Listen to Most Popular Audiobooks in Classics, American Literature

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Title: The Last of the Mohicans

Author: James Fenimore Cooper

Narrator: Robertson Dean

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-01-06

Publisher: Books on Tape

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 259 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

This action-packed edition of James Fenimore Cooper's famous adventure brings the wilds of the American frontier and the drama of the French and Indian War to vivid life.

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(P)2006 Books on Tape

Members Reviews:

This review is specific for this edition.

The book is always good.

However, this narration does not follow with the book in a true unabridged way. I've bought 2 books thinking it might be our book that had the differences only to have large skips in paragraphs and pages. I don't know how far past the beginning this lasts. I wouldn't allow my sons to continue with this audible since we spent so much of the beginning trying to find where he was jumping. Now I'll have to buy yet another Last of the Mohicans audible in hopes of it being a truly unabridged after having bought 2 books trying to solve the problem.

Very disappointed.

There's a reason this is a classic

I saw the movie first so had to get over a disconnect with the way the movie plot diverges from the book. In the end the book won me over and I'm sorry that the movie didn't include the assinine but delightful singing preacher! Will definitely add more Cooper to my reading list after I finish with Dickens.

Excellent!

A great classic full of adventure and heart. The reader does an excellent job of portraying different characters and handling accents and languages.I hope to find more books read by him.

Demanding!

Any additional comments?

In the old fashioned manner, each chapter of this novel written in 1825 is introduced with a quotation from another work, often by Shakespeare. In general, the writing style is quite formal and flowery, actually outright verbose. This makes it rather laborious to read and strikes a vivid contrast with the relative simplicity of the plot and of the characters. These, in a very confusing way, are often given many names. For example, the same person is called Natty Bumppo, Hawkeye, Oeil de Faucon and La Longue Carabine, all within a few paragraphs.

There are definite incongruities in the plot. Beaver huts for instance are mistaken for a human settlement and a man disguised as a bear actually fools Indians who of course have lived in the woods all their lives! There are also anachronisms, such as referring constantly to the Canadas in the plural, whereas in 1757, when the novel is set, before the British Conquest, there was of course only one.

This book's interest lies mainly with its North American setting and the fact it was one of the earliest novels to be written here. To the author's credit, it must be pointed out that he displays much respect for the Indians' wisdom and way of life, in marked contrast with general opinion later in the 19th century.

Still, its qualities are not enough to make this work truly of major interest today.

excellent

i wanted to get back to my roots and choce a book from my youth. i made an excellent selection.

All u old farts should try this one once again it brings back memories of not gental but simple time in our history.

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Title: One of Ours

Author: Willa Cather

Narrator: Kristen Underwood

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-08-06

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 61 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

In One of Ours, Willa Cather explores the destiny of a grandchild of the pioneers, a young Nebraskan whose yearnings impel him toward a frontier bloodier and more distant than the one that vanished before his birth. It is a canny and vital portrait of an American psyche at once skeptical and romantic, restless and heroic.

Members Reviews:

Claude search

Would you listen to One of Ours again? Why?

Yes. In fact, I plan to. I feel Cather has delivered a meaningful novel but I am too ignorant to translate it. I have marked this as re-readable because I want to read it again a few years from now. I would to relive Claude's struggle and perhaps understand him better than I did this time around. He deserves as much.

What was one of the most memorable moments of One of Ours?

There are several memorable moments to this book. There was the time when Claude first found happiness in education - and then his father callously broke him. The last scene in the book was also quite memorable....but has admittedly caused me much confusion. I won't go into other examples so as not to spoil the story but they also don't seem to matter. I have fully accepted that I probably do not quite understand the book....but the more I think of it the more I question whether the book is about Claude at all....that it is instead about the change in American culture and customs from an Agricultural based economy to a more technology and convenience driven economy. I remain quite confused on the title.

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How could the performance have been better?

Underwood's performance was very mechanical to me. Part of the joy of audiobooks is the benefit of having a bit of emotional play to the narration. Underwood was dry and business-like. I also didn't like how her voice made Claude's voice seem more feminine and tender.

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

It left me confused. It has been awhile since I have thought so much about a book after reading it. I have read dozens of reviews from others; 3-4 analyses of the book; a terribly-written college essay found on the internet. I feel like the book wants to tell me something and I want to hear it....I'm just not ready yet.

Coming of Age/World War I Story

Half the book is about Claude's coming of age in the Midwest. He becomes disappointed with life as he grows into adulthood. He has to take over the family farm and end his university studies. Not only that, but he marries someone he shouldn't have. Cather writes well, but the protagonist and his plight is far from compelling. The other half is about Claude joining the military and fighting in World War I. Perhaps it's unfair, but I couldn't help but compare this to All Quiet on the Western Front. And the latter book covers all aspects of that war -- its horror and senselessness, its costs in lives and humanity -- much, much better.

Additionally, a lot of minor storylines are left unresolved. For example, his wife goes to China to help her ailing missionary sister and that's it. We never hear about her again.

Finely crafted anti-war novel

Willa Cather's Pulitzer Prize winning 1922 novel of a young Nebraska farm boy's experience in The Great War. Highly recommended.

Slow and Boring....zzzz

I purchased this book because I really liked My Antonia, a masterpiece of Cather. I have read O'Pioneers-beautiful, but not like My Antonia.

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Title: The Mysterious Stranger

Author: Mark Twain

Narrator: Don Randall

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 10-17-06

Publisher: Divergent Arts LTD

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 61 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Considered one of Twain's most important short works, The Mysterious Stranger tells the story of the devil coming to a medieval village in the persona of a beautiful, lovable, yet exasperatingly amoral young man. Befriending a small group of boys, Satan exhibits strange charm, compassion, and indifference as the tale comes to a surprising comclusion.

© and (P)2006 Ascendant Audiobooks LLC

Members Reviews:

Very Poor Narration

I got, perhaps 10 minutes into the story before stopping it. The Narrator is very difficult to listen to. He recites the story rhythmically as if it were poetry (which it's not), offers no characterizations, and has some very irritating vocal habits (like a very bizarre pacing of the word "and"). It's absolutely maddening!

I'd recommend looking for a recording with a different narrator, if possible.

The narration is perfect for the story.

Any additional comments?

I felt as if I was being read to by ol' Sam Clemens himself. Don Randall captured the spirit of the period better than I would have hoped he would, especially after reading some of the negative reviews..

Indeed, a very thought provoking piece, and I feel one of Twain's best. Especially the ending.

Excellent Story

I am new to the audiobooking experience and so I cannot judge the performance. This story is difficult to read with the depth of feeling of the words and the narrator did his best.

As to the story itself, it is a familiar one. An angel appears before a group of young men, exposes their gentle minds to the truth and in the end they have nothing left to cling. The story is written in wonderful Twainian irony, one can see plainly that the punished are innocent though the narrator (blinded by prejudices) cannot. Twain here uses the story-telling medium as thought experiment and his experimental results are fascinating. Twain here is a very serious philosopher, and one cannot help but be affected by the power of his demonstrations.

I would recommend that one read a different Twain novel first, else one might be deceived into thinking his wit could only be used negatively, but this is sure to reveal much anyone who reads it.

Not standard Mark Twain story, but very good any

Would you consider the audio edition of The Mysterious Stranger to be better than the print version?

Don't know, I didn't read the print version.

What did you like best about this story?

I really liked the consistency of the characters, even though some of their actions were really unlikable! I like the overall, (lesson?) theme.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I just didn't like the narrator's overall feeling

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I liked when the friend died, despite the fact that that sounds negative. It was part of the reality.

Seriously. Worst Narrator Ever. Buy a different 1.

This is just awful. I've heard its a great story, but get the other version. Imagine if Casey Kasum and a boring old preacher reciting bible verses had a baby. That's how this guy reads it. His voice is okay, but his cadence is so bad, that its a waste of money to buy this, because you won't listen to the whole thing. Theres another version that's a few bucks more. Go for that one.

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Title: Pudd'nhead Wilson

Subtitle: A Tale by Mark Twain

Author: Mark Twain

Narrator: Richard Henzel

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-24-06

Publisher: Big Happy Family, LLC

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 142 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

This humorous, dramatic, and sometimes shocking novel, set in the pre-war south, is the tale of Roxy, a beautiful and intelligent slave woman who contrives to save her own light-skinned child from being "sold down the river". She successfully switches her baby with the master's own child, starting a chain of events that lead to surprising and tragic results.

This book is considered by many to be Mark Twain's best book dealing with the cruelty, horror, and inhumanity of slavery in 19th century America. Pudd'nhead, the title character, not only provides humorous aphorisms and wry observations on the little river town, he also proves to be the catalyst that solves the mystery, radically changing the lives of all of those involved.

Interestingly, Mark Twain's use of fingerprints as evidence in a fictional criminal trial predated the official acceptance of such evidence in actual U.S. courts by two years.

This recording is a recreation of Mark Twain's own reading, just as his family might have heard the story for the first time in the family library.

Critic Reviews:

"Superb...one of the best readings of a Mark Twain book to which I've ever listened, and I've listened to almost all of them. An energetic and remarkably impassioned narration that brings out the powerful emotions and ironies of one of Mark Twain's complex works and adds new dimensions." (R. Kent Rasmussen, author of Mark Twain A to Z and audiobook reviewer for Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

great reader, great tale

I just loved this recording. I wish i could find more of Twains works with this narrator. He does an outstanding job. I would recommend this book to anyone; and in this case, with such an excellent reader, i would rather listen to it than read it off a page--he adds so much.

Phenomenal Read

This was an extremely well-performed, adapted reading of the book. I felt the differences in the character and narrative voices were distinct and added flare to the overall auditory experience.

This book is gripping from beginning to end as Mark Twain developed a thick and interesting plot that laces thought provoking questions and self-reflection throughout.

I would recommend this book for any writer and/or reader.

Good Plot

too often this has happened in the slavery days. unfortunately her motherly love worked against her.

first rate

Wow, the publisher's summary got it right when they called "Pudd'nhead Wilson" "humorous, dramatic, and sometimes shocking."

Even apart from the commentary on slavery, this is an excellent detective story in its own right. For the interested, in the second paragraph of chapter 25 of "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court," Twain writes a little more about his thoughts on the institution of slavery.

Well worth the listen, disturbing parts and all. In fact, one of the roles of great literature may be to bother us in some way, forcing us to ask questions, jolting us into thought.

Terrific performance

I really enjoyed this. The reader does a fabulous job bringing Twain's language and irony to life.

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Title: The Last of the Mohicans

Author: James Fenimore Cooper

Narrator: William Costello

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-24-06

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 34 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The Last of the Mohicans follows Hawkeye and his Indian companions as they become involved in the bloody French and Indian War. It is a classic exciting adventure story full of battles, captures and rescues.

Members Reviews:

Reading is fairly lifeless

The reader fails to bring characters to life, and sounds as if he gets lost in the words and fails to attribute meaning to them. It's hard to listen to, and failed to grasp the attention of my mind's eye.

It's a Classic for a Reason

Really enjoyable and thought provoking. Enjoyed the various characters and the detailed depiction of another era. A good read.

Beautiful. Rich. A Windows into another time.

Much easier for me to follow the story in Audible than reading it. With the disclaimer that my eyes are blue, I felt James Fenimore Cooper had a rare insight into the native cultures than many of his time. I felt he saw that we are all, in the end, human and in that classification, share the quaities of good, evil, compassion and love: That there are individuals in every race that manifest the spectrum of creativeness or destruction, honor or cowardice. I feel enriched by having read this tale.

disappointed

I loved the movie, but the audio will bore you to death.

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Title: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Author: Mark Twain

Narrator: Garrison Keillor

Format: Abridged

Length: 3 hrs and 11 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-29-04

Publisher: HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 36 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Young Huck is an industrious, fiercely independent boy who escapes his abusive, drunken father and sets out on an unforgettable journey down the Mississippi River. Enjoying his freedom, he befriends a kindhearted slave named Jim, whose suffering teaches Huck powerful lessons about racism, personal liberty, and the complexities of life. Revolutionary for its realistic dialogue and uncompromising plot, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is arguably the greatest of all American novels, and a powerful sequel to Mark Twain's lighthearted classic, Tom Sawyer.

Critic Reviews:

"All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn." (Ernest Hemingway)

Contact me for any questions: [email protected]

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Title: The Bondwoman's Narrative

Author: Hannah Crafts, edited by Henry Louis Gates

Narrator: Anna Deavere Smith

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-24-02

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 113 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The Bondwoman's Narrative tells of a self-educated young house slave who knows her life is limited by the brutalities of her society, but never suspects that the freedom of her plantation's beautiful new mistress is also at risk...or that a devastating secret will force them both to flee from slave hunters with another powerful, determined enemy at their heels.

This program includes an exclusive interview with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Critic Reviews:

"Thanks to the unrelenting probe of a Harvard University historian, again, we get the story from the woman's mouth itself. We learn the day-to-day experiences of a bondwoman through her fiction. We see in the intimacy of Craft's novel the gross, ugly vulgarity of the 'peculiar institution'." (Maya Angelou)

"Let it be emphasized that this novel is not simply a historical document but also a vivid, compelling narrative." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Poor reading of an important book

Listening to Hannah Craft's "The Bondwoman's Narrative" I had the unique experience of realizing that I could have done a better job of reading -- and I'm no good at it. The reader, Anna Deveare Smith, demonstrated very little feeling for the text, and even seemed to allow her mind to wander while reading. Ms. Smith also used the unfortunate technique of reading dialogue very rapidly when trying to convey emotional intensity. When I first heard that Henry Louis Gates, Jr. had discovered a manuscript that was very likely the first novel written by a black woman in America, I was excited and impatient to read it. I am pleased to report that "The Bondwoman's Narrative" is a good yarn (several good yarns, really) that incorporates a number of literary traditions, including the sentimental novel, the gothic novel, adventure fiction, and slave narrative. With all this to recommend it, Ms. Smith's reading is so clumsy that I could not stand to finish "The Bondwoman's Narrative" in audio form. On a positive note, the audio book includes a fantastic interview with Gates about his discovery of the manuscript and his subsequent sleuthing to verify its authenticity and confirm the racial identity of the author.

Loved it!!!

What did you love best about The Bondwoman's Narrative?

The rich language which transported me in time.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hannah by far was my favorite character. I loved how she leaned on scripture to get through the bad times. But Lizzie was a fun character too.

Not what I was hoping for

The reader was different from what I'm used to, but very appropriate for the voice of the main character of the book. The story was interesting but not very well written or overly believable.

READ THIS BOOK

The first novel written by a slave woman, and maybe the first novel by a black woman. This novel is great. And the fact that Hannah Crafts never had a formal education it is excellent. In fact most of the corrections she made improve the book. In the hardcopy edition of the book the information by Dr. Gaines about the book is facinating. This book is somthing that transcends race. READ THIS BOOK.

The Bondwoman's Narratve

Although the protagonist speaks with a remarkably cultured voice for a slave, the cloying and often flat descriptions do sound authentic to the period.

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Title: King Solomon's Mines

Author: H. Rider Haggard

Narrator: B.J. Harrison

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-22-14

Publisher: B.J. Harrison

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 61 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Legends tell of an unknown, hidden country where King Solomon's treasure is secreted. Many have searched for Solomon's diamonds and have never returned from their mysterious journey. Sir Henry Curtis' brother was lost on just such an adventure. Now, with a secret map, a regal guide, and the aid of Allan Quatermain, the renowned safari hunter, a group of three Englishmen journey to a secret land of witch doctors, warriors, and ancient mysteries. This is one of the best-selling novels of the 19th century, and has inspired countless adventure stories, including the Indiana Jones movies and Edgar Rice Burrough's Tarzan series. It's an adventure epic you won't want to miss!

Members Reviews:

It is King Solomon's Mines... What can be said?

Brilliant piece of work. I mean, what can you really say that has not already been said? Let's just consider for a moment how many motion pictures came from this book? My favorite, of course, being the Richard Chamberlain and Sharon Stone version. I saw that back in '87 or 88. Perhaps, earlier than that. This book is a classic, and if not already on the list of 1001 Books to Read Before You Die, it ought to be! I've been exploring the classics, lately, and they always seem to leave me in awe. The sheer quality of the descriptions are just mesmerizing. You can almost see every location, every rock, grain of sand, bit of vegetation, and body of water the characters are describing for you. I'd have to say, that I am so glad I have read this book because no movie can do it the Justice it deserves.

Old style adventure

I loved the 1950 movie ( Stewart Granger as Alan Quartermain ). The original story shares very little with the movie versions, but it is interesting to visit the source material. Good narration.

Great Classic

Great Classic and enjoyed the story throughout. B.J. Harrison has quickly become one of my favorite narrators. He did not disappoint in this telling.

Great book and narrator

Absolutely loved this thrilling book and great narrator. I highly recommend this terrific classic book.

interesting story but..

Dated references to race and animal cruelty made it hard to listen in spots. Did not know that going in. that being said the story was interesting and action packed.

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Title: The Damnation of Theron Ware

Author: Harold Frederic

Narrator: John Chatty

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-08-11

Publisher: Jimcin Recordings

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 11 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The Damnation of Theron Ware is widely considered to be one of the top 100 greatest books of all time. The Washington Post compares it to An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser.

The novel reveals much about turn-of-the-century provincial America, religious life, and the depressed state of intellectual and artistic culture in small towns. The story deals with the life of a Methodist pastor named Theron Ware who recently moved to small town in upstate New York. Theron has a number of experiences that cause him to begin to question the Methodist religion, his role as a priest and even the very existence of God. Edmund Wilson called this novel, "Frederic's most brilliant achievement."

Members Reviews:

Often-overlooked American classic

Would you try another book from Harold Frederic and/or John Chatty?

Frederic's stature as a author of merit rests on this work, but--like Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird) it's enough. Unlike Lee's novel, it addresses America's struggle with religious fanaticism rather than race.

What could Harold Frederic have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

The novel's deterministic plot is unrelieved by humor, and characters lack sympathy.

How could the performance have been better?

This book deserves better narration. THe reader drones from start to finish, with no variation in pitch or dialect to distinguish the speech of various characters. Unfortunately, this is the only audible version currently available.

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Title: Little Women

Author: Louisa May Alcott

Narrator: Sandra Burr

Format: Unabridged

Length: 18 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-08-14

Publisher: The Classic Collection

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 26 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Louisa May Alcotts heartwarming tale of the indelible bond between sisters

This treasured novel, drawn in part from Louisa May Alcott's personal experience, brings to life the provincial yet abundantly full lives of the March sisters. Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy manage to lead an interesting existence despite their father's absence at war and their family's lack of money. Whether they're putting on a play or forming a secret society, their gaiety is infectious.

This novel is part of Brilliance Audio's extensive Classic Collection, bringing you timeless masterpieces that you and your family are sure to love.

Members Reviews:

I love it!

It was one of the best books I ever listened to. I really in joyed it !!!!!!!!!

nice book

this was a very enjoyable book to listen to. very lighthearted and fun. I had not read it since I was a child. Nice to be able to listen to.

Beautiful book and Narrator

Loved this story and the narrator was great. I would highly recommend listening to this book.