Just couldn’t listen to the narrator. She’s rushing and doesn’t have a good reading voice

Reader was too fast and dry.

Terrible a waste of my time

I almost turned this off in the first chapter because the narrator was so terrible. I did not know that every chapter was read by a different narrator. One narrator was so hoarse I couldn’t understand much. One had such a thick accent I couldn’t understand her. The first chapter narrator was like a grade-school child. I assume these are all volunteers and bless them for trying. It was a free audiobook so I understand. (Sort of) The book itself was interesting and held some good information. It was a little confusing to follow and I might try the written book so I can better understand it. The narration was too distracting. I apologize to any of the narrators. They did their best and I couldn’t do it. But when something is out for public use, it needs a little more consistency and clarity.

As this is a collection of family reminiscences about Jane Austen it is not “warts and all” if indeed she had any to reveal. It includes some letters and unpublished work. It is interesting if a little long winded in places eg chapter 1 when discussing her antecedents. However the downside here is multiple narrators of varying or no talent, all American in accent apart from possibly the lone male (shame he did not read the whole book) and one putting on an awful English accent (posh Cockney) for Jane’s letters. I suppose as this is a free book I shouldn’t complain too much. I found it helpful having a copy of the book to consult when accents obscured the words.

I do wish some of the more capable narrators would read the entire book. I did skip a few chapters as I was too irritated by heavy accents or dull reading to endure it. Such a pity as I loved the book.