Download the New Releases Audiobooks in Fiction, Contemporary

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Title: Water Bound

Subtitle: A Sea Haven Novel

Author: Christine Feehan

Narrator: Angela Brazil

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-04-10

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 710 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The last thing Sid remembered was being enlisted to protect a vulnerable young woman in the coastal town of Sea Haven. Then, as if in some nightmare, he was lost in the swirling currents of the ocean, and sucked deeper into a freezing black eddy. Just as quickly, he was saved - pulled ashore by a beautiful stranger. Her name is Rikki, a sea-urchin diver in Sea Haven. Soon they will be bound by tantalizing secrets, which will engulf them both in a whirlpool of passion and danger.

Members Reviews:

A new start with a dash of reunion

Let me first say that the posted Summary for this book is wrong:

Publisher's Summary

The last thing Sid remembered was being enlisted to protect a vulnerable young woman in the coastal town of Sea Haven. Then, as if in some nightmare, he was lost in the swirling currents of the ocean, and sucked deeper into a freezing black eddy. Just as quickly, he was saved - pulled ashore by a beautiful stranger. Her name is Rikki, a sea-urchin diver in Sea Haven. Soon they will be bound by tantalizing secrets, which will engulf them both in a whirlpool of passion and danger.

His name is not Sid nor was he enlisted to protect a vulnerable young woman in Sea Haven. His name is Lev and he was rescued by Rikki when he was on a ship that was went down near Sea Haven (from the last book in the Sea Haven Sisters Series). He isn't there to rescue anyone and he isn't needed to rescue Rikki either. She's a strong woman that can rescue herself - and does so.

The story is laid out as a first in the new series and I felt it lacked a little more of the introduction and connection to the other characters that were coming in the series within this book. Rikki is supposed to be close to her sisters and though not too close due to her condition the reader isn't given much information on the sisters, just a brief introduction to them with a little more for one of the other sisters. Of that I feel the story lacked the connection the reader should have as this is a series. The story does have it slow points, but I feel that the character Rikki needs this... and the action warms up in the last 1/4 of the book. If you've read the previous series it's a little reunion with Jonas and Hannah - just a little bit, but you are reminded of the history... some of which actually isn't resolved by the end of the book. This was disappointing to me personally as I feel it should have been resolved and done so in this book - but I can hope it does so within the next coming books in the series.

The narrator for this story didn't do a great job. She didn't make the male characters sound... well, male. Everything kind of blended when it came to character identification. I wish that the narrator for the original Sea Haven series had done this one. Also I feel that the narrator went to far in assuming what a high level Autistic adult would sound like. At times she was fine and at other it felt like a speech pattern was used that was very "different". Be consistent. Also the tone of the story was slow due to the narrator. Lastly the audio had an echo which can be quite disturbing. If you start and stop the story quite a few times this might be a huge problem.

Paranormal with a poignant twist

Christine Feehan is known for giving her characters extraordinary powers. But I found the heroine in Water Bound to be particularly touching.

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Title: Backseat Saints

Author: Joshilyn Jackson

Narrator: Joshilyn Jackson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-08-10

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 713 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Rose Mae Lolley is a fierce and dirty girl, long-suppressed under flowery skirts and bow-trimmed ballet flats. As "Mrs. Ro Grandee", she's trapped in a marriage that's thick with love and sick with abuse. Her true self has been bound in the chains of marital bliss in rural Texas, letting "Ro" make eggs, iron shirts, and take her punches. She seems doomed to spend the rest of her life battered outside by her husband and inside by her former self, until fate throws her in the path of an airport gypsy - one who shares her past and knows her future. The tarot cards foretell that Rose's beautiful, abusive husband is going to kill her. Unless she kills him first.

Hot-blooded Rose Mae escapes from under Ro's perky compliance and emerges with a gun and a plan to beat the hand she's been dealt. Following messages that her long-missing mother has left hidden for her in graffiti and behind paintings, Rose and her dog Gretel set out from Amarillo, Texas, back to her hometown of Fruiton, Alabama, and then on to California, unearthing a host of family secrets as she goes. Running for her life, she realizes that she must face her past in order to overcome her fate---death by marriage---and become a girl who is strong enough to save herself from the one who loves her best.

Backseat Saints will dazzle listeners with a fresh and heartwrenching portrayal of the lengths a mother will go to right the wrongs she's created, and how far a daughter will go to escape the demands of forgiveness. With the seed of a minor character from her popular best-seller Gods in Alabama, Jackson has built a whole new story full of her trademark sly wit, endearingly off-kilter characters, and utterly riveting plot twists.

Members Reviews:

Loved this audio!

Joshilyn Jackson is such a wonderful writer that it almost doesn't even matter what she is writing about. Her prose is so arresting that she could bring any subject to life. Her voice reading the story is the perfect voice for Rose May too. she has that Southern sweet girl/bad girl voice down pat.

I highly recommend this audio. I've purchased and listened to all her other books and loved them all but I think she's really topped herself with this one.

Looking forward to the next book!

Best Fiction EVER!

This book is absolutely amazing! It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time & had me sympathizing with the main character (due to the excellent in-depth character development) throughout the audiobook. Ms. Jackson's naration is beyond superb; she isn't just a fabulous writer, she's a marvelous voice over artist! This is one of my favorite three books/audiobooks of-all time. I simply can't recommend it enough! Get it for yourself AND gift it to all your friends!

Liked the book - LOVED her voice

I usually tire of really descriptive verbage but so enjoyed the analogies that I actually could see and enjoy "seeing" Joshilyn's descriptions. I loved her narration. I find that over 50% of how well I like the book is how well the voice fits the character and I thought it was perfect.

A Southern Belle Finds Herself

Once again, Joshilyn Jackson has written an interesting tale of Southern women. What I particularly liked about this one was Ms. Jackson's development of a the love/hate, push pull of an abusive relationship and the strength it takes to move on. While writing about a very difficult subject matter.

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Title: Mockingbird

Author: Kathryn Erskine

Narrator: Angela Jayne Rogers

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 20 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-17-10

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 152 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

National Book Award, Young People's Literature, 2010

In Mockingbirda poignant gem by acclaimed author Kathryn Erskinea talented young artist struggles to overcome a disability. Diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome, 10-year-old Caitlin faces a range of social and emotional challenges. The unexpected death of her caring brother makes matters even worse, but will the memory of his words of wisdom and the help of a compassionate counselor be enough to enable her to connect with others?

Critic Reviews:

Erskines moving and insightful masterpiece delivers a compelling message for all. (

Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Wonderful story of Healing

When I started reading this book, I had no idea it would take me on this wonderful trip into the mind of a girl like Caitlin. Born with Asperger's Syndrome, she is a high functioning, highly intelligient girl who develops her social skills and emotional perceptiveness throughout the book. Her drive is amazing and by the end of the journey, this spit-fire of a youngster with lots of confidence not only helps bring healing to her family, but to an entire community. I loved this book. Thanks, Ms. Erskine.

Excellent book for ALL readers

But especially parents of special needs kids. 2012 National Book Award for Young Peoples Literature. Wonderful book written in the first person by an Aspergers girl whose older brother was killed in a shooting spree at the middle school. Caitlin is a hilarious character, finely drawn and oh so accurate. This is a laugh out loud story for any SNK parent/sibling/friend. Its wonderful. Caitlin is wonderful, and so was Devon.

Very touching and inspirational

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

I recommend this wonderful story of a young girl with Asperger's who learns how to feel and what's important in the world. Insights for all of us to read and remember.

What did you like best about this story?

The narrative is skillfully crafted and leads us along with the main character, Caitlyn, on a journey of self-discovery.

Have you listened to any of Angela Jayne Rogerss other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't listened to Rogers' performances before this, but I felt she captured the young character perfectly.

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

The last few chapters of the book brought tears to my eyes.

Touching

Beautiful story and really allows you the opportunity to get inside the head of someone with challenges that many of us do not have to face. The theme of this story is empathy and it is no different for the reader. I hope if you read this book that you can better understand the life of someone with Aspergers and maybe be a little more kind, a little more understanding, and a little more empathetic.

Great Book!!!

My son had to read this for his high school literature class. He doesn't like to read, but he had no problem reading this book. He loved it so much I just had to read it too!

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Title: The Walk

Author: Richard Paul Evans

Narrator: Richard Paul Evans

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 19 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-06-10

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 805 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

What would you do if you lost everything - your job, your home, and the love of your life - all at the same time? When it happens to Seattle ad executive Alan Christoffersen, he's tempted by his darkest thoughts. A bottle of pills in his hand and nothing left to live for, he plans to end his misery. Instead, he decides to take a walk. But not any ordinary walk. Taking with him only the barest of essentials, Al leaves behind all that he's known and heads for the farthest point on his map: Key West, Florida. The people he encounters along the way, and the lessons they share with him, will save his life and inspire yours.

Richard Paul Evans' extraordinary New York Times best sellers have made him one of the worlds most beloved storytellers. A life-changing journey, both physical and spiritual, The Walk is the first of an unforgettable series of books about one man's search for hope.

Members Reviews:

Great listen but why is it so SHORT?

I really enjoyed this short story and am left wondering, since there are at least five books in the series, why oh why are they so short? It is totally unnecessary and I am left with a slight negative feeling from a book that I otherwise loved listening to.

Alan Christoffersen's life falls apart in a matter of weeks. Everything that he knew and loved is gone, and he has to make some pretty serious decisions. His first decision is whether he even wants to go on living. Well, there wouldn't be any book at all if he did himself in, so that is no spoiler. Besides, you already know he is going on a long, long walk (5 books worth, so far).

Alan's walk becomes what I might call a spiritual endeavor (but not really religious) and I feel he is going to learn some of life's deeper and more important lessons as he continues on his cross country trek. This is a very gentle, sweet book that moves along at a walker's pace. I enjoyed it immensely and I do look forward to continuing the journey .

This is an author-narrated book. Authors are not necessarily the best narrators, I think we all would agree, but sometimes that can acceptable. Evan's tells his story in a quiet, believable fashion, so much so that I had to do some research to find out if this was a novel or true story at the beginning.

So, all in all, this was a very positive listening experience for me despite the above-mentioned shortness of the audiobook.

A story of Hope

Over the last week I've been listening to "The Walk" during my morning walks and it's been a great match. I've looked forward to the next installment each day, and I'll be downloading the next book. This isn't a flashy tale, just a story of a man facing Job-like challenges, his life stripped away to nothing, working his way back to meaning.

Excellent a Must Read

What a great book. It left me with a very nice feeling knowing we are all on our walk and have yet to meet all the people we are to meet. I cannot wait to read the next book.

Quite Enjoyable!

Honestly, I had no idea this was the first book in a series. When I finished listening, I was disappointed that the "Walk" had barely started, but the story had taken a turn, and it really did wrap things up nicely. When searching for other books by Richard Paul Evans, I discovered this was Book 1 of 5!! I was very happy, because I was really enjoying the journey.

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Title: The Lost Get-Back Boogie

Author: James Lee Burke

Narrator: Will Patton

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-23-09

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 216 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Called "America's best novelist" by the Denver Post, James Lee Burke is well known for his award-winning Dave Robicheaux series. In this enthralling departure, Burke weaves the tale of Iry Paret.

Released from prison after two years for manslaughter, Iry heads to Montana for a fresh start on a ranch owned by a prison buddy's father. He also hopes to nail down a song he's been working on, unable to get quite right. But soon new troubles bring tragic consequences, and it will take a lot more than a soulful tune to ease the pain.

Members Reviews:

A bit lost

Burke is my favorite author and Will Patton my favorite narrator so when they combine I buy immediately. This is a good story and Burke is a teller of tales so I did enjoy this book. I did not like the main character very much though and did not agree with his lifestyle although I myself drink a bit and used to smoke. I do not believe this to be Burke's best work so I gave it four stars and he usually gets five from me. It is still worth the credit and Burke's prose read by Will Patton makes it worthwhile.

Bought all Burkes's Audiobooks- Wish Not this one

I always snap up his books as soon as available. This one drags and drones, wallows and weeps without any relief forever. I had to stop and switch to something else while on a long trip because my pocket knife was within reach and I was afraid I might cut my throat. We need Clete and Dave Robicheaux to partner again in his next release; to wash the taste of this one away.

Missing an Ending

This was a confusing book for me. The writing was terriffic as with all of James Lee Burke books. The characters were interesting and I felt that they would eventually come together and tell the story. However, this never happened. This book reminded me of an abridged book. In this case however the part that was shortened or left out was the ending. There wasn't one. It was as if Burke was tired of writing and just decided to stop. It made no sense what so ever and spoiled the book for me. As usual the narration by Will Patton was excellent.

Let's get drunk and then fight!

Is this what it's like to "be a man" in James Lee Burke's experience? His books are better written than just about anyone's but, God I get tired of the constant boozing and then being sorry for it! Are drunks really this stupid?

Will Patton is the best! No one reads a story betteras well, maybe (and few can do that)but not better. He is superb!

If you've read Burke before then you already know about the drunks who pepper all his stories. The characters of this story may be the worst of all of them. Still, it is a good story. Typical James Lee Burke.

OK - But Not Burke's Best Work

This is kind of an odd book. As usual, Burke's eloquent descriptive prose is here, along with his frequent, thoughtful meditations on the human condition. But there really isn't much of a coherent plot here. A recently released ex-convict and gifted musician tries to navigate his way to a meaningful life, all while watching the lives of everybody around him crash and burn due to their various character defects and the inherent brutality and cruelty of the world. That really does capture the entire plot here. It seems like Burke is trying to write more of a character-driven novel here instead of his more usual, exciting dramas.

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Title: Bo's Cafe

Author: John Lynch, Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol

Narrator: Roger Mueller

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-25-09

Publisher: Oasis Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 152 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

High-powered executive Steven Kerner has no idea his tightly wound American dream is about to come crashing down. His high-profile, high-octane life has always provided everything he's wanted. Or so he thought. When his unresolved anger threatens his marriage, and his attempts to fix it only drive the one he loves farther away, he is pushed to the brink. An invitation from mystery man Andy Monroe may be the greatest hope Steven's ever been handed.

©2009 Bill Thrall (P)2009 Oasis

Members Reviews:

The most amazing book I have ever listened too!

This book is a must "read" for everyone. Man, woman, married or single there's something here for everyone. The insight the authors show is uncanny. My marriage, and personal and business relationships will benefit from the time I spent with this book.

The narrator is amazingly talented. He does an amazing job giving the characters lifelike personalities.

A must read for every man

Great narrator who keeps your interest. The story hits home with many twists and turns as Stephen begins to discover his true identity as a man, husband and father.

Great auditory experience

Where does Bo's Cafe rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

Bo's Cafe is top of the list of my favorite audio books.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Bo's Cafe?

The narrator does a good job of blending in emotions and varied voice impressions to give the listener an unforgettable experience. It felt like sitting in a movie theatre and watching the story play out on the big screen

Have you listened to any of Roger Muellers other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first of Roger's performances for me but I will definitely find others

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

True belonging - scary but rewarding!

What's the point?

When I read it book I expect it to entertain, relax or help me learn. Bos café accomplished none of these. Its about a guy named Stephen that has issues, more issues than the book or Andy (the Mr.Miagi/Obi Wan) even acknowledges or addresses. I found reading this book to be very stressful,listening to a married couple argue about their marriage is something I can neither relate to or care to spend time digesting. I expected this book to be a Christian title but never heard any verses that normally a human would grab ahold of for comfort or shelter. Instead we were feed quips that were intended to be insightful or wise but come across as silly and flaccid. This book is a great example of what semi-pelagianism looks like in Christian literature today.

Enlightening!

Finished in two days! It's was easy to apply alot of the book to my own situations. My haha moment was the talk about trusting people! Thank you!

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Title: The Beach

Author: Alex Garland

Narrator: Michael Page

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-11-09

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 269 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The Khao San Road, Bangkok - first stop for the hordes of rootless young Westerners traveling in Southeast Asia. On Richard's first night there, a fellow traveler slashes his wrists, bequeathing to Richard a meticulously drawn map to "the Beach".

The Beach, as Richard comes to learn, is a subject of legend among the young travelers in Asia: a lagoon hidden from the sea, with white sand and coral gardens, freshwater falls surrounded by jungle, plants untouched for thousands of years. There, it is rumored, a carefully selected international few have settled into a communal Eden.

Richard sets off with a young French couple to an island hidden away in an archipelago forbidden to tourists. They discover the Beach, and it is as beautiful as it is reputed to be. Yet over time it becomes clear that Beach culture, as Richard calls it, has troubling, even deadly undercurrents.

©1998 Alex Garland; (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Members Reviews:

Weed and the beach

Any additional comments?

I liked that a good book that is critically acclaimed about pot heads on a beach exists. You can tell the guy who wrote it is mixing in his own worldly experiences with his love of weed and interesting stories. I liked this book, and the way he tells it, you can almost tell when he is referencing his own life. Ending was kind of freaky but surprises are always fun. The reader does a good job with all the characters and accents and does not have any annoying habits, I recommend this book and audio book to anyone, stoner or not. Oh ya it was interesting to read a book written by a British person, instead of saying he ways 170 lbs, for example, he says 11 stone! Haha. It is neat to see how other people view Americans. Too bad there were no Americans living on the beach, but there were some in the book playing a key role. Just dont waist your time with the movie till you have read/listened to the book.

One of my favorites. Way different than the movie!

If you like traveling and are sick of people, this is the book for you.

Bona Fide Fiction

I started reading this book soon after moving to Thailand to teach English. I have to admit I didn't know a whole lot about the book but had pretty low expectations, thinking it was just another glorified backpacker narrative, and also given the perception of the movie (which, fortunately, I hadn't seen), but I wanted to read something relating to Thailand so decided to give it a go. Boy, was I surprised when I couldn't put it down, devoured it in a matter of days, and was devastated when it was over.

I am a very visual person and sometimes, when reading fiction, I have a hard time seeing the story the author is trying to tell and I drive myself mad trying to settle upon how to visualize things (what does a particular character look and sound like, what does the setting look like, etc.). Fortunately, thanks to Garland's descriptive writing, I could magically see everything he described. Listening to this book on audible definitely added to the experience. Michael Page's ability to capture the emotions and even the dialects of the different characters was spectacular and made it even easier for me to visualize what was going on and put myself in the characters' shoes.

One of my favorite things about this book is how intimately you get to know the characters - perhaps as you would when living on a deserted island with someone.

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Title: Second Chance Pass

Subtitle: Virgin River, Book 5

Author: Robyn Carr

Narrator: Therese Plummer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-11-09

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1338 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Within a few short months, Vanessa buried her husband and birthed his son. When serendipity brings a man into her life again, her heart flutters anew. But just as he plans to reveal his love, another woman stakes her claim on him - a claim his sense of honor can't easily shake off.

Members Reviews:

Excellent

Robyn Carr's Virgin River series continues to be entertaining in Second Chance Pass that includes returning characters and introduces new ones. These people have depth, mystery, strengths, and weaknesses that make them interesting and believable. I enjoyed the multi-generational love stories - teens through seniors. Therese Plummer's narration is amazing. You actually think you're listening to multiple voices.

Dramatic

Robyn Carr writes amazing love stories and Therese Plummer is the perfect narrator for her writing. I love this series and anxiously await each one to audible. Second Chance Pass brought so much drama to the story I was amazed. This is no carbon copy of the previous books in the series but expands on the new characters along with the ones we have already come to love and appreciate with such intelligence. This is a awesome writer.

Excellent

I love this series, I love all the characters, I love the narator.... I wish it would go on forever. Can't wait for the next one. Just beautiful.

Wonderful Read

If you haven't had the opportunity to read Robyn Carr, do so now! The Virgin River series is a fabulous series! Begin with Book one and work your way through the series. Therese Plummer is the best narrator I have ever listened to, she takes me right into the story and drops me into Jack's Bar with the rest of the Virgin River gang!

love catching up

i was so happy to get this book and catch up and all the latest from the virgin river crew,cant wait for more

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Title: The Savage Detectives

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Roberto Bolaño

Narrator: Eddie Lopez, Armando Durán

Format: Unabridged

Length: 27 hrs and 2 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-06-09

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 253 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The Savage Detectives is a hilarious and sexy, meandering and melancholy, companionable and complicated road trip through Mexico City, Barcelona, Israel, Liberia, and finally the desert of northern Mexico. It is the first of Bolaño's two giant works, with 2666, to be translated into English and is already being hailed as a masterpiece.

Editorial Reviews:

Confused? Exhilarated? A little of both? Welcome to the world of Roberto Bolaño, the late, great Chilean novelist whose popularity continues to rise despite his untimely death in 2003 at the age of 50.

For many Bolaño fans, especially in this country, all the excitement started here with The Savage Detectives, a sprawling, sexy, melancholy, kinetic, kaleidoscopic frenzy that clocks in at over 27 hours. First off, this is not a detective book. So if you're looking for a straightforward whodunit, look elsewhere. The only detective here is the listener, who must carefully follow along as Bolaño's novel takes one unlikely twist and turn after another.

Fans of Haruki Murakami and Thomas Pynchon will love Bolaño's literary acrobatics. On a literal level, The Savage Detectives is simply a series of first-person monologues delivered by dozens of different people. At first, the novel's focus seems unclear. But gradually, the plot begins to revolve around two "poets" (although some characters say they're nothing more than glorified drug dealers) who revive a branch of poetry called Visceral Realism: Ulises Lima and Arturo Belano, who may (or may not) be the author's adventurous alter ego. Some characters know both men well. Others have brief encounters with them that last only days or hours. Some characters love or revere them. Others dismiss them as crackpots or lunatics. This multi-faceted narrative paints a vivid portrait of both men. And yet, the more we learn about them, the more mysterious they become.

The audiobook (with text translated from Spanish into English) features two readers. Eddie Lopez performs the part of a precocious college student who initially appears to be the novel's sole narrator. But roughly a quarter of the way into the book, Armando Durán brings to life a choir of voices spanning several decades and continents. Durán deserves a gold medal for this amazing feat, making each monologue sound distinct and believable, no matter the accent, age, gender, or mood of the speaker.

Getting into the chaotic rhythm of The Savage Detectives may take some time to adjust to for some listeners. But once you're tuned in, you'll experience one of the most thrilling, satisfying literary rides of your life.

Critic Reviews:

"Wildly enjoyable . . . Bolano beautifully manages to keep his comedy and his pathos in the same family." (The New York Times Book Review)

"The Savage Detectives is deeply satisfying. . . . Bolano's book throws down a great, clunking, formal gauntlet to his readers' conventional expectations. . . . A very good novel." (Thomas McGonigle, Los Angeles Times)

"An instant cult hit among readers and practically a fetish object to critics." (Time)

Members Reviews:

Started slow but ended great

I really did NOT like this book for the first 90 minutes or so - Part I.

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Title: Night Music

Author: Jojo Moyes

Narrator: Clare Corbett

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-01-09

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 623 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

When its reclusive owner dies intestate, the Spanish House is left to his city-dwelling niece. For Isabel, recently widowed, the house is a potential lifeline - the only hope she has of providing for her two children without having to sell her most treasured possession.

But for neighbour Matt McCarthy, the house is revenge - on the family who ruined his father. For his wife it's the key to the perfect family life, while a struggling property developer sees in it a whole new future. As desires clash and intertwine, lives and loves are demolished - and the Spanish House becomes a true folly indeed...

Members Reviews:

Hauntingly Beautiful Story of Human, Flawed People

I really liked this story of a widow with two children who inherited a huge Spanish house in the country. Isabella, the young widow, whose deep passion for her violin and music, perhaps is too high a priority, has to learn a totally new way of life. But what I appreciated and most loved about the story was the honesty in which it was written. People DO have to go through hardships and work through grief in order to value what is most important in their lives. This isn't a cheap or tawdry tale, although there are some in the small town who make some unfortunate and selfish choices. There are MORE that make better choices and are loyal and end up doing right by their neighbors. The novel is hauntingly beautiful and meets my criteria of having an ending worth the wait.

Jojo Moyes is my favorite.

Any additional comments?

Jojo Moyes is my favorite author now. I read one of her books and loved it so I tried another. most of the time I am disappointed in the next book I read by the same author, this time I was pleasantly surprised. So I dared to do it a third time and then a fourth. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of them and give them 4 stars each, something I rarely do.

I enjoyed this story

Night Music hit all the right notes (ha ha). :-) I really enjoyed the story and the narrator was very good. The story is good from the beginning to the end with no boring parts. I'm also glad the author knew when to end the story and did not extend it longer than necessary.

Extremely valuable book!

It was thanks to this book that I got all the windows in the house washed -- inside and out -- the garage floor swept and both the linen closet and the sewing room reorganized. I couldn't stop listening -- I had to find some way to justify taking the time to keep listening.

This was my first exposure to Jojo Moyes -- never heard of her before, never come across any of her books before this one, when I rolled the dice on yet another really great Daily Deal. "Night Music" won't be the last -- except that I expect I'll listen to this one a few more times before I'm finished with it.

It's funny, I see other reviewers saying that this isn't Moyes best book, which just blows my mind. Can't quite see how any of them could be better than this, but... hey, I'm willing to try.

Maybe it's just me, but there's something about a battle over a house that attracts me. Another of my favorite books (not the film) is Andre Dubus III's "House of Sand and Fog" which also involves a house everyone wants, and the emotional pull such an embattled dwelling can bring about.