Jess - Audible

This is one of those life-changing books, one that I listened to years ago, but still think of quite often. In this memoir, Ayaan tells her story of leaving Islam, her journey from Africa and Saudi Arabia where she was a devout Muslim, to the Netherlands where she escaped a pre-arranged marriage and became a vocal activist of women’s rights. She lived in hiding for many years due to threats made on her life for participating in Theo van Gogh’s short film criticizing the treatment of women in Islamic society – the same film that he was murdered for making.

Ayaan’s heroic strength and courage are evident in her soft-spoken yet resolute narration of Infidel, and this heart-wrenching story is made all the more poignant by the telling in her own voice. I am so grateful for brave writers like Ayaan, she literally lends a voice to the many incapable of being heard themselves.

This is a heartbreaking novel of a thirteen-year-old Nepalese girl, tricked and sold into a brothel in the slums of Calcutta by her gambling-addicted step-father. The free-verse writing style is brought to life in audio; Justine Eyre’s narration is lyrical and pitch-perfect, an intimate glance inside young Lakshmi’s sad world. At times I wanted to stop listening, but found that I just couldn't. This is an emotional, all-encompassing story, and although it's fiction, it really left me thinking about what so many young girls suffer through. A definite tear-jerker.

I wanted to listen to 'Yes, Chef' to learn a little more about world-renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson, owner of Harlem's Red Rooster and famous TV personality. I had hoped to be entertained, and to understand what it takes to become such a highly awarded chef like Marcus. What I hadn't expected was to be moved to tears almost immediately and to be captivated all the way through his journey to stardom. Towards the end, I even caught myself listening to it less and less each day so that it would last just a few days longer. I loved this book, and that’s owed to the narration. I’m positive ‘Yes, Chef’ would make for a great read, but there is something about hearing the story in Marcus’ raspy light voice that elevates it, makes it a bit more intimate. He doesn’t just discuss his path of becoming a chef, this is his life-story. He’s passionate, determined, motivated, structured and very serious about his food. All of that emotion and more comes through his reading.

I was completely blown away, and that is why this takes the spot as my #1 listen of 2012.

Highly highly recommended.