Look Me in the Eye (My life with Asperger's) by John Elder Robison, read by Mark Deakins.

I definitely think this audiobook deserves an above average rating, it is an enthralling story of a man overcoming the multiple challenges life threw his way. Robison (who is the brother of author Austen Burroughs) give us his own take on life with his highly dysfunctional family, where he had the added challenge of being born different. He later learned that he has Asperger's, but growing up he and others just thought he was odd in the way he interacted with others. Still, he eventually managed to find a niche for himself in the local music scene designing and repairing sound equipement, which led to his involvement with big name bands such as Kiss (this is one of the most interesting parts of the book). The audio narrator did a fine job with this recording, delivering Robison's words in the same matter of fact tone that he seems to have written them in. Some of his interests may not interest all readers, but I chalked up his obsessions to the different way his brain views the world. I enjoy stories of how people manage to survive and thrive in the most difficult circumstances, and this was another one of those stories that just fascinated me. So if you enjoy those types of stories as well, give this one a listen!

Searching for Eternity by Elizabeth Musser


I thought this historically based story was just a bit above average.  Ever wish your father was a spy? Emile's father is, but he finds out the harsh realities of such a life when his father abandons Emile and his mother and they are forced to move from France to America. Emile is forced to adapt to an entirely different culture, dodge the bullies at school, and try to figure out what really happened to his father. The only good part of his move to America seems to be that his meets Eternity Jones, a fascinating girl at school who he befriends and tries to help. As the story progresses Emile eventually finds answers to his questions--but only after a lifetime of searching.
I found this to be a satisfying read, full of memorable and heartwarming characters. Some of the plot points seem pretty unlikely, but it's an enjoyable story nonetheless.

A Promise to Remember by Kathryn Cushman


I found this story to be a bit of a downer, predictable, and of below average quality.  The story deals with the issues of grief and forgiveness. The main characters are two mothers--both lost their sons in a car accident and one blames the other for her son's death. She decides to sue the other mother and what follows is the story of how they each try to deal with their grief and eventually learn to forgive. As you can tell, it's kind of a depressing topic so read this when you are in the mood for something serious.

Beloved Exile by Parke Godwin


I thought this was an average quality fantasy, it has a creative premise and maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the book that comes before it (Firelord, which we don't own).  An imaginative expansion on the Arthur legend, this book tells the story of Guinevere, mainly dealing with what happens to her after Arthur dies. Parts of the Arthur story are told in flashback, as the reader follows along with her inner musings on the past. But mostly in follows the former queen as she becomes enslaved by the Saxon's and learns to admire their democratic system of governing. When she returns to her own people she is much changed for the better, but it is a struggle to get her countrymen to accept her strange new ideas.
This is an interesting blend of fantasy, legend, and history. It piqued my interest in history, but I didn't like the rambling thoughts of the main character sometimes. Still, this is a great way to experience some English history with a dash of the Arthur legends thrown in to make it interesting.