Simply The Best Audiobooks in Fiction, Contemporary to Listen Online

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Title: North Star

Author: Hammond Innes

Narrator: Tim Bentinck

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-13-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Michael Randall flees to the wild seas around the Shetlands to escape an impossible dilemma. There he finds a North Sea oil rig and the unlikely possibility of a new life. But one stormy night this glimmer of hope for the future, and Randall's life itself, is thrown into jeopardy.

Critic Reviews:

"A master story-teller, at his best when the sea is one of the chief characters" (Daily Telegraph)

"Fast pace, terrific atmosphere, tension...Nobody can do this sort of thing better than Mr Innes" (Listener)

"Hammond Innes must be one of the best tellers ever of the straightforward adventure in a harsh, well-researched setting" (Financial Times)

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Title: Life Is Elsewhere

Author: Milan Kundera

Narrator: Richmond Hoxie

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-21-13

Publisher: Canongate Faber Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A budding poet and his adoring mother are the central characters of this intriguing early novel by Milan Kundera. He takes us through the young man's fantasies and love affairs in a characteristic tour de force, alive with wit, eroticism, and ideas.

Members Reviews:

Mythical and ranges over many worlds

I thoroughly enjoyed this. It opened up new thoughts and dimensions constantly. Post structuralist at times and surreal at other times, it has a good story at its heart. And it was written in 1973... I'd only come across Laughter and Forgetting before. Thank you Faber and Faber

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Title: Trust in Me

Author: Beth Cornelison

Narrator: Carol Schneider

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-28-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A hero for the rest of us?

Escaping the cheating fiancé and sheltered life her father has arranged for her, Claire Albritton wants nothing more than to take control of her life and learn to fight her own battles.

Kevin Fuller believes he must rescue damsels in distress and Claire is decidedly out of her element in small town South Carolina. When trouble inevitably finds Claire, Kevin's white knight protection and heroics are exactly what Claire doesn't want. But his kisses...that's another matter.

Members Reviews:

Nice romantic story

Claire is running away from a very rich and controlling father. He wants her to marry someone she doesn't even love, just to seal a major business deal for himself. Claire was willing to go through with it even though she didn't love the man, that is until she found out that he was cheating on her. Then when she overheard her fiance and father talking about his infidelities, and she overheard her own father stating that he was willing to turn a blind eye, that was the last straw for Claire. She packed her bags and left her life behind. She knew where she wanted to go, she just didn't know what she was going to do when she got there. But she was going to do what she wanted to do from here on in and she planned to do it on her own without anyone else's help.

Kevin and Claire both have a lot of trust issues to work through, but the more they come to know one another, the more they learn to trust one another.

The only reason I rated this a 4 star rating, is because I felt the story line started to drag a little bit, towards the middle of the story. Otherwise it was a very good book.

Would I recommend this book? Yes.

Lovely romantic story

TRUST IN ME is a very nice love story between two very likable people in a small college town in South Carolina. Although Kevin is not particularly handsome, he is strong-minded, honorable, caring and sensitive which more than make up for the fact that he is poor and has many obligations (except in his own mind). Claire is very beautiful but she is also determined, considerate and sweet and her goal is to prove that she can be independent of the wealth and class that she was born into. (If she can find someone who loves her for herself, that would be an unexpected bonus.) There are only a few characters to keep track of and all of them have well-defined and complex personalities. The dialogue is authentic and fun to read while the imagery is very graphic and realistic. The writing is smooth and flows easily from beginning to end. The plot is a bit predictable but I didn't mind because this story is exactly what it claims to be: a contemporary romance. I thought the ending was too abrupt and I would have liked to see more detail in the last chapter. Overall, though, I enjoyed reading this story and I would definitely recommend it to others who like this genre.

Enjoyable book

I enjoyed reading about Kevin and Claire and recommend it for others. This was a good book where people had principles and simply enjoyed life. The setting for the book perfect and it had a good storyline.

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Title: Havana Strike

Author: Jim DeFelice

Narrator: Todd McLaren

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 40 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-26-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

No ones mourning the death of Cubas dictator, Fidel Castro. His heirs, including daughter Carla, are jockeying for power. Guerrilla rebels threaten to topple the teetering government. But theres more at stake than just the island nation. Il Jeffes legacy includes a long-hidden atomic missile, left over from the Kennedy-era Bay of Pigs crisis - which guerrilla leaders threaten to use against any American interference. Ace pilot Marine Lt. Edward Garcia is tasked to find the launch site. His Cuban-American background and flying skills makes him the perfect man for the job - especially when it appears the only thing preventing American annihilation is a nearly impossible air strike to take out the missile.

Members Reviews:

EXcellent military/flying action

One of the best Jim Defelice books. I like anything he writes and especially the "Hogs" series. This stand-alone is well plotted and the writing is very descriptive of the locales and the flying action. He writes like one of those "who have been there and done that."

More from him would be better...

Five Stars

Excellent novel.

another great story by DeFelice

Although starting off a bit slow this story picks up quickly into one of those you really hate to put down before finishing. lots of high tech gizmos and good old spy stuff.

Another great one from Mr

Well written and engaging. Another great one from Mr. DeFelice!

Excellent Fiction

This is a hard book to put down! I enjoyed the "Fiction" which riveted my attention. Enjoy and pass on!

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Title: You Must Be This Happy to Enter

Author: Elizabeth Crane

Narrator: Cris Dukehart

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 16 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-13-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 2 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Whether breathlessly enthusiastic serenely calm, or really concentrating on their personal zombie issues, Crane's happy cast explore the complexities behind personal satisfaction. You Must Be This Happy to Enter exists in a world very much like our own but infused with more joy and magic. It's a place where the happy are jailed, the sincere cause confusion, and pop culture so seamlessly melds with real life that characters can walk right out of the television and come live with you.

Crane's third collection, aims to convey something fresh in literature: utter sincerity. With a trademark mix of hyperreality, humor, and heartfelt emotion, You Must Be This Happy to Enter asks readers to connect with the loopy ways of her characters. Because even though they're occasionally severed from reality, they still seem to know something you don't about keeping upbeat in a strange and crumbling environment.The opening story features a woman who can speak only in exclamations. Betty may be a zombie on a reality TV show, but she's a woman willing to work on herself. Sally is just plain old freaking happy. (You shouldn't even read this story.) Another woman gives birth to a baby who turns into Ethan Hawke, but by golly, she's not going to let that stop her from being a good parent. What happens when a town turns transparent overnight? Do people run away just because they're basically naked? No. What would you do if your perfect man was jailed for being happy? What would you do if you had words on your forehead? You'd use it to your advantage, that's what! How does a couple manage their differences over bananas? They freak out, and then they laugh. Do you have a better idea?

Members Reviews:

You'll be even happier once you get inside

This is a collection of original, hilarious stories. My favorite is "Betty the Zombie" about a woman who gets on a theraputic reality show to deal with her "human flesh eating issues."

Smart, fun, delightful short stories

This statement will be sacrilege to many of you: I do not normally read short stories.

Personal backstory: I discovered Elizabeth Crane, one of my favorite authors, when her first book of short stories, When the Messenger is Hot, was first published. I read a glowing review in Entertainment Weekly and immediately requested it from the library. When I picked it up, I realized it was short stories. I reread the review, and I decided to read it. To this day, it's one of my favorite books. I eagerly read her second collection of stories, All This Heavenly Glory, and I finally got around to reading her third collection, You Must Be This Happy to Enter.

Review: Short story collections are difficult to review. I'll say this: the first story ("My Life is Awesome! And Great!), where each sentence ends in an exclamation mark except for those that end in a question mark, was my favorite. I was laughing ridiculously loudly as I read it on the bus, and I didn't care when I missed my stop. The last story, "The Promise," is my other favorite. It's a book that simultaneously inspires me to write and wows me this writer's talents. It's inspiring without being daunting.

Elizabeth Crane's writing is difficult to describe, and I fear I won't begin to do her justice, but here's my best attempt: she writes brilliantly, simply, subtley and with an amazing rawness.

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Title: This Real Night

Author: Rebecca West

Narrator: Harriet Carmichael

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-11-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Acknowledged as Rebecca West's fictional masterpiece, The Fountain Overflows introduces the crisis-ridden Aubrey family. This Real Night continues their remarkable story. It is the early 1900s. With the disappearance of Piers, her feckless and gambling husband, and the sale of some valuable paintings, Clare Aubrey has a firmer grip on the purse strings. Rose and Mary are at Music College, struggling for artistic perfection, while the self-assured Cordelia has fallen into the role of art dealer's assistant. Richard Quin, beloved younger brother, is contemplating Oxford. The children's coming of age, with its gradual acceptance of love and loss, becomes all the more poignant as the events of the First World War gather pace....

Members Reviews:

Gorgeous and brilliant.

Would you listen to This Real Night again? Why?

I have already. And I read all three in this trilogy as well.

Who was the most memorable character of This Real Night and why?

The family mother.

Any additional comments?

Just stunning. One of my overall favorites. I read the trilogy when I was in my 20s and, now in my 50s I have listened to them. They are more amazing than I remember.

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Title: Homer's Daughter

Author: Robert Graves

Narrator: Karen Cass

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-24-13

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

In Homer's Daughter, Robert Graves recreates the Odyssey. This bold retelling of the ancient epic imagines that its author was not the blind and bearded Homer of legend, but a young woman in Western Sicily who calls herself Nausicaä. In Robert Graves's words, Homer's Daughter is 'the story of a high-spirited and religious-minded Sicilian girl who saves her father's throne from usurpation, herself from a distasteful marriage, and her two younger brothers from butchery by boldly making things happen, instead of sitting still and hoping for the best.'

Critic Reviews:

A great imagination and above all a powerful intellect (Daily Telegraph)

Narrator Karen Cass brings intrigue, a budding romance, and pitched battle to life with the cool detachment of the exceptionally bright teenager that Nausicaa is--along with a teenager's occasional moodiness and petulance. The many characters are clearly delineated, and the pace never flags. Cass's reading carries us into a story as modern as it is thrilling. (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

History alive

Rich interpretation of historical period through the eyes of one of the key observers of the time.

More enjoyable of you are familiar with the Odyssey, ...

More enjoyable of you are familiar with the Odyssey, but enjoyable even if you are not. Graves' dry sense of humor emerges in much of this book.

Fascinating and Feminist.

Robert Graves shows his vast scholarship and literary skill in a fascinating novel about how the author of "The Odyssey" was actually a woman. In the process, the reader is transported to the ancient world, and given a vivid picture of daily life, as well as religion, culture, politics, and warfare.

An interesting re-interprtation of the Odyssey story but the book ...

An interesting re-interprtation of the Odyssey story but the book lacks the depth I was looking for. Also the notion of the existence of a lineage from Homer down to Nausica's time was not well developed and left me rather dissatisfied. Other readers may see it differently

Great novel

Fun from Robert Graves! A delight!

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Title: The History of Us

Author: Leah Stewart

Narrator: Cassandra Campbell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-08-13

Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 48 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Eloise Hempel is on her way to teach a class at Harvard when she receives devastating news. Her sister and her husband have been killed in a tragic accident, and Eloise must return home to Cincinnati to take her sister's three children, Theodora, Josh, and Claire, out of the hands of her own incapable mother. Nearly two decades later, Eloise is still in that house, still thinking about what she left behind.

With Claire leaving for New York City for a promising ballet career, Eloise has plans to finally embark on a life that's hers alone. But when her mother makes a competition out of who inherits the house, and Claire reveals a life-changing secret, their makeshift family begins to fall apart.

Critic Reviews:

"A genuine and heartwarming story about the complicated thing we call family, and what it means to be home. I laughed. I cried. And I was very sorry to turn the last page." (Meg Waite Clayton, author of

The Four Ms. Bradwells and

The Wednesday Sisters)

"Leah Stewart possesses magic. It is awe-inspiring to see how clearly and sensitively she presents the numerous ways her characters are broken and then finds a way to offer some hope of healing. With the family at the heart of

The History of Us, Stewart shows that she is unafraid of difficult characters and that she is equally unafraid of making sure they matter to us." (Kevin Wilson, author of

The Family Fang)

"Leah Stewart plunges deep into questions of home and heart. The History of Us is a lovely novel. Just lovely." (Ann Hood, author of

The Red Thread and

The Knitting Circle)

Members Reviews:

Disappointing

When I read the summary of the book, I thought this would be a book about Eloise & the changes required of her life when she suddenly inherits her sister's children. I thought I had somehow skipped part of the book when all of a sudden, the children were in the 20's and the book was all about them, not about Eloise at all. The narrator is OK, not great, and the story is OK to listen to, but definitely not what I was expecting or what I wanted the story to be about.

Sounded more interesting that was

This book took a long time to get to the story. I never fell in love or hate of any of the characters. The store is about the relationship between family members with each other and there house. I had a hard time buying the whole scenario.

Readable, Enjoyable, But Missing Something

With the precipitous first scene where Eloise is thrust out of her prestigious job and new comfort zone, into the demands and requirements of instant parenthood for three young children, I expected the novel to stay consistently with Eloise, and offer the children's story lines through her eyes.

Didn't happen. The story is really about the kids-now-20-somethings, and has very little to do with Eloise and her dilemma of being aunt/parent. The kids' seem to be variations of one character and their struggles are so similar I had trouble keeping them distinct. Plus, the story focused more on romantic entanglements than life decisions in context. I liked Josh's (middle child) conflicts with leaving his band and for that reason he stands out, but in spite of all their talents and bright futures, the adventures of kids this age are not really fertile ground for an engaging story arc.

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Title: Hidden Talents

Author: Erica James

Narrator: Anne Dover

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-01-13

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 28 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Dulcie Ballantyne knows that creative writers groups attract an unlikely bunch of people, so when she starts up Hidden Talents, she is well prepared for the assortment of people she is bringing together. But what they all have in common is a need to escape, as well as a desire to keep their lives as private as possible - even Dulcie, who at the age of 63 has been having an affair with a married man for three years. As they grow more confident in their writing skills, friendships develop and gradually they come to realise that a little openness isnt necessarily a bad thing.

Members Reviews:

A feel good story that leaves you with hope

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

I would recommend this book to anyone. It suggest that there is still hope in human nature.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jazz

Very enjoyable

Would you listen to Hidden Talents again? Why?

Yes, although I don't usually read a book twice I found this story entertaining.

What did you like best about this story?

I like the characters to be very different from one another and this book had a variety of personalities.

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

Oh, the accents!! I love English, Irish and Scottish accents and that's why I listen to books rather than read them.

Who was the most memorable character of Hidden Talents and why?

I don't know that I had a favorite, I liked them all for different reasons.

Any additional comments?

I enjoy this author and would listen to more of her books.

Lovely, Down to Earth Romantic Fiction

If you could sum up Hidden Talents in three words, what would they be?

entertaining, heartfelt, fun

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jaz Rafferty - just loved her spunkiness!

Have you listened to any of Anne Dovers other performances before? How does this one compare?

Anne Dover is an unparalleled reader. Her voices stay so consistent and really add incredible entertainment to this performance. She is one of my favorites!

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

YES! And that is rare.

Collection of Writers

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

Highly. it provides an entralling insight into diverse characters with a common interest.

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Title: The Fun Stuff

Subtitle: And Other Essays

Author: James Wood

Narrator: Simon Vance

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-30-12

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 18 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A new, far-ranging collection of essays from "the strongestliterary critic we have." (New York Review of Books)

Following The Broken Estate, The Irresponsible Self, and How Fiction Worksbooks that established James Wood as the leading critic of his generationThe Fun Stuff confirms Wood's preeminence, not only as a discerning judge but also as an appreciator of the contemporary novel. In 25 passionate, sparkling dispatcheswhich range over such crucial writers as Thomas Hardy, Leo Tolstoy, Edmund Wilson, and Mikhail LermontovWood offers a panoramic look at the modern novel. He effortlessly connects his encyclopedic, passionate understanding of the literary canon with an equally in-depth analysis of the most important authors writing today, including Cormac McCarthy, Lydia Davis, and Aleksandar Hemon.

Included in The Fun Stuff is the title essay on Keith Moon and the lost joys of drummingwhich was a finalist for last year's National Magazine Awardsas well as Wood's essay on George Orwell, which Christopher Hitchens selected for The Best American Essays 2010. The Fun Stuff is indispensable listening for anyone who cares about contemporary literature.

James Wood is a staff writer at The New Yorker and a visiting lecturer in English and American literature at Harvard. He is the author of How Fiction Works, several essay collections, and the novel The Book against God.

Critic Reviews:

"Proof that Wood is one of the best readers writing today. Devouring these pieces back to back feels like having a long conversation about books with your most erudite, articulate, and excitable friend." (

Publishers Weekly)

"A pleasure. Wood's very title reminds us what literature is really about: fun. Get ready for some bracing delights." (

Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

A must read for lovers of contemporary literature.

Near the end of these twenty-plus essays I flashed back to being in college in the early 1980s and discovering Garcia Marquez, Borges, John Fowles, Andre Gide, Robbe-Grillet, Italo Calvino, Philip K. Dick and on and on. Amazing, fascinating, cutting-edge, avant-garde literature endures with new writers and their works continue to fill an artistic literary void. This book is one place to fill that emptiness.

The Fun Stuff starts off a little off-beat with a homage to Keith Moon's early success filled with "noise, speed, rebellion" and his eventual decline. The rest of the essays are literary critiques of quality writers and their writing and most of the time both. Woods delves deep, breaks down, tears apart a few times, comes from all directions to decipher the meaning he derives from each subject. His literary knowledge and scholarship is mind numbing as he makes complex connections between varied works that is astounding. In addition, you may need to have a dictionary close by if you read this.

And the subjects he chooses are, for the most part, extraordinary and challenging works of art and at least a few should be on any literature lover's Goodreads read, currently-reading or want-to-read lists. Here are a few of the writers and books he devours.

W.G.