Great Expectations Audiobook by Charles Dickens

Michael Strogoff Audiobook by Jules Verne

Listen to this audiobook in full for free on http://hotaudiobook.com [http://hotaudiobook.com] Title: Michael Strogoff Author: Jules Verne Narrator: James Winston Format: Unabridged Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins Language: English Release date: 12-31-17 Publisher: Audioliterature Genres: Classics, World Literature Publisher's Summary: Michael Strogoff, a 30-year-old native of Omsk, is a courier for Tsar Alexander II of Russia. The Tartar Khan (prince), Feofar Khan, incites a rebellion and separates the Russian Far East from the mainland, severing telegraph lines. Rebels encircle Irkutsk, where the local governor, a brother of the Tsar, is making a last stand. Strogoff is sent to Irkutsk to warn the governor about the traitor Ivan Ogareff, a former colonel, who was once demoted and exiled and now seeks revenge against the imperial family. On his way to Irkutsk, Strogoff meets Nadia. He is supposed to travel under a false identity, but he is discovered by the Tartars when he meets his mother in their home city of Omsk. Michael, his mother and Nadia are taken prisoner by the Tartars. Ivan Ogareff alleges that Michael is a spy. After opening the Koran at random, Feofar decides that Michael will be blinded as punishment in the Tartar fashion, with a hot blade... ©2017 Audioliterature (P)2017 Audioliterature Members Reviews: Little known Jules Verne Jules Verne was known for his scifi stories, not heroic tragedies. This is a novel of sweeping adventure and travel. A dashing young soldier from the Cossack Steppes volunteers to carry a warning message from the current Czar to his brother in Irkutsk, a thousand miles away from St. Petersburg. The Tatars and others are attacking. It is up to Michael Strogoff to find a way to make the trip, snaking through enemy lines, witnessing the tragic procession of disenfranchised and beaten refugees and battered czarist soldiers, being beaten and blinded after witnessing the hideous torture of his mother, meeting a valiant young girl, and continuing on in spite of the terrors. The time is during the middle of the 1800s. I wish Steven Spielburg had filmed this as a movie. Stand back, Indiana Jones. ... in junior high and always remembered it as a good read so I recommended it to my husband I read this in junior high and always remembered it as a good read so I recommended it to my husband. He just finished it and really enjoyed it so I am going to read it again. Jules Verne obviously traveled a great deal in Russia to be familiar with all the customs, names, geography. It's sort of a period piece so may seem a bit hokey compared to modern political suspense novels. This is Jules Verne's best novel This is my favorite Verne novel. If you can get past Verne telling you about 19th century Russia chances are you'll enjoy this adventure story. Be warned though, this is not a science fiction story like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. This is more like his other classic Around the World in 80 Days. It is an adventure story that has a scientific phenomenon as a plot device. Verne liked to teach and inform people through his writings. Therefore, in this novel there is a lot of information about Russia since that was the subject he was teaching about in this novel. But, when you get past that there is also a great 19th century spy/Adventure story about the trials of a courier travelling 4000 miles through Russia into Siberia in the midst of a Tartar rebellion. First read it 45 years ago and loved it. Now First read it 45 years ago and loved it. Now, it's not as good as I remembered but I understand the history and geography better. Revisitation This was a classic I had not read in many years. I found it as enjoyable during this recent re-read as it was then.

A Horse's Tale Audiobook by Mark Twain

Listen to this audiobook in full for free on http://hotaudiobook.com [http://hotaudiobook.com] Title: A Horse's Tale Author: Mark Twain Narrator: Frank Harrison, Ella Porter Format: Unabridged Length: 1 hr and 49 mins Language: English Release date: 12-21-17 Publisher: Audioliterature Genres: Classics, World Literature Publisher's Summary: "A Horse's Tale" (1907) is a novel by Mark Twain, written against bullfighting. It was written partially in the voice of Soldier Boy, who is Buffalo Bill's favorite horse, at a fictional frontier outpost with the U.S. 7th Cavalry. Excerpt: I am Buffalo Bill's horse. I have spent my life under his saddle - with him in it, too, and he is good for two hundred pounds, without his clothes; and there is no telling how much he does weigh when he is out on the war-path and has his batteries belted on. He is over six feet, is young, hasn't an ounce of waste flesh, is straight, graceful, springy in his motions, quick as a cat, and has a handsome face, and black hair dangling down on his shoulders, and is beautiful to look at; and nobody is braver than he is, and nobody is stronger, except myself. ©2017 Audioliterature (P)2017 Audioliterature Members Reviews: Dull I did not like this book. Evidence of Twain's talent! I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I will admit that the end is not for the faint of heart! But true to Mark Twain's style, the book was vivid and creative. I don't particularly like books that humanize animals, but I think Twain did a fine job of telling the story from a horse's point of view. Good Book, Sad Ending (WARNING: Spoiler alert!) I liked the parts that were understandable, but the ending was so sad! Why did the Soldier Boy and the Cathy die? And the bull fighting...I hate that sport. It's so morbid, nasty, and horrible for the bull, not to mention the horses. Then they just kill the bull afterward? That's so unfair! How could it be a "beautiful sport" when pretty much everyone dies? mark twain at his best this was good but slow at times but the ending .... for a horse lover. just saying you have to read it, the story is quite indicitave of the times when it was written. true Twain. Why didn't I read this sooner? How did I miss this book when I was a younger avid reader? I love the different perspectives and the typical Twainisms: big SAT style words that are cleverly defined. I pictured Shirley Temple the whole way through. Additional bonus...it was FREE!

The Uttermost Farthing Audiobook by Richard Austin Freeman

Listen to this audiobook in full for free on http://hotaudiobook.com [http://hotaudiobook.com] Title: The Uttermost Farthing Author: Richard Austin Freeman Narrator: Ella Porter Format: Unabridged Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins Language: English Release date: 12-21-17 Publisher: Audioliterature Genres: Classics, World Literature Publisher's Summary: "The Uttermost Farthing" is a mystery by R. Austin Freeman. Excerpt: Humphrey Challoner was a great savant spoiled by untimely wealth. When I knew him he had lapsed into a mere dilettante; at least, so I thought at the time, though subsequent revelations showed him in a rather different light. He had some reputation as a criminal anthropologist and had formerly been well known as a comparative anatomist, but when I made his acquaintance, he seemed to be occupied chiefly in making endless additions to the specimens in his private museum. This collection I could never quite understand. It consisted chiefly of human and other mammalian skeletons, all of which presented certain small deviations from the normal; but its object I could never make out - until after his death; and then, indeed, the revelation was a truly astounding one. ©2017 Audioliterature (P)2017 Audioliterature Members Reviews: Macabre tale of obsession and revenge In this tightly plotted novel, we follow the bizarre career of a man who loathes criminals. Humphrey Challoner is a cultivated man and amateur scientist. His quiet happy life is destroyed one night when a burglar shoots and kills his young wife. For twenty years Humphrey hunts for the killer, in the process revenging himself on London's criminals class in a surprising and gruesome fashion. To say more would give too much away. Although both Humphrey and the plot have a narrow focus, the story is so full of lively incident, it held my interest throughout. Humphrey is amazingly resourceful and exhibits a delightfully macabre, donnish sense of humor. The writing style has an Edwardian flavor, although it was published in 1914 in the U.S. and in 1920 in Britain (under the title A Savant's Vendetta). Freeman was one of the greatest mystery writers, as demonstrated by his intricately plotted Dr. Thorndyke novels. This book feels like it was written as a diversion, just for fun. It also gives us a glimpse of how respectable people of the era felt about criminals, so it's of historic interest, as well as being quite entertaining. The moral dilemmas set forth invite discussion; you might want to share this book with a friend. The Resurrected Press edition has a very readable format, is nicely edited, and offers a short but informative introduction. I tend to favor this publisher's books over less reliable digital reprints.

Great Expectations Audiobook by Charles Dickens

Listen to this audiobook in full for free on http://hotaudiobook.com [http://hotaudiobook.com] Title: Great Expectations Author: Charles Dickens Narrator: Lawrence Skinner Format: Unabridged Length: 20 hrs and 4 mins Language: English Release date: 12-20-17 Publisher: Audioliterature Genres: Classics, World Literature Publisher's Summary: "Great Expectations" is a novel fully narrated in the first person about the personal growth and development of an orphan, nicknamed Pip. The novel is set in Kent and London in the early to mid-19th century and contains some of Dickens' most memorable scenes, including the opening in a graveyard, where the escaped convict, Abel Magwitch, accosts young Pip. "Great Expectations" is full of extreme imagery - poverty; prison ships and chains, and fights till death - and has a colorful cast of characters who have entered popular culture. These include the eccentric Miss Havisham, the beautiful but cold Estella, and Joe, the unsophisticated and kind blacksmith. Dickens' themes include wealth and poverty, love and rejection, and the eventual triumph of good over evil. "Great Expectations" (popular both with readers and literary critics) has been translated into many languages and adapted numerous times into various media. Artist Bio Author: Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. ©2017 Audioliterature (P)2017 Audioliterature Members Reviews: TV and Movies versions were good, but the book is better. . . One of my co-workers encouraged me to read this since I have only seen the TV/Movie versions. It was a quick read and very enjoyable. Fortunately, the TV/Movie versions weren't too far off the mark. Regardless, there were facets of the story that you would only get through the book, which is why reading the book will always be my favorite option. BAH! HUMBUG!! "God bless Us, Every One" A Christmas Carol is a beloved Christmas favorite. Nothing says Christmas like favorite Christmas stories. This timeless tale has been told in many versions. Iâve seen the movie and play but Iâve never read the book. I thought it was about time to finally read this tale. The illustrations throughout the book were fun to look at. Not common to find illustrations in books today unless they are children stories. Lots of great quotes come from this story but the most famous is BAH! HUMBUG! followed by: "God bless Us, Every One!" Standalone As great to read vs as to watch as a production. We've enjoyed many kinds of productions of this classic Scrooge story. The original makes us 'rise to the occasion' - or at least gets us to mentally take the time to step back in that era. Life was so different, so the real factor is (I think) a little richer, than already assembled viewables. Emotional, and the older language adds some incentive to digging into the story. A must read! Dickens has always intimidated me. Somehow, I made my way through high school and college without having to read one of his novels. Finally, a few weeks before Christmas, I decided to give this a try when I learned it is relatively short. I figured if it took some work, at least it wouldn't take all that long. I'm sorry I waited so long. It was impossible for me to separate this from the many versions of A Christmas Carol I've seen over the years. I loved it. I enjoyed the glimpse into the time and place of the story. The story and theme are, of course, legendary. Don't be intimidated.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Audiobook by Robert Louis Stevenson

Listen to this audiobook in full for free on http://hotaudiobook.com [http://hotaudiobook.com] Title: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Author: Robert Louis Stevenson Narrator: Candle Swift Format: Unabridged Length: 2 hrs and 56 mins Language: English Release date: 12-20-17 Publisher: Audioliterature Genres: Classics, World Literature Publisher's Summary: The story centers on a London lawyer named Gabriel John Utterson, who investigates strange occurrences between his old friend, Dr. Henry Jekyll and the evil Edward Hyde. The work is commonly associated with the rare mental condition often called "split personality" where, within the same body, there exists more than one distinct personality. The work is frequently interpreted as an examination of the duality of human nature, usually expressed as an inner struggle between good and evil. It has also been noted as "one of the best guidebooks of the Victorian era" because of its piercing description of the fundamental dichotomy of the 19th century "outward respectability and inward lust," as this period had a tendency for social hypocrisy. Artist Bio Author: Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist, and travel writer. His most famous works are "Treasure Island", "Kidnapped", and "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". ©2017 Audioliterature (P)2017 Audioliterature Members Reviews: Classic I read this because it's a classic, and I really love reading classics. This story is very short. I think it took me about an hour to read. I knew the basic premise of the story, but beyond that, the entire plot was new to me. I won't describe the plot because I don't want to spoil anything. However, I love the writing style, and I really like that the story is told by a third party who is friends with Dr. Jekyll. Overall, I give it four stars because I wish it had been a little longer. It felt a little rushed at the end, but maybe I was just reading too fast because I wanted to know what would happen. I would definitely recommend this book. It's an interesting story especially when Dr. Jekyll explains his reasoning. It's a lot of food for thought. Strange, but Great! Well that was odd. When you start reading a Classic, any Classic, you have to remember that it won't written like the books of today. I don't just mean that the wording will be more difficult, or even the sentence structure, I mean the viewpoint that the story is told from. I had expected this to be told from the point of view of the protagonist, Dr. Jekyll. Instead, it was told from the viewpoint of one of his friends, Mr. Utterson. I liked how it was told that way, you were able to see the other characters' reactions to Dr. Jekyll's strange behavior, and the curiosity to what may have caused it. You also are able to see their feelings toward Mr. Hyde, and how they completely disagree with Jekyll's decision to trust Hyde. The majority of the story is told this way. Hyde is a hated man, one who people despise at first glance, thought they can never place just why that is. Jekyll is respected and loved, but has begun to act strangely, with a lot of fear and distress. Nobody can quite figure out why this is, or why he spend time with Mr.Hyde, especially after Hyde murders an important man. Gleefully, he murdered him gleefully. The last two chapters change a bit. The second to last chapter is told as a letter from Lanyon, a friend of both Utterson and Jekyll. It tells of how he did Jekyll a favor, only to discover that Jekyll is Hyde, as Jekyll drank a cure before him. And the last chapter is told from the viewpoint of Dr.