Grateful Listener SME
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The Four Loves
- By: C. S. Lewis
- Narrated by: C. S. Lewis
- Length: 2 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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In this remarkable recording, C. S. Lewis shows why millions of readers have acclaimed him the greatest spokesman for Christianity in the 20th century. In a resonant, baritone voice, Lewis explores the nature of the four Greek words that are translated love in English: storge (affection), philia (friendship), eros (sexual or romantic love) and agape (selfless love).
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Insightful Views on Love
- By William on 01-30-05
- The Four Loves
- By: C. S. Lewis
- Narrated by: C. S. Lewis
To hear his voice!
Reviewed: 03-30-25
Really interesting to hear CS Lewis’ actual voice. His insights on the many aspects of Love prompt reflection, consideration.
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Once upon a Wardrobe
- By: Patti Callahan
- Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham
- Length: 7 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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1950: Margaret Devonshire (Megs) is a 17-year-old student of mathematics and physics at Oxford University. When her beloved eight-year-old brother asks Megs if Narnia is real, logical Megs tells him it’s just a book for children, and certainly not true. Homebound due to his illness, and remaining fixated on his favorite books, George presses her to ask the author of the recently released novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe a question: “Where did Narnia come from?”
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A must read!
- By Wendy E. on 11-13-21
- Once upon a Wardrobe
- By: Patti Callahan
- Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham
Thoughtfully written
Reviewed: 03-29-25
I found this to be a thoughtfully written book on the deep subject of Birth-Life-Death … how we realize and choose to live, love, seek. I can imagine re-reading Once Upon a Wardrobe. In my opinion the narration was fine enough, not outstanding.
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The Story She Left Behind
- A Novel
- By: Patti Callahan Henry
- Narrated by: Julia Whelan, Theo Solomon
- Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1927, eight-year-old Clara Harrington’s magical childhood shatters when her mother, renowned author, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham, disappears off the coast of South Carolina. Bronwyn stunned the world with a book written in an invented language that became a national sensation when she was just twelve years old. Her departure leaves behind not only a devoted husband and heartbroken daughter, but also the hope of ever translating the sequel to her landmark work. As the headlines focus on the missing author, Clara yearns for something far deeper and more insatiable: her beautiful mother.
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Beautiful Story! Perfect Narration
- By April on 03-26-25
- The Story She Left Behind
- A Novel
- By: Patti Callahan Henry
- Narrated by: Julia Whelan, Theo Solomon
What an intriguing surprise!
Reviewed: 03-24-25
I was delighted that this book took place largely in the years from about 1910, then right after WWll England’s Lake District, which became the famed home and treasured sweeping hills, lakes & dales of Beatrix Potter. Also, a really interesting and important interlude in London about six years after WWll when that city was poisoned with sulphuric gasses from coal fires mixed with a thick inversion layer of dense “pea soup” fog which sickened thousands and killed hundreds. The ability to be able to flee the city was life saving — for those economically able to do so. Another critical storyline aspect of this book I found fascinating and skillfully woven.
I’ll not say too much, but loved the weaving of actual history, art, lore, legend, beauty, gardens, the “extra”-natural…family dynamics, quests for human love…
Narration was spot-on & the additions of bits of music & occasional other extras added to the uniqueness of The Story She Left Behind created a luxurious uniqueness!
There were two elements that I found distracting and a bit off-putting: 1. The main character, “Claire”, I found to be somewhat irritating & trying in her nearly total self-immersion — no matter the background reasons 2. The book is divided up into nearly 60 chapters of about 6-10 minutes, on average, so every few minutes, the narrator must break the story to announce which character is the focus and in which location the action is taking place — even if neither the locale nor the character change for many chapters. Far better to have created fewer chapters; nothing would have been lost and plenty gained in the flow — especially with this being an audio version. Even in print, this strange breaking into multiples of multiple chapters would be jarring, resulting in many “chapters” being only 3-4 pages long, if that.
Overall however, a most unique, beautifully conceived novel, historically based! I’ll certainly reread & recommend!
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Lawless
- Jack's History, Book 1
- By: Nora Roberts
- Narrated by: Todd Haberkorn
- Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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Half Apache and all man, Jake Redman was more than a match for the wild Arizona Territory. Sarah Conway, on the other hand, was an Eastern lady who belonged anywhere else but on the rugged land Jake loved. But beneath Sarah's ladylike demeanor beat the heart of a true pioneer, a woman he yearned to make his own.
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Just awesome!!!
- By Amazon Customer on 04-27-19
- Lawless
- Jack's History, Book 1
- By: Nora Roberts
- Narrated by: Todd Haberkorn
Couldn’t finish
Reviewed: 03-15-25
Rarely do I not at all like a Nora Roberts book, but this “Lawless” I found to be corny as heck! It was one of her earlier explorations into writing. It takes place on the Western frontier and the Eastern pampered young woman goes West, decides to tough it out …was embarrassingly unbelievable, the hero figure ditto. Lots of literal eye rolling on my part until I just couldn’t take it anymore! No way could nor would I recommend this one!
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Carnal Innocence
- By: Nora Roberts
- Narrated by: Tom Stechschulte
- Length: 17 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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New York Times best-selling novelist Nora Roberts captivates millions of fans with her provocative blend of scorching passion and chilling suspense. With Carnal Innocence, she creates a gripping tale of murder, infatuation, and true love in a small southern town. After beautiful concert violinist Caroline Waverly breaks up with her conductor and lover Luis, she escapes to her late grandmother’s home in Innocence, Mississippi.
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The wait has ended
- By Empress Karen on 04-17-12
- Carnal Innocence
- By: Nora Roberts
- Narrated by: Tom Stechschulte
Tough, grisly but good early Nora R!
Reviewed: 03-07-25
Written in the late 1990’s, this feels a lot like a combo of Roberts’ writing as crime, mystery writer, JD Robb, as well as her writings as Nora Roberts. Unusual “who done it” with developing love story, many characters. As other reviewers have said, with so many, takes a while to get everyone straight.
Within a few pages I settled in and enjoyed the male narrator. In my opinion, he did a really good job of relating this story; in fact, seems better read by a man in this instance.
Recommend reading and I may re listen at some point.
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The Didomenico Fragment
- By: Amor Towles
- Narrated by: John Lithgow
- Length: 1 hr and 47 mins
- Original Recording
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Like many well-to-do Upper East Siders over the age of 65, esteemed art appraiser Percival Skinner had planned to spend his retirement living off his savings. But a market correction has left him living below his prior means. One day he’s visited by a dapper fixer in search of a famous work by a Renaissance master. Skinner knows the work well: The original was owned by his ancestor, and was passed down through his family over the generations. If, as an intermediary, he can coordinate a sale, a small fortune awaits. Problem is, he might not be the only one on the make.
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enchanting
- By Utah Cowgirl on 04-03-21
- The Didomenico Fragment
- By: Amor Towles
- Narrated by: John Lithgow
Unique!
Reviewed: 02-25-25
John Lithgow is always good and brings that certain affected, presumptuous elitism to his narration and personification of the protagonist. I’m glad I needn’t have paid for this short, pretty good gem. As it was, a nice little, unusual interlude with no downside of paying for so brief a listen!
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Demon Copperhead
- A Novel
- By: Barbara Kingsolver
- Narrated by: Charlie Thurston
- Length: 21 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. Relayed in his own unsparing voice, Demon braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses.
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Wow! It’s a Masterpiece
- By Billy on 10-25-22
- Demon Copperhead
- A Novel
- By: Barbara Kingsolver
- Narrated by: Charlie Thurston
Ms Kingsolver’s writing!
Reviewed: 02-24-25
As always, Barbara Kingsolver is a superlative writer, never shirking from telling the stories she decides to share with us colorfully, interestingly and with perfectly drawn appropriate details — no matter the tough subjects! A few years back I read that this was a subject — the misery, traps of bottomless poverty, homelessness, addictions, geographic locations that seem bound to make it all worse — that she felt bound by knowledge & conscience to not shirk from, but to share.
And Daemon Copperhead is all of this: a tough, true-to-life story woven of gut wrenching, all-out personal, economic & societal struggles, peopled unflinchingly by tough, true characters.
I really respect Ms. Kingsolver and read all of her books. This is the grittiest of her subjects, so far, in my observation — not to be read for cheers, nor happy relaxation, that’s for sure, but for the pure pleasure of her incredible artistry. But would I ever choose to re-read this book? Nah — it relates too much true-to-life misery for me to want to immerse myself again.
Narration is fine, not diverting, not jarring nor weird, not whiz-bang colorful…just right for this long tome.
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The Wedding Party
- By: Robyn Carr
- Narrated by: Therese Plummer
- Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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After her divorce, Charlene Dugan vowed never to get married again - a promise she has kept for twenty-five years. Until the fateful day she finds herself uttering the well-known phrase - "Let's get married!" Almost immediately, Charlene's seemingly perfect life begins unraveling at the seams. Daughter Stephanie's own relationship is about to disintegrate, and she might be just a teensy-weensy bit jealous of her mom. And Charlene seems to be spending more time with her ex-husband than with her fiancé, Dennis.
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Laughed aloud, but lots of insight too
- By Grete on 04-20-14
- The Wedding Party
- By: Robyn Carr
- Narrated by: Therese Plummer
Rarely do I dislike Robyn Carr…
Reviewed: 02-23-25
…but I stopped this disappointing tripe after chapter eight, as I no longer cared about the resolution of any of the characters. I had my doubts from the opening chapters focusing on “Charlene”, but I kept on despite my doubts. Nearly every character was galloping dishonest, duplicitous, an outright liar with next to no moral compass. Each of the family, individuals or couple groups was totally dysfunctional, and there were gallons of alcohol consumed in the various scenarios. Usually, in the many Robyn Carr books I’ve listened to there are a number of characters & situations with some depth, interesting redeeming qualities, people of some sort of personal moral compass… If any of these characters in The Wedding Party somehow developed in that direction within the last several chapters, well fine. After the unattractive wallow, I sure wouldn’t give a whit.
This book was a no-cost part of Audible, otherwise, I’d have requested my credit returned.
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Neighbors
- By: Danielle Steel
- Narrated by: James Babson
- Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Meredith White was one of Hollywood's most recognizable faces. But a personal tragedy cut her acting career short and alienated her from her family. For the last 15 years, Meredith has been living alone in San Francisco with two trusted caretakers. Then a massive earthquake strikes Northern California. Meredith invites her stunned and shaken neighbors into her mostly undamaged home as the recovery begins. These people did not even realize that a movie star was living on their street. Now, they are sharing her mansion, as well as their most closely kept secrets.
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Great book and great narration!
- By Tatyana on 01-07-21
- Neighbors
- By: Danielle Steel
- Narrated by: James Babson
Incredibly boring
Reviewed: 02-15-25
Chapters and chapters of drivel. Just the most basic storylines, characters with no depth. Neighbors, I found to be about pointless. Harsh critique, I know.
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Sunrise Point
- Virgin River, Book 19
- By: Robyn Carr
- Narrated by: Therese Plummer
- Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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RITA Award winner Robyn Carr is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. In this 19th installment of her Virgin River series, Tom Cavanaugh returns home to take over his family’s apple orchard and settle down. Single mom Nora Crane is nothing like the kind of woman he thought he’d fall for—yet he can’t take his eyes off her. And while they have different concepts about family, they soon find out how quickly those ideas can change.
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Mood Enhancing Series
- By pewter on 06-18-12
- Sunrise Point
- Virgin River, Book 19
- By: Robyn Carr
- Narrated by: Therese Plummer
Not up to RC’s norms
Reviewed: 02-11-25
Sunrise Point I found to be thin in storyline, not satisfying where any of the characters were concerned — maybe, “Maxie” the exception — whether those “old friends” or new. Whereas I nearly always want to go back to Ms Carr’s books to re-listen, I’m fairly certain this one, I won’t. Disappointed, but that’s okay, as both Robyn Carr and her fabulous narrator have given me hundreds of hours of pleasant listening in the past!
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