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Title: The Afterlife of Stars

Author: Joseph Kertes

Narrator: Tristan Morris

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-10-17

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 14 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

When Russian tanks roll into the public squares of Budapest to crush the Hungarian Revolution, brothers Robert and Attila Beck flee with their family to the Paris townhouse of their great-aunt Hermina. The year is 1956, and as their country changes forever, these two boys transform as well, confronting danger and wonders previously unknown.

As they travel through minefields both real and imagined, Robert and Attila grapple with sibling rivalry, family secrets, and incalculable loss. Along the way they encounter mysterious fellow travelers, bewildering sights of a nation in transition, and surprising hilarity, all in pursuit of the one place they thought they'd lost forever: home.

Elegant, tender, and deeply funny, Joseph Kertes has crafted a journey filled with adventure and heartbreak. A meditation on both family and displacement, The Afterlife of Stars is a tale of perseverance, faith, and the unbreakable bond of brotherhood.

Critic Reviews:

"Kertes, who himself escaped Hungary after the 1956 revolution, delivers a fast paced and taut narrative that captures how inscrutable the world's cruelties can be to the children who witness them. Stirring and haunting, The Afterlife of Stars memorably shows how the bonds of brotherhood stay strong in a crisis." (Bridget Thoreson, Booklist)

"[A] fervent novel. Kertes (Gratitude, 2009), winner of the National Jewish Book Award, begins his newest work in his own native Budapest.... [Protagonists] Robert and Attila are a winning pair of guides.... Kertes' voice is a lyrical one, and his work is frequently moving." (Kirkus Reviews)

Members Reviews:

Aftermath of 1956

The narration was so painful that I cannot believe I listened to it for seven hours. The narrator affected what was supposed to be a Hungarian Jewish accent, and which sounded like a mishmash of Eastern European accents, largely Czech. Toward the end of the book, it became clear that he cannot even pronounce French! Why did no one coach him? It would have been better to let him read in his own generalIy pleasant accent. The story was an odd assortment of historical details stirred into implausible episodes. The climax in the sewers of Paris was particularly egregious: the kind of thing that an author defends by exclaiming, "But it really happened!" The few metaphors stick out. I wanted to learn something about Hungary, but most of the book takes place after the family leaves. Why did I keep reading? I admire authors who record and shape for us their experience, particularly that of emigration; and for that, I thank Kertes.

Good story throughout.

Every moment offered a surprise and a moment of fascination. Humor and not-humor were in every chapter. This is a very good accomplishment.

feels like the middle of a longer book

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I love reading stories set around World War Two but for me the book did not set itself into its time period well. It starts with a family being told to leave their home. We don't know anything about the family or the context, except what we see through a child's eyes. The family dynamics are well shown but that's about it. There's a good scene at the station when the father bargains for tickets to leave, but there is no tension or drama. I found it hard to work out the passage of time in the story and figure out if anything was happening.

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Title: Innocent Traitor

Author: Alison Weir

Narrator: Patience Tomlinson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-22-16

Publisher: Wholestory Audiobooks

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Lady Jane Grey was born into the most dangerous of times. Child of a scheming father and a ruthless mother for whom she was a pawn in a dynastic game with the highest stakes, she lived a life in thrall to political machinations and lethal religious fervour.

Growing up with the future Queen Elizabeth and her reluctant nemesis, Mary, she soon learned the truth of the values imparted to her by Henry VIII's last Queen, Katherine Parr. Her honesty, intelligence and strength of character carried her through all the vicious twists of Tudor power politics to her nine-day reign and its unbearably poignant conclusion.

Critic Reviews:

"Alison Weir provides immense satisfaction. She writes in a pacy, vivid style, engaging the heart as well as the mind." (The Independent)

Members Reviews:

History brought to life

Other novels by the author have touched on the tragic life of Lady Jane Grey, but this book gives a detailed account of her story interwoven with the events surrounding her short time on this earth. Descriptions of historical events and the actions of the main players of the Tudor period are enlivened by the authors imagination in creating possible conversations and experiences creating a narrative akin to a drama. Although we know Janes eventual fate the story leading up to it is gripping and saddening. A precociously clever girl wishing only for a quiet, studious life, but who had to suffer having an abusive, monster of a mother and be used as a pawn in the ambitions of her parents and other aristocrats vying for power and influence. It was tough being a well-born girl in those days!

I greatly enjoyed this entertaining and educational approach to history.

The narrator does a great job of dramatising the imagined dialogue with her facility in creating voices for different ages, sexes and social classes.

brilliant

best historical novel that i have. read for a long time. excellent naration. a unique insight into Tudor court life

historical marval

very much enjoyed this book. the narration was of a high standard.

I highly recommend this book

Fabulous book

I love history books including historical fiction. I knew the story of Lady Jane Grey from studying at school but this story really brings it home just how weird that particular point of history got. Touring and frying of religious zealots on both sides proves how divisive religion can be, leading to death destruction of both people and, almost, nations. A wonderful read.

great story...

I am normally a Phillipa Gregory reader , but thoroughly enjoyed this book . with the chopping and changing of characters you couldn't afford to lose concentration for a moment.but a great listen

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Title: The Golden Dice

Subtitle: A Tale of Ancient Rome, Book 2

Author: Elisabeth Storrs

Narrator: Christina Traister

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-05-16

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 26 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

During a bitter siege between Rome and the Etruscan city of Veii, three women follow different paths to survive.

Caecilia, Roman born but Etruscan wed, forsakes Rome to return to her husband, Vel Mastarna, exposing herself to the enmity of his people while knowing the Romans will give her a traitor's death if Veii falls. Semni, a reckless Etruscan servant in the House of Mastarna, embroils herself in schemes that threaten Caecilia's son and Semni's own chance for love. Pinna, a destitute Roman prostitute, uses coercion to gain the attention of Rome's greatest general at the risk of betraying Caecilia's cousin.

Each woman struggles to protect herself and those whom she loves in the dark cycle of war. What must they do to challenge Fate? And will they ever live in peace again?

The Golden Dice is the sequel to The Wedding Shroud. The third book in the A Tale of Ancient Rome series is Call to Juno.

Members Reviews:

Dont let the first book deter you

Ill be honest, I hated the narrater in the begging because it sounded like an American forcing a British accent, but after a while I got used to it. I love the story and how it was able to surprise me. Cecilia will grow on you. Not gonna lie, shes very annoying in the first book. Watching her grow into a proud, confident character is very entertaining. I fell in love with Mastarna. I love his character very much, scars and all. If you want to know more about the ancient Etruscans, this is a great series....once you get passed the first book.

I didn't read the 1'st book

I didn't read the first book. I didn't know there was one. I did read several reviews on the first book and I must say they were very discouraging. I listened to book 2 straight through and enjoyed it immensely. I might just invest the $3.49 on the first one because I am sure there will be a third.

unique unconditional love

Wow, it took me longer than expected to finish reading this book. Very high unconditional love

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Title: A Few Right Thinking Men

Subtitle: The Rowland Sinclair Mysteries, Book 1

Author: Sulari Gentill

Narrator: Rupert Degas

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-06-16

Publisher: Wavesound Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 15 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Rowland Sinclair is an artist and a gentleman.

In Australia's 1930s, the Sinclair name is respectable and influential, yet Rowland has a talent for scandal. He relies on the Sinclair fortune to indulge his artistic passions and friends: a poet, a painter and a brazen sculptress.

Mounting tensions fuelled by the Great Depression take Australia to the brink of revolution, but Rowland Sinclair is indifferent to the politics...until a brutal murder exposes an extraordinary and treasonous conspiracy.

Members Reviews:

Good Listen

Sydney in the 30's. Rural NSW in the 30's.The characters enter stage with faults and foibles and discover a world 'gone mad' with Old and New Guards, (Conservatives and Nazi) rising to defend Australia from the Left Wing and Communists. There is talk of Civil War.

'put the cricket bat down Mick'.

With a favorite uncle dead and best friend almost left for dead and branded, something has to done.

Good story.

Too much history, not enough story

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Cut back on some of the details of the political rallies, etc. The descriptions seemed to go on forever. I got to the point where I fast forwarded a few times.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I liked that fact that the chapters started with actual newspaper stories.

Riverting Story with historical context

What did you like most about A Few Right Thinking Men?

I enjoyed to links to history and the underlying humor and charter development, the attention to subtle details and the great pace of the book, I normally like pretty action based novels and despite the time taken to develop the plot and characters the pace felt right and held my attention throughout the story - nicely written.

What other book might you compare A Few Right Thinking Men to, and why?

Tough one for me - possibly Tobruk by Peter FitzSimons meets Agatha Christie meets Rear Window (the movie by Alfred Hitchcock which I adore)

What about Rupert Degass performance did you like?

I always love Ruperts performances and seek out his narrations and on this occasion found him to be at his absolute best.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The book title would be fine.

Any additional comments?

Great writing and excellent narration - well done! Also being an Australian I especially enjoyed the humor and social observations.

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Title: Saving Amelie

Author: Cathy Gohlke

Narrator: Rachel Botchan

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 46 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-06-16

Publisher: Lamplight Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Increasingly wary of her father's genetic research, Rachel Kramer has determined that this trip with him will be her last.

A letter from her friend changes everything. Married to SS officer Gerhardt Schlick, Kristine fears her husband views their daughter, Amelie, deaf since birth, as a blight on his Aryan bloodline.

Rachel fears her father's files may hold answers about Hitler's plans for others like Amelie. Rachel turns to journalist Jason Young, who connects her to the resistance....

Critic Reviews:

"At times both emotional and suspenseful, this is a fantastic novel for those who love both historical fiction and human interest stories." (Romantic Times)

"A haunting story of the courageous few who worked tirelessly and at great risk to themselves to save people they did not know, whom they would not see again." (Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

I really enjoyed this book

I really enjoyed this book. I had read a similar series by Bodie Thoene about 20 years ago which this book reminded me of. But this was just one book and that was a six novel series. This book just covered the first two of the Hitler years. It had various characters narrate at different times so it offered many points of view. The characters grew as the book went on. Rachel went from the spoiled and selfish daughter of the eugenics scientist to a caring and selfless friend. The interaction with the reporter, Jason, and Detrich Bonhoeffer helped change her perspective to show compassion to those she had been raised to disdain. She went from being resentful of sharing her hiding place with a Jewish teenager to embracing her as a sister.

I think the biggest aspect of the book for me was seeing how the German culture put patriotism ahead of faith and slowly came to tolerate, if not accept, the terrible policies of the Nazi regime. They were fearful of speaking up so ended up furthering the Nazi agenda. My own father was an American prisoner of war in Germany. While he was terribly mistreated he always told me that it was the Nazis, not the people or even the soldiers, who were to blame for what happened. By the time the people started to realize and believe what was happening, it was too late. If they spoke up they would have been imprisoned or killed. Even so, there were many who risked their own lives as well as their families to save those who the Nazis wanted to destroy.

I think this book made me consider our own country where laws are passed that we don't agree with. The separation of the 3 branches of government is no longer effective. We can speak up but usually to no effect. I fear that if something doesn't change soon we may be going down the same path as Germany.

All in all a very good and thought provoking book.

Hiding in plain sight in 1939 Germany with a deaf child and being hunted by the Nazi regime

Very well-told story about life in Germany in 1939 under Nazi power, but I felt that it was too drawn out as a 429 page book. Lea and Rachel, twins, exchange identities numerous times as decoys to fool the Germans, which became ridiculous after a while. Too much dialogue about rehearsing with village children for the Passion Play, which is cancelled by the Nazis before performance time. Too much time put into thinking for Rachel and Amelie to escape Germany and none of it comes to fruition. Half-way through the storyline I wanted it to speed up and not plod along so much.

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Titel: Ferne Ufer (Outlander 3)

Autor:: Diana Gabaldon

Erzähler: Birgitta Assheuer

Format: Unabridged

Spieldauer: 52 hrs and 14 mins

Sprache: Deutsch

Veröffentlichungsdatum: 10-04-16

Herausgeber: Argon Verlag

Bewertung: 5 von 5 von 2 Stimmen

Kategorien: Fiction, Historical

Zusammenfassung des Herausgebers:

"Es ist viel Zeit vergangen, Sassenach, seit wir eins waren, du und ich..."

Zwanzig Jahre lang hielt Claire ihre große Liebe Jamie Fraser für tot. Nun findet sie heraus, dass er die Schlacht von Culloden überlebt hat. Unterstützt von ihrer Tochter Brianna kehrt sie durch den Steinkreis zu ihm ins 18. Jahrhundert zurück. Aber Jamie hat in all der Zeit sein eigenes Leben geführt, außerdem kämpft er weiterhin für Schottlands Unabhängigkeit. Und so müssen die beiden früher, als ihnen lieb ist, aus dem Hochland fliehen und sich aufmachen zu neuen, fernen Ufern. Doch sie wissen, dass ihre Liebe und ihre Leidenschaft füreinander sie jedes Hindernis überwinden lassen wird.

©1994 / 2016 Diana Gabaldon (Originalausgabe erschien unter dem Titel "Voyager") / Knaur Taschenbuch, ein Imprint der Verlagsgruppe Droemer Knaur GmbH & Co. KG, München. (P)2016 Argon Verlag GmbH, Berlin

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Title: A Cantata of Love

Subtitle: The Code Breakers Series, Book 4

Author: Jacki Delecki

Narrator: Pearl Hewitt

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-23-16

Publisher: Doe Bay Publishing

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Napoleonic France is no place for an Englishman, especially Michael Harcourt, the Earl of Kendal, who is on a clandestine assignment for the Crown. Already injured and facing imminent discovery by Napoleon and Fouche's men, Michael finds his escape made even more perilous when he is charged with the safety of a young boy who must be spirited out of Paris.

Desperate to escape the terrible fate that awaits her if she remains in France, Lady Gabrielle De Valmont must disguise herself as a boy and rely on the cunning of a virtual stranger - an Englishman, no less - to smuggle her out of the country. When the Earl's injury becomes severely infected, rendering him gravely ill, Gabrielle realizes it is now up to her to save them both.

Members Reviews:

Not impressed. predictable

typical of romance novels. used it to lull me to sleep at night. the narrator was good though.

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Title: The Imperial Wife

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Irina Reyn

Narrator: Karen Peakes

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-19-16

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 32 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The Imperial Wife follows the lives of two women, one in contemporary New York City and the other in eighteenth-century Russia.

Tanya Kagan, a specialist in Russian art at a top New York auction house, is trying to entice Russia's wealthy oligarchs to bid on the biggest sale of her career, The Order of Saint Catherine, while making sense of the sudden and unexplained departure of her husband.

As questions arise over the provenance of the Order and auction fever kicks in, Reyn takes us into the world of Catherine the Great, the infamous 18th-century woman who may have owned the priceless artifact, and who it turns out faced many of the same issues Tanya wrestles with in her own life.

The Imperial Wife asks what female ambition means, today and in the past, and whether a marriage can withstand an ambitious wife.

Members Reviews:

Originally confusing, but overall okay not great

Any additional comments?

After the initial confusion, I was able to follow the book, but it wasn't clear until the very end what the reason for the two concurrent stories was. I'm not sure what the best solution is, but the current form is unsettling at best :-(. I don't think that I am in agreement that the story about the Princess/queen is the worse, as I read in another review. I liked that one, and it felt more complete than the other. The other one felt disconnected and inconclusive. Overall, I guess it was an okay book, although the modern-day character didn't interest me at all, and I'm left somewhat off balance with the story.

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Title: Lily's Song

Author: Susan Gabriel

Narrator: Holly Adams

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-08-16

Publisher: Wild Lily Arts

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

A mother's secrets, a daughter's dream, and a family's loyalty are masterfully interwoven in this much anticipated sequel to the Amazon best-seller The Secret Sense of Wildflower.

"Wildflower" McAllister's daughter, Lily, now 14, struggles with her mother's reluctance to tell her who her father is. When a stranger appears on the family doorstep, drunk and evoking ghosts from the past, it threatens to break the close-knit McAllister family apart.

Meanwhile, Wildflower has a deep secret of her own. When Lily discovers it by accident, it changes everything she thought she knew about her mother. The events that follow silence the singing she dreamed of sharing with the world.

With her signature metaphors, Gabriel weaves a compelling tale that captures the resilience and strength of both mother and daughter, as secrets revealed test their strong bond and ultimately change their lives forever.

Set in 1956 southern Appalachia, Lily's Song stands on its own, and listeners who are new to Gabriel will be drawn into the world she so skillfully depicts. As a sequel, it will captivate fans of The Secret Sense of Wildflower (a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2012), who have eagerly awaited more.

Members Reviews:

Holly is incredibly talented!

Full disclosure: I have worked with Holly Adams on various artistic endeavors.

And I believe this gives me an even greater insight to what a great performance she did I'm narrating these two strong women from TN. I teared up while listening and found myself lost in the mental images that the text unfolded for me.

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Title: Stories of the Arabian Nights

Author: Lawrence Housman

Narrator: John Pirhalla

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-16-16

Publisher: Content Unlimited

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

"Is it possible, that by telling these tales, one might indeed save one's self?" The character, Scheherezade thought so. In fact, she tells each of the Arabian Nights tales in order to survive a little longer at the mercy of her listener, the Sultan. The Arabian Nights stories are some of the world's great treasures. They have existed for thousands of years, consisting of tales told in Persia, Arabia, India and Asia. The Arabian Nights (also known as The 1001 Arabian Nights) have inspired writers the world over with the ancient power of story.

Members Reviews:

Classic

This is a beautiful book to own. The illustrations are works of art- literally , and of course, the stories are classic. This book is nice enough to leave out on the coffee table.

Good, but dated

I have to say I did not get all the way through this. I found the author's prose to be irritatingly stilted, particularly the dialogue. The stories however are magnificent, and I look forward to exploring them more in another edition.

BAck to my roots

A great collection of tales, 1001 nights is for everyone, kids to adults who like reading adventure based stories.

Aidroos

Great book preserving the peculiar style of writings

Nice book, kids and adults enjoyed just the same.

Writing style is old fashioned, which is pleasant to read.

Enjoy.

good company

good book, good price