The Thorn Birds

This gripping and passionate tale of an Australian family is a natural for audio presentation, and Mary Woods gives a worthy rendering. The daunting variety of characters would challenge any reader, but after floundering briefly in the myriad distinctive voices, Woods hits her stride with distinction. As the plot takes the listener from the Australian outback to the Papal court, Woods brings to life characters ranging from loutish Luke O'Neill to single-minded Meggie Cleary to urbane Vittorio Scarbanza di Contini-Verchese, characters who speak not only with emotion, but also with believable accents. Woods creates an audio edition that is as addictive to listen to as the book is to read. R.B.F. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Could there be anyone who has not heard of Colleen McCullough's 1977 bestselling romantic saga set in Australia? If you're in the mood for a sweeping tale of love and fate, along with the drama of the Australian countryside, then make sure you listen to this version. Donada Peters's marvelous new reading adds nuance to McCullough's book with pitch-perfect Irish and Australian accents and thoughtful vocal characterizations. Well-born mother, Fiona, who threw her life away, has a controlled, tragic sound, while heroine Meggie is revealingly young throughout the story. A super performance. A.C.S. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine