With No One As Witness by Elizabeth George - An Audiobook

(Not part of the G&M Top 100)
A long-time Elizabeth George fan, this is the first time I have listened to one of her books on CD. Very well spoken and acted by Charles Keating. If you don't know the Inspector Lynley novels, but love British mysteries, then this author is a must for you. As well written as P.D. James with a very compelling detective duo. If you've seen the TV series - the books are very different. They took way too many liberties with the storylines as far as I can tell - and eliminated two very important characters along the way as well. And everyone I have spoken to agrees with me that the casting of Helen was a very poor choice indeed. Anyway, five stars for this audiobook and at 10 hours on 9 compact discs, terrific for a longish journey.

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio - Audiobook

As well as reading books on the Globe and Mail Top 100 list, I will occasionally add titles that I read "just for fun" or listened too. I am almost never in the car without an audiobook and in some cases I prefer the audio to the written copy. In this instance, I have neither read the book nor seen the movie, but I really enjoyed the listen. Read by the author (not always a success) in a straightforward manner with a deep and pleasant voice, Terry Ryan brings her Mother and her childhood in the 1950s and 1960s to life. And it is a fascinating slice of life. I too was a child in the 1950s and 1960s but we lived in one of those new, postwar bungalows with just three children in the family (as opposed to the 10 here) and although we weren't well off, I can't remember wanting for anything.

This story that centres around the author's Mother who more than supplemented the salary of her alcoholic husband is not sentimental in the least. Rather it is an incredible recollection of a remarkable woman with what can only be described as an indomitable spirit. And what patience and understanding! The listen was a heartwarming and humbling experience - completely enjoyable.