and business partner has run off to Goa, her start-up company is floundering, and she's just been dumped by the "perfect" man.

Sadie, however, could care less.

Lara and Sadie make a hilarious sparring duo, and at first it seems as though they have nothing in common. But as the mission to find Sadie' necklace leads to intrigue and a new romance for Lara, these very different "twenties" girls learn some surprising truths from each other along the way. Written with all the irrepressible charm and humor that have made Sophie Kinsella's books beloved by millions, Twenties Girl is also a deeply moving testament to the transcendent bonds of friendship and family.

Members Reviews:

Fun sweet read

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

yes because I like the heroine and her ghost aunt.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

the character development of both the ghost coming to terms with her past and the heroine letting go of her obsession with an exboyfriend and maturing and having a healthier relationship with someone more mature and appropriate of her

What three words best describe Rosalyn Landors voice?

elegant, classy, lovely

Could you see Twenties Girl being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

yes, I do. I think Liv Tyler should play the lead and Hugh Dancy as the nice boyfriend

Nonsense Nonsense

My expectations from a Sophie Kinsella story are not that high. But usually a light and entertaining tale. this was just the over the top unrealistic, predictable nonsense. I won't be downloading any other new Kinsella anytime soon, sorry.

Twenties Girl

Interesting at times but also a bit boring!

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Title: The Women in Black

Author: Madeleine St. John

Narrator: Deidre Rubenstein

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-04-09

Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 18 votes

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit

Publisher's Summary:

The women in black are run off their feet, what with the Christmas rush and the summer sales that follow. But it's Sydney in the 1950s, and there's still just enough time left on a hot and frantic day to dream and scheme... By the time the last marked-down frock has been sold, most of the staff of the Ladies' Cocktail section at F. G. Goode's have been launched into slightly different careers.

With the lightest touch and the most tender of comic instincts, Madeleine St. John conjures a vanished summer of innocence.

Editorial Reviews:

Madeleine St. Johns witty, sprightly comedy of manners, set in Sydney in the late 1950s, is propelled by the buoyant and effervescent performance of narrator Deidre Rubenstein, who is more than up to the task in portraying Fay, Lisa, and Patty, the novels three central characters - all employees of Goodes department store - united by their jaded outlook on the opposite sex and the unexpected twists and turns their personal and professional lives undergo during the whirlwind Christmas shopping season in this light-hearted and diverting audiobook.

Critic Reviews:

A little gem...shot through with old-fashioned innocence and sly humour." (Vogue)

"A highly sophisticated work, full of funny, sharp and subtle observations...a small masterpiece." (Sunday Times, London)

Members Reviews:

A Slice of Literary Sunshine

When Text Publishing recently re-released Madeleine St John's The Women in Black, I was thrilled. My copy of the original edition, published in the early 1990s, was borrowed by someone who enjoyed it so much she never troubled to return it, and I was always extremely annoyed, because it is a truly marvellous novel that deserves to be recommended to a wide audience as a minor Australian classic.

The story covers six weeks in the lives of a group of women who work in a thinly fictionalised version of Sydney's flagship David Jones store in the 1950s. Each is at a different watershed in her life. Lisa (her name is really Lesley, but Lisa is more romantic) is a schoolgirl waiting for her matriculation results. Faye is a burnt out party girl, always falling for Mr Wrong, and seeing her chances of settling down with Mr Right fading rapidly as she moves into her thirties. Patty is trapped in a boring marriage with a drongo, with whom she shares little but a desperate desire for children who have never come. And in the midst of everything is Magda, the exotic Slovenian 'New Australian', who rules over Model Gowns like a benevolent despot, and who manages to be fairy godmother while scheming like Machiavelli behind the scenes.

It is hard to underestimate the charm of The Women in Black. On the one hand it is an intelligent feel-good novel, but it was written by a uniquely talented stylist, and manages to be far more than that. It is one of those rare books that can be recommended to practically anyone; so elegantly written, so wryly observed, and so beautifully peopled with thoroughly believable characters that it bears repeated re-readings. As an evocation of a particular moment in Australian history, it is hardly to be excelled. The audio performance was thoroughly enjoyable, even by somebody who has read the book as many times as I have. Please, give this slice of literary sunshine a go.

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Title: Echoes

Author: Maeve Binchy

Narrator: Kate Binchy

Format: Unabridged

Length: 18 hrs and 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-08-09

Publisher: Orion Publishing Group

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 32 votes

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit

Publisher's Summary:

This is the story of two very different children growing up in a small Irish seaside town in the '50s and '60s. Shouting their hearts' desires into the echo cave, praying that their destiny will lead them far away from the town in which they live.

Castlebay, in winter empty and grey with wind and sea spray, becomes all bustle and colour in the gaudy days of summer. The paths of these two characters are destined to criss-cross in a quite unforeseen way, and eventually both roads will lead back to Castlebay.

The end of this long drama of ambition, betrayal, and love is played out in the seaside town where it began, against a backdrop of whispered family gossip and the tangled skein of past friendships.

Members Reviews:

Binchy echoes strongly with real life

Another satisfying Maeve Binchy offering, dealing with class prejudice, education, aspirations, growing up and moral dilemmas seen from the viewpoint of the realistically drawn characters who populate Castlebay. Whilst involving some 'heavy' issues, dealing with traumas such as as post- natal depression, loss of religious vocation the story is leavened, as is usual with Binchy's novels, with light heartedness and humour which make the whole an intelligent and thought provoking read, with memorable and believable characters. As ever, Kate Binchy's narration of the book is a joy and adds pleasure to the whole experience.

One of her best!

What made the experience of listening to Echoes the most enjoyable?

This author's work can sometimes be a little bit "soapy" and predictable but this one kept my attention all the way through. In fact the tension actually builds towards the end and I genuinely wanted to know how it would turn out. Who is going to be the body that washes up on the shore?

What about Kate Binchys performance did you like?

Kate Binchy did an excellent job when reading this book especially when switching from one voice to another in conversations. Her voice was a little soft and so the audio from my kindle fire HD was a little on the low side but that was solved by using my Bluetooth speakers so not really a problem.

Any additional comments?

I would recommend the book to anyone who likes real life drama. It is certainly worth using a monthly credit to purchase it. Good value, a great story and well read although you might like to speak up a bit next time Kate!

echoes

my first audio book .i loved it

,it was read really well which made it more enjoyable

Excellent reading

Maeve Binchy never fails, I do hope there is a continuation of Tom & Clare's life in further books, I felt I could have just gone another eighteen hours, with their story.

Joy of Binchy

I love the stories by Maeve Binchy and have read them all, Echoes is no exception. Her characters are real and through them she opens a window into life in Ireland during this time. Kate Binchy reading the stories is a real bonus, her love of the characters and stories shines through and her accent just adds to the listeners enjoyment.

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Title: Hope in a Jar

Author: Beth Harbison

Narrator: Orlagh Cassidy

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-08-09

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 136 votes

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit

Publisher's Summary:

Now, on the eve of their 20th high-school reunion, Allie, a temp worker, finds herself suddenly single, a little chubby, and feeling old. Olivia, a cool and successful magazine beauty editor in New York, realizes she's lonely, and is finally ready to face her demons. Sometimes hope lives in the future; sometimes it comes from the past; and sometimes, when every stupid thing goes wrong, it comes from a prettily packaged jar filled with scented cream and promises.

Beth Harbison has done it again. A hilarious and touching novel about friendship, Love's Baby Soft perfume, Watermelon Lip Smackers, bad run-ins with Sun-In, and the healing power of "Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific." Hope in a Jar: we all need it.

Members Reviews:

Very Light Read... But Just 'OK'

The book started with a bang and I must confess that was what immediately drew me into the title. To be honest however, after that, the book kinda fizzled... There were some very note-worthy sections in the book, sections that make you smile and laugh, sections that make you shake your head and others that make you simply leave you mildly surprised. The thing that takes away from the book however I have found is that it is rather predictable. After the first couple chapters one starts knowing what to expect throughout the rest of the title. Generally, it is an 'ok' book, with an 'ok' story-line and an 'above average' performance. Overall... the book is simply.... 'ok'.

friends come and go but .....

I really liked this story. I loved the turns the story took several times. Was fast fun I had to sit in the car a few times to finish a chaper before I could stop. I like the ending and how lifes challanges did not always turn out happy and peaceful but like in real life the bumps hurt and the tides do turn. great addition glad I got it.

Fun read

Beth Harbison catches the dialogue, feelings, and life of women quite well. A fast, easy listen that kept my attention throughout.

Too light

I was looking for something light....unfortunately this story was too light in that it was completely predictable. You knew exactly what was going to happen, and the characters were unbelievable. Seriously, Ali is 38 and has been friends with Noah since middle school and has no clue he has feelings for her? The author should have stuck with the flashbacks where the characters felt more real and published as a YA book.

Love it!

Beth Harbison's books are fanatic! Can't wait to read or hear the next one!

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Title: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

Author: Rebecca Wells

Narrator: Rebecca Wells

Format: Abridged

Length: 3 hrs and 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-07-09

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 15 votes

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit

Publisher's Summary:

Siddalee, a successful theater director with a huge hit on her hands, panics and postpones her upcoming wedding to her lover and friend, Connor McGill. Vivi's intrepid gang of lifelong girlfriends, the Ya-Yas, sashay in and conspire to bring everyone back together.

Visit Ya-Ya.com, where you can:

Critic Reviews:

"Mary McCarthy...and a host of others have portrayed the power and value of female friendships, but no one has done it with more grace, charm, talent, and power than ...Wells does in Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood." (Richmond Times Dispatch)

Members Reviews:

listen over and over

God how I love to listen to these stories. it makes me wish I knew the back stories of my mom and friends/sisters.

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Title: The Homecoming and Other Stories

Author: Maeve Binchy

Narrator: Kate Binchy, Sean Campion, Joanna Myers, Patricia Hodge

Format: Unabridged

Length: 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-21-09

Publisher: BBC Worldwide Limited

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 91 votes

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit

Publisher's Summary:

Maeve Binchy is one of Britain's most popular storytellers, and these four tales demonstrate the warmth and compassion that have made her many novels bestsellers.

In 'Homecoming', read by Sean Campion, the Brennans run Quentin's restaurant in Dublin for the owner, who lives abroad. But what will happen when he suddenly pays a visit?

'Telling Stories', read by Joanna Myers, sees Irene's fiancé turning up the night before the wedding with a face as white as the dress that is to be worn the next day. Then trouble starts....

In 'Needy', read by Patricia Hodge, Heather is painfully aware that Valentine's Day declarations of love should be viewed with suspicion, even if the sender is the one she loves.

And in 'The Interview', read by Kate Binchy, Bessie is deaf and needs a place in a special school. But will she pass the interview?

Finely crafted and full of wit and charm, these are stories that no fan of Maeve Binchy will want to be without.

Members Reviews:

Really enjoyed it.

I love Mauve Binchy and have loved her stories for decades. I started with Light a Penny Candle, and have read nearly all of her novels and short stories, most several times.

Short Stories

Quick read in typical Binchy style. I bought it as a book under $10.00, wouldn't recommend buying it outright.

Oh Maeve Binchy, How I will miss your stories!

One of my favorite authors, this is a delightful short story collection that showcases Maeve's talent for creating likeable, interesting characters. The folks in charge of getting her books narrated have always chosen excellent narrators too. I really will miss looking forward to her next book now that she has passed away.

Delightful Short Stories

I was unfamiliar with Maeve Binchy's work. I must say I loved all these stories. I love Irish everything, and these stories transported me to the Emerald Isle completely!

fabulous

right voices to read the stories so easy on your ears so smoothly whole way through