DISCOVER THE WORLD OF AUDIOBOOKS

February/March 2018 • VOL. 26, NO. 5

[Link] February/March 2018 / USA $6.00/Canada $8.00

AUDIOFILE
More releases for February and March online:
[Link]
©2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc.
 0 BrillianceAudio™ on Compact Disc Unabridged

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 The Great God Pan Discover the World of Audiobooks

and Other Weird Tales Robin F. Whitten Editor/Founder

ISBN 9781781981160 Michele L. Cobb Publisher
Jennifer M. Dowell Managing Editor
Elizabeth K. Dodge Review Editor
Jennifer Steele Production Manager
Emily Connelly Assistant Editor
Joanne Simoneau Editorial Assistant
Alisha Langerman Editorial Assistant
Jessica Lockhart Sound Reviews Editor
Cheryl Gray Customer Service

Vol. 26, No. 5

Contributing Editors: Caitlin Augusta,
Jen Forbus, Francisca Goldsmith, Priscilla Grant,
Sharon Grover, S.J. Henschel, Candace Levy,
Aurelia C. Scott, Thomas Walken

Contributors: Kevin Brusie, Jessie C. Grearson,

Randy O’Brien

AudioFile’s Mission
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2 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Contents February/March 2018 Vol. 26, No. 5

In Our Time: American Stories

18  Recommended Listening on Immigration

Reviews & Features

20  History & Biography
Spotlight: Narrator Graeme Malcolm
23  Biography & Memoir
26  Fiction
Spotlight: Author Alice Hoffman &
Narrator Christina Delaine
34  Classics, Poetry & Drama
18 36  Tease: Romance
38  Mystery & Suspense
Spotlight: Narrator Peter Berkrot
34 44
44  Contemporary Culture
Spotlight: Narrator Rob Shapiro
48  Personal Growth & Business
50  Learning By Ear Revolution and Opportunity
in the Workplace
52  Science Fiction & Fantasy
54  In the Studio Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials
and Beyond
56
56  Young Adult
60  Children & Family Listening
Spotlight: Author Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Departments
5  Editor’s Notes
6  Contributors & Reviewers
60 8  Editors’ Picks The Most Intriguing Upcoming Audiobook
Releases in February & March 2018
68  Audiobooks and Literacy Invitations to Connect
January LaVoy photo by Scott Sherratt, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar photo by Iconomy LLC

Through Storytelling
72  Listening With . . . Designer Angela Adams

Resources
2  Mission
66  Index of Print Reviews
70  Advertiser Directory
70  Sources Who, What, When, Where . . . and How to Find It

[Link]
Visit our Web site for more reviews, sound clips,
and a complete list of all audiobook new releases.

February/March 2018 n 3
4 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Editor’s Notes

Heart & Soul

One of the reasons for the popularity of audiobooks these days
is the pace of our lives. With our busy schedules, and competing
media and entertainment choices, we give “time to read” a special place,
yet we are increasingly challenged to make that time. Enter audiobooks:
Having an audiobook at the ready—on a phone or in the car—gives us
all the opportunity to grab more time with books, and to finish more of
them than we might otherwise do. All in all, a win-win.
At the start of every busy year, I take some downtime to muse about
goals for the AudioFile team. Sometimes these are very specific. For 2017,
we wanted to expand the number of people receiving our newsletter,
and I’m happy to report that more than 10,000 new listeners signed up
to get our weekly Enews. We expanded our blog with 5 contributing
bloggers, and increased our Twitter engagement by 24%. We also
launched our newest creative project, The Download podcast.
Our goal for 2018? I call it “Heart and Soul.” No, not the piano duet,
and yes, much harder to define than numbers of newsletter sign-ups!
I’m thinking of the energy and enthusiasm that goes into the creation
of audiobooks and AudioFile’s celebration of them. This is not a num-
bers goal, yet it is overwhelmingly important to our business plan,
since it signifies our unwavering belief in the creative achievement of
audiobooks—and the many talented authors, narrators, producers and
engineers who make audiobooks what they are.
We match their passion with our own work to find and recommend
the best listening. As we focus on ”heart and soul,” the AudioFile team
has already begun another exciting year of engaging listeners across
digital, print, and social media platforms. Tell us what “Heart & Soul”
in audiobooks means to you! AudioFile Online
Blog:
[Link]/blog
Robin Whitten Facebook:
Editor and Founder [Link]/audiofilemagazine/

Twitter:
[Link]/AudioFileMag
Photo by Kevin Brusie

SoundCloud:
[Link]/audiofilemagazine

February/March 2018 n 5
 Contributors

Kevin Brusie

Jessie Grearson

Aurelia Scott

Sandi Henschel Randy O’Brien

Kevin Brusie S.J. Henschel

Kevin Brusie (“Listening With” photo, page 72) has a Contributing Editor S.J. (Sandi) Henschel (Christina
passion for capturing images, and he’s photographed many Delaine profile, page 32) is in her 17th year with AudioFile
listeners for AudioFile over the years. His goal when creating magazine. She has been a judge for the Audie Awards,
an environmental portrait is an exchange—“I give my interviewed some of her favorite narrators and authors,
vision: lighting, perspective, experience. The subject and listened to and reviewed a staggering number of
presents their true self, no façades.” More of his work can audiobooks in that time. An NYC-trained actor, director,
be seen at [Link]. published poet (as Sandi Piccione), and playwright, Sandi
reads selections from AudioFile magazine on Reachout
Jessie C. Grearson Radio, a service for the blind and visually impaired. Her
Jessie Grearson (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar profile, page 60) award-winning program is podcast and airs three times
is a freelance writer and a writing teacher living in Falmouth, weekly on WXXI Public Radio in Rochester, NY.
Maine. A graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop, she
has co-authored two essay collections (Swaying: Essays on Aurelia C. Scott
Intercultural Love and Love in a Global Village: A Celebration Aurelia C. Scott (Graeme Malcolm profile, page 22) loves
of Intercultural Families) published by the University of Iowa being an AudioFile Contributing Editor because she is
Press. She is currently at work on a practical handbook on able to hear a wanton number of audiobooks and interview
college essay writing tentatively titled Irresistible You. When occasionally wanton authors and narrators. Aurelia also
not writing, teaching, or coaching her high school speech writes the “Aurelia’s Audio Adventures” column on
team, she can be found visiting lighthouses, searching for AudioFile’s blog, posted twice a month ([Link]/
sea glass, or in her kitchen garden, dreaming up new recipes. blog/category/aurelias-audio-adventures). Herself
Kevin Brusie photo by Sharyn Paul Brusie

the author of an award-winning nonfiction book about

Randy O’Brien competitive rose gardeners, Aurelia is writing the first in
Randy O’Brien (Peter Berkrot profile, page 38) has been a a series of novels about a nineteenth-century scientist’s
reviewer for AudioFile since 2003. He is a veteran journalist adventures among the world’s legendary and mythical
and anchor for WLAC-AM and Rock 105.9 in Nashville, creatures. In between, she is writing a memoir of women
Tennessee. He’s working on a new novel that he is hoping and lingerie.
to self-publish in the near future.
6 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
Reviewers Reviewer Spotlight

A.D.M. A.L.C. A.R. B.G. B.P. C.A.

A.B. Anna Broome, Audiophile, ME D.L.Y. Don Yarman, Librarian, OH

A.C.S. Aurelia C. Scott, Writer, ME D.M.H. David M. Harris, Writer, TN
A.D.M. Alan Minskoff, Educator, ID D.M.W. Danielle M. Walters,
A.L.C. Amanda Costello, Writer, ME Writer, SC
A.L.S.M. Amanda Murphy, D.R.W. Don Wismer,
Librarian, OH Cary Memorial Library, ME
A.M.G. Arlene Griffin, Librarian, TN D.Z. Denise Zajkowski,
Miriam Kahn (M.B.K.)
A.R. Ann Ritchie, Educator, MA Librarian, IL
In the car, on a walk, cooking, baking,
A.S. Andrea Smith, Librarian, MN E.B. Elaine Barrie, stitching, or gardening, I always
A.T.N. Andy Northrup, Librarian, CT Greenwich Library, CT have a book in my ear. As a librarian
E.C. Emily Calkins, Librarian, WA and book lover of the audiophile
B.G. Beth Gutcheon, Writer, NY persuasion, I’m hooked on great
B.P. Brian Price, Producer, IN E.E. Elizabeth Ellis, Editor, narrators who bring romance, historical
C.A. Caitlin Augusta,
Hong Kong fiction, mysteries, and history to life.
E.E.C. Emily E. Connelly, Sound effects are always welcome.
Librarian, CT
C.A.T. Catherine Thompson,
AudioFile, ME
Audiophile, UK E.E.S. Elaine Sumner, Librarian, RI

D.A.W. D.L.Y. D.M.H. E.C. E.E.C. G.M.

C.B.L. Candace B. Levy, Editor, PA E.J.F. Elizabeth Fraser,

C.G. Carrie Griffin, Writer, PA Calgary Public Library, Canada David A. Walton (D.A.W.)
C.S. Christine Sharbrough, E.Q. Ellen Quint, Writer, NY I’ve been a writer and reviewer for
Librarian, TX F.M.R.G. Francisca Goldsmith, AudioFile since the choices were
D.A.W. David A. Walton, Writer, PA between tape cassettes and CDs;
AudioFile, ME
as a teacher of literature and com-
D.B. Dan Bortolotti, Writer, ON G.M. Gina Monti, Librarian, CT position, I was drawn to the live
J.A.S. James A. Stewart, Writer, PA readings of contemporary poets, and
Want to be part of to the then-growing catalog of great
J.C.G. Jessie Grearson, Writer, ME literature on audio. In retirement I
AudioFile’s review team?
J.F. Jen Forbus, Book Blogger, OH favor history and biography, and
While we work with more than 100 luxuriate in an age of great narrative
J.M.D. Jennifer M. Dowell,
reviewers, we are always interested histories and gifted narrators. My
in new reviewers. We value fresh AudioFile, ME favorites of all time? Unquestionably
opinions across all genres. If you are J.R.T. Julie Thompson, Nadia May’s reading of Barbara
a very active listener, have writing Tuchman’s The Guns of August and
Librarian, WA Tristan Layton’s of Ross King’s The
experience, and are interested in
discussing the audiobook performance K.D. Kris Duplantier, Judgment of Paris. Looking for-
in 125 words or less—you are wel- Audiophile, OK ward to: Victorious Century, David
come to apply to editor Robin Whitten, Cannadine’s history of Britain in the
robin@[Link].
K.J.P. Kate Pullen, Writer, Spain nineteenth century.
Continued on page 71

February/March 2018 n 7
 Editors’ Picks

ALI SMITH MARILYNNE ROBINSON

Winter What Are We Doing Here? Essays
The second in Ali Smith’s planned quartet. Marilynne Robinson considers ideas of
We loved the first, Autumn: “Smith’s moving, faith, politics, and America in this new
dreamlike novel is made even lovelier collection of essays.
by narrator Melody Grove’s consummate Read by Carrington MacDuffie
narration.” Blackstone Audio Unabridged
Read by Melody Grove Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538438152 $34.95
Recorded Books Unabridged (also MP3, DD)
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781501942303 $77.75 Release date: February 20
(also MP3, DD)
Release date: February 1 MICHIO KAKU
The Future of Humanity: Terraforming
JANE HARPER Mars, Interstellar Travel, Immortality,
Force of Nature and Our Destiny Beyond Earth
We raved about Jane Harper’s The Dry as Physicist Michio Kaku explores where our
“a transcendent Australian noir experience.” future may take us.
Narrator Stephen Shanahan returns here, Read by Feodor Chin
as does Federal Police Agent Aaron Falk. Random House Audio Unabridged
Read by Stephen Shanahan Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525491811 $45.00 (also DD)
Macmillan Audio Unabridged Books on Tape
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781427293138 $39.99 Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525491835 $45.00 (also DD)
Release date: February 6 Release date: February 20

MAGGIE O’FARRELL RACHEL HARTMAN

I Am, I Am, I Am: Tess of the Road
Seventeen Brushes with Death Fans of Hartman’s teen fantasies Seraphina
This memoir of near-death experiences and Shadow Scale will be eager to tune in
should be an unusual and beautiful listen. to this new audiobook set in the same world.
Read by Daisy Donovan Read by Katharine McEwan
Random House Audio Unabridged Listening Library Unabridged Ages 14+
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525588801 $15.00 Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781524779542 $27.50
Books on Tape Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781524779559 $70.00 (also DD)
Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525588818 $47.50 Release date: February 27
Release date: February 6
STEVEN PINKER
JOYCE CAROL OATES Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason,
Beautiful Days: Stories Science, Humanism, and Progress
Oates fans will want to snap up this This new audiobook from Pinker
collection of 13 stories narrated by (The Better Angels of Our Nature) promises
Tavia Gilbert. an optimistic outlook on our future.
Read by Tavia Gilbert Read by Arthur Morey
Harper Audio Unabridged Penguin Audio Unabridged
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780062842565 $29.99 Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525529774 $50.00 (also DD)
Release date: February 6 Books on Tape
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525529798 $50.00 (also DD)
WALTER MOSLEY Release date: February 27
Down the River into the Sea
Private detective Joe King Oliver, a former ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER
NYPD investigator and convict, investigates Unmasked
current corruption and past betrayal while For Broadway lovers: a memoir from the
trying to keep his teenage daughter safe. composer and producer of The Phantom
Dion Graham narrates. of the Opera, Cats, and so many other
Read by Dion Graham successful and beloved musicals.
Hachette Audio Unabridged Reader TBA
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781478976318 $35.00 (also DD) Harper Audio Unabridged
Release date: February 20 Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780062798985 $36.99
Release date: March 6

New Releases Online! Hundreds of upcoming titles at [Link]/newreleases

8 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 The Most Intriguing Upcoming Releases in February & March 2018

UZODINMA IWEALA DONNA LEON

Speak No Evil The Temptation of Forgiveness
This novel from the author of Beasts of Commissario Guido Brunetti investigates
No Nation should be a powerful look corruption and more in Venice.
at teen lives; rarefied Washington, DC, Reader TBA
society; and the clash between cultures. Recorded Books Unabridged
Reader TBA Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781501983429 $92.75
Harper Audio Unabridged (also DD)
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780062798961 $26.99 Release date: March 20
Release date: March 6
ELIZABETH GEORGE
PHILLIP MARGOLIN The Punishment She Deserves
The Third Victim Inspector Thomas Lynley and Detective
Victims held captive, a legendary criminal Sergeant Barbara Havers are back to solve
defense attorney, and clues that don’t a new murder case.
add up come together in this legal thriller. Reader TBA
Read by Therese Plummer Penguin Audio Unabridged
Macmillan Audio Unabridged Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525529811 $50.00 (also DD)
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781427293213 $29.99 (also DD) Books on Tape
Release date: March 6 Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525529835 $50.00
(also DD)
Release date: March 20
ALAN HOLLINGHURST
The Sparsholt Affair
ANNA QUINDLEN
English actor David Dawson narrates Alternate Side
this novel that spans 70 years in England,
chronicling the life and influence of A New York City enclave and a woman’s
one man and the cultural shifts over those charmed life are upended by a violent
decades. act in this new novel from Quindlen.
Read by David Dawson Read by Ellen Archer
Brilliance Audio Unabridged
Random House Audio Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781511367721 $32.99
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525589020 $25.00
(also MP3, DD)
Books on Tape
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781511367745 $69.97
Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525589037 $95.00
Release Date: March 20
Release date: March 13

GAYLE FORMAN
DAVID ROSENFELT
Fade to Black: Doug Brock, Book 2 I Have Lost My Way
Expect this sequel to Blackout to be another The lives of three teens intersect in
entertaining cop thriller. Central Park in this new novel from the
Reader TBA author of If I Stay.
Macmillan Audio Unabridged Read by Sunil Malhotra, Michael Crouch,
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781427293626 $29.99 (also DD) Nicole Lewis
Release date: March 13 Listening Library Unabridged Ages 14+
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525636267 $20.00
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525636274 $45.00
BETH GUTCHEON (also DD)
The Affliction Release date: March 27
This follow-up to Gutcheon’s cozy mystery
Death at Breakfast finds retirees Maggie JACQUELINE WINSPEAR
Detweiler and Hope Babbin investigating To Die But Once
a death at a girls’ boarding school. Maisie Dobbs is back to continue her
Reader TBA investigations against the backdrop of
Harper Audio Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538501979 $39.99 (also DD)
World War II.
Release date: March 13 Read by Orlagh Cassidy
Harper Audio Unabridged
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780062799142 $26.99
Release date: March 27

Sign up for our monthly e-newsletters! [Link]/email-subscribe/

February/March 2018 n 9
 CREATE YOUR LISTENING LIST

THE YEAR IN
AUDIOBOOKS 2017
[Link]/bestof
10 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Cozy Up to Audiobooks: Selections from
Independent Publishers & Authors
Hauntingly Seductive.
Audie®
Award Winner Indulging Dr. Vincent’s unique sexual appetites seemed like the perfect
2016 distraction from Elaine’s headline-grabbing life. But she never imagined
the conspiracy, mystery and betrayal she’d find herself entrenched in to
save a man she never intended to love.
Curing Doctor Vincent—Book #1 of the Good Doctor Trilogy
By Renea Mason, read by Erin deWard, Noah Michael Levine
Published by RENEA MASON @ MAD MASON PRESS
Available now / DD

Jane Austen as she was meant to be heard.

“(Alison Larkin) herself is a comic writer and performer and
she approaches Austen as a satirist. Genuine theatrical skill...
sustained comic creations.—The New Yorker
“(Alison Larkin is) hugely entertaining…marvelously light-footed”
—The Times (London)
The Complete Novels of Jane Austen
By Jane Austen, read by Alison Larkin
Published by ALISON LARKIN PRESENTS
Available in December / $69.95 DD, CD

Over 40 years before Gary Taubes’s The Case Against Sugar,

John Yudkin published his now-classic exposé on the dangers of sugar.
Discredited by the food industry, he was ignored by the health
industry and media. Time has proved him spectacularly right—
reissued with an introduction by Robert H. Lustig, the bestselling
author of Fat Chance.
PURE, WHITE, AND DEADLY
By John Yudkin, with an introduction by Robert H. Lustig, read by Chris MacDonnell
Published by POST HYPNOTIC PRESS INC.
Available Now / DD, MP3 CD, CD (Enquire about bulk pricing & library distribution)

Audie Award-winning narrator Will Damron presents his debut novel,

the first in a thrilling fantasy-adventure series. Thirteen-year-old
Percival Dunbar is certain otherworldly danger is lurking in his small
Scottish town. What he doesn’t expect is that help will come
in the form of the most terrifying figure in supernatural legend:
the murderous Tercentennial Baron.
The Tercentennial Baron
By Will Damron, read byTim Gerard Reynolds
Published by ODYSSEAN STUDIOS
Available Now / DD

February/March 2018 n 11
Cozy Up to New Audiobooks: Selections
When jeweler Elena Eaton is ensnared in a daring jewelry heist on
the night of the Academy Awards, she discovers that nothing in
Hollywood is as it seems. With her family’s rare blue diamonds
missing and her career in jeopardy, her problems mount when an
infuriatingly handsome insurance investigator follows her home
to Sydney. Can she trust him with an old family secret?
Enjoy the whole series from Ideal Audiobooks!
Sparkle: Love, California Series, Book 6
By Jan Moran, read by Erin Bennett
Published by IDEAL AUDIOBOOKS
Available Now / DD, MP3 CD, CD (CDs distributed by Dreamscape)

At the height of the Great Depression, a quarter of a million teenagers

were hopping freight trains with the hope that a better life awaited
them farther down the line. Riding the Rails brings to life a neglected
saga of the 1930s—a rite of passage for an entire generation.
Riding the Rails: Teenagers on the Move During the Great Depression
By Errol Lincoln Uys, read by Pam Rossi
Published by T.E. WINTER & SONS
Available Now / DD

What if your former girlfriend decides to use her 6-year-old daughter

to punish you for breaking up with her? How do you prove that
you are innocent of the worst case of sexual perversion against a child?
Is it possible to refute the lies of a beautiful, seemingly innocent,
little girl?
Do You Solemnly Swear?: A Nation of Law, The Dark Side
By Lin Wilder, read by Mark Kamish
Published by WILDER BOOKS
Available Now / DD. CD

Gloria Jean Watkins, better known by her pen name, bell hooks, is an
American author, feminist, and social activist. Founder of the bell hooks
institute at Berea College in Kentucky, she is the author of over 30
books. These are the first of her titles to be recorded. Watch for more
audiobooks by this world-renowned author.
Teaching to Transgress & Feminism Is for Everybody
By bell hooks, read by Robin Miles
Published by POST HYPNOTIC PRESS INC.
Available Now / DD, MP3 CD, CD (Enquire about bulk pricing & library distribution)

12 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
from Independent Publishers & Authors
Margaret Mitchell was as complex and compelling as her legendary
heroine, Scarlett O’Hara, and her story is as dramatic as anything
from her imagination. Through meticulous research, Anne Edwards
describes how Margaret Mitchell wrote Gone With the Wind and the
shattering effect its phenomenal success had on her private life.
Road to Tara: The Life of Margaret Mitchell
By Anne Edwards, read by Karen Commins
Published by JEWEL AUDIOBOOKS
Available Now / DD at Audible, Amazon, and iTunes

In this groundbreaking volume, Jan-Werner Müller argues that at

populism’s core is a rejection of pluralism. Nominated for a Voice Arts
Award, Washington Post declared this “the most useful work to
comprehend Trump’s appeal...” Given the impact populism can have
on democracy, this is a very timely and important audiobook.
What Is Populism?
By Jan-Werner Müller, read by Simon Vance
Published by POST HYPNOTIC PRESS INC.
Available Now / DD, MP3 CD, CD (Enquire about bulk pricing & library distribution)

Mashed is like Scary Movie meeting 50 Shades on the Food Network!

This collection of 17 sensually sinister tales will leave you both scared
and slightly turned on, while laughing out loud and contemplating
whether or not you should have your next meal.
Mashed: The Culinary Delights of Twisted Erotic Horror
By Grivante, Eddie Generous, J. Donnait, Brandon Ketchum, Devon Widmer,
Mark Daponte, Darla Dimmelle, John Henry, J.L. Boekestein, Alex Colvin,
Steve Carr, Nicholas Paschall, Calypso Kane, R.A. Goli, Maxine Kollar, Cobalt Jade,
read by Missy Cambridge
Published by GRIVANTE PRESS
Available Now / DD

Author David Blixt narrates this epic adventure of love, war, and
intrigue, the first novel of his Star-Cross’d series, based on the plays
of William Shakespeare, the poetry of Dante, and the history of
Renaissance Italy.

“A novel of intricate plot, taut narrative, sharp period detail and

beautifully realized characters.”—Publisher’s Weekly
The Master Of Verona
By David Blixt, read by David Blixt
Published by SORDELET AUDIO
Available Now / $29.95 DD

February/March 2018 n 13
Cozy Up to New Audiobooks: Selections
Rescuing the man tied to a tree left Claire trapped in 13th century
Scotland. Compelled by honor and tormented by desire, is being his
woman enough to satisfy her heart while Ian marries another?
The Draig’s Woman
By Lisa Dawn Wadler, read by Lisa Zimmerman
Published by LISA WADLER
Available Now / DD at Audible, Amazon

Finally in audio: The best-selling Janette Oke series that inspired

the current TV adaptation. Fall in love with these long-loved books
all over again with these new audio versions.
Young, pretty, cultured and educated, Elizabeth’s eastern upbringing
has not prepared her for a teaching position on the Canadian frontier.
When Calls the Heart
By Janette Oke, read by Nancy Peterson
Published by TWO WORDS PUBLISHING
Available Now (Full series releasing Spring 2018)
DD, Digital Library, CD, Library CD, MP3 CD

Anthony Graves is one of a growing number of innocent people

exonerated from death row. This moving account of his fight
for freedom is as haunting as it is poignant, and as shameful to
the legal system as it is inspiring to those on the losing end of it.
Infinite Hope: How Wrongful Conviction, Solitary Confinement,
and 12 Years on Death Row Failed to Kill My Soul
By Anthony Graves, read by Leon Nixon
Published by BEACON PRESS
Available Now / DD, CD

Magnum, PI with a shifter twist! After a brutal dragon shifter attack,

Tessa flees to Maui, where sunny skies, swaying palms, and a
handsome stranger conspire to play tricks with her heart. Can she
trust Kai Llewellyn and his band of battle-hardened shapeshifters to
save her from a gruesome fate?
Lure of the Dragon
By Anna Lowe read by Kelsey Osborne
Published by TWIN MOON PRESS
Available Now / DD

14 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
from Independent Publishers & Authors
The Buddha and the Borderline is a window into a mysterious and
debilitating condition; an unblinking portrayal of one woman’s fight
against the emotional devastation of borderline personality disorder.
Nominated for a Voice Arts Award, this compelling memoir/self-help
book is a must listen for anyone curious about or impacted by BPD.
The Buddha and the Borderline: My Recovery from Borderline
Personality Disorder through Dialectical Behavior Therapy,
Buddhism, and Online Dating
By Kiera Van Gelder, read by Carla Mercer-Meyers
Published by POST HYPNOTIC PRESS INC.
Available Now / DD, MP3 CD, CD (Enquire about bulk pricing & library distribution)

Tom and Etta have a problem. They’ve kissed passionately but

don’t remember it. Both are starting life over, from trauma and a
devastating injury. But is anyone ever completely free of their past?
Can Etta escape a wicked man bent on killing her? Enjoy this beautiful,
inspiring gem today.
Henrietta: Book #1 in the House of Donato Series
By Patricia M Jackson, read by Krista Leona Anderson
Published by PATRICIA M JACKSON
Available Now / DD

Celeste Howe first learns about the heart code from her wise Gamma
in small-town Gladdenbury, Connecticut in the 1930s. But after travels
with Gamma to Bohemia and New York City, she struggles to hear
her heart’s voice as she matures and makes life decisions.
A heartwarming, inspirational adventure with a map
to the heart’s wisdom.
The Heart Code, A Bohemian Tale
By Laura Matson Hahn, read by Laura Matson Hahn
Published by CONVERSATION FARM
Available Now / DD at Audible

Katharine Graham was one of the most powerful women on earth.

As the publisher of the Washington Post, she published the
Pentagon Papers and oversaw the investigation into Watergate that
would bring down President Nixon. In this stunning biography,
veteran reporter Deborah Davis unearths the truth about the
Washington Post and the family that ran it.
Katharine the Great: Katharine Graham and Her Washington Post Empire
By Deborah Davis, read by January LaVoy
Published by GRAYMALKIN MEDIA, LLC
Available Now / DD

February/March 2018 n 15
16 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
February/March 2018 n 17
 American Stories:
Recommended Listening on Immigration
In this issue, we introduce “In Our Time,” a new feature where we recommend
audiobooks that can help advance our understanding of current events. Here,
we suggest listening on immigration. These audiobooks are told from a variety
of perspectives and shed light on some lesser-known aspects of immigration in America.
Some, like Laura Markham’s The Far Away Brothers, are journalistic accounts read by
professional narrators. And others, like Khizr Khan’s memoir, An American Family, are
more personal stories told by the authors. All can be a jumping-off point for learning more.
You can also find In Our Time posts on AudioFile’s blog: [Link]/blog/
category/in-our-time.

ALL THE AGENTS AND SAINTS: Dispatches from the U.S. Borderlands
Stephanie Elizondo Griest, read by Frankie Corzo
Narrator Frankie Corzo delivers Griest’s investigation of her own past as a Tejano,
a Mexican-American living in Texas, and the ways her background has impacted her
life. In doing so, Griest discovers that her people’s history and experiences resonate
with those of others in the U.S., in particular the Mohawks of the Akwesasne Nation
in New York, who must straddle an imaginary border to maintain family, tradition,
and livelihood. Corzo seamlessly delivers this combination of research and firsthand
observations.
Blackstone Audio Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD, DD
Library Ed.: CD, MP3, DD

AMERICAN GHOST: A Family’s Haunted Past in the Desert Southwest

Hannah Nordhaus, read by Xe Sands
This riveting family history explores the eloquent story of the author’s great great
grandmother, Julia Schuster Stabb (1844-1896)—as well as the topics of frontier life
in Santa Fe and German Jews in the U.S. in the nineteenth century. Narrator Xe Sands
exquisitely captures the author’s earnest interest in Julia and her family. Sands’s clear
voice and refreshing cadences add an authenticity that listeners will find engaging.
Tantor Media Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD, MP3, DD

18 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 In Our Time

WATER TOSSING BOULDERS: How a Family of Chinese Immigrants

Led the First Fight to Desegregate Schools in the Jim Crow South
Adrienne Berard, read by Moe Egan
Berard provides a detailed and engaging history of the 1920s Supreme Court case that
was the first to challenge school segregation laws. The efforts of Chinese-American
shopkeepers to gain admittance of their children into a whites-only Mississippi school
are narrated by Moe Egan at a fast clip, requiring listeners to attend closely to the
complex personalities and motives in play. Egan makes it accessible by maintaining
the author’s formal tone while making clear which party has center stage.
Beacon Press Unabridged
Trade Ed.: DD

AN AMERICAN FAMILY: A Memoir of Hope and Sacrifice

Khizr Khan, read by Khizr Khan
Khizr Khan gained public attention at the Democratic National Convention when
he talked about the loss of his son in combat and challenged Donald Trump’s vision
of America. This audiobook explores his journey from Pakistan to the United States,
a true modern immigrant success story. His interest in America was piqued when,
as a student in Pakistan, he read the Declaration of Independence. His desire to emi-
grate was fueled by the kindness of his American boss in Dubai after he graduated
from college. It’s a compelling story that is engaging and easy to follow.
Random House Audio Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD, DD
Library Ed.: CD, DD

“A compelling story that is engaging and easy to follow.”

HOME: WHERE EVERYONE IS WELCOME: Poems and Songs

Inspired by American Immigrants
Deepak Chopra, Kabir Sehgal, Paul Avgerinos, read by Deepak Chopra

Deepak Chopra, who is from India, is one of America’s best-known immigrants. In this
audiobook he takes on questions of immigration as both an author and a narrator. Each
of the 34 poems in this audiobook is written by an immigrant and inspired by another,
sometimes famous, immigrant, such as Joni Mitchell (from Canada), Madeleine
Albright (from Czechoslovakia), and Yo Yo Ma (from France). Twelve of the poems
have also been adapted as songs, which follow the complete collection.
Hachette Audio Unabridged
Trade Ed.: DD

THE FAR AWAY BROTHERS: Two Young Migrants and the

Making of an American Life
Lauren Markham, read by Cassandra Campbell

Cassandra Campbell brings her full complement of narrating skills to this challenging
and provocative audiobook. Her style suits the seriousness and frustrating action of
this story of twin brothers who escape hardship and danger in El Salvador to make
a new life as undocumented immigrants in Northern California. Campbell’s perfor-
mance is both intelligent and understated. Even the dramatic scenes of the brothers’
harrowing travel with “coyotes” through Mexico and detainment in the U.S. by the
border patrol are read evenly.
Random House Audio Unabridged
Trade Ed.: DD
Library Ed.: DD

February/March 2018 n 19
History & Biography

PRAIRIE FIRES: The American FASTING AND FEASTING: THE INTERNATIONALISTS

Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder The Life of Visionary Food Oona A. Hathaway, Scott J. Shapiro
Caroline Fraser Writer Patience Gray Read by Amanda Carlin
Read by Christina Moore Adam Federman
Read by Naomi Frederick Often the greater challenge for an audio-
Narrator Christina Moore’s straightfor- book narrator isn’t the delivery but the
ward delivery nicely suits this in-depth Narrator Naomi Frederick’s soft British comprehension of a text. Would you
exploration of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s life, accent and thoughtful timing will entrance accept the argument that a 1928 inter-
family, and famous Little House books. listeners from the first minutes of this national agreement against waging
Avoiding theatricals, Moore injects her well-balanced biography of Patience Gray, war—an agreement you’ve probably
performance with energy and enthusi- one of the most important but often over- never heard of, and one violated almost
asm appropriate for Wilder’s fans who looked food writers of the late twentieth immediately by the Japanese in Korea—
are eager to learn more about the beloved century. Listeners who are unfamiliar with substantially improved the chances of
author. The audiobook is divided into Gray’s groundbreaking cookbook, Honey maintaining peace thereafter? Very likely
parts, starting with a factual account of From a Weed, will be fascinated by her not, and even the authors seem to recog-
Wilder’s childhood; the following sec- fierce independence and her insistence nize they’re overreaching. What narrator
tions detail her roles as wife, mother, and on sticking to her principles, including liv- Amanda Carlin grasps so well, possibly
author, ending with her legacy. Moore ing off the land with her partner, sculptor better than the authors themselves, is
skillfully handles the two principal chal- Norman Mommens, in a remote and elec- the work’s rightful center: the effort to
lenges of this audiobook: She keeps tricity-free corner of southern Italy well set rules for waging war, dating from the
listeners engaged as the author places into old age. Frederick’s varied cadences 1600s—a fascinating story in its own
Wilder’s works into the wider context of and believable European accents enhance right. Carlin’s delivery is excellent, but far
American history and, more important, the vivid prose, and her understated char- more important is her understanding of
remains neutral when the audiobook acterizations allow listeners to envision the narrative thread and central interest
exposes the less likable characteristics of Gray and her contemporaries without of the audiobook. D.A.W.
Wilder’s relatives, including her father, hindrance. Gray certainly had her flaws,
Simon & Schuster Audio 20 hrs. Unabridged
Charles Ingalls, and, especially, her but Frederick’s performance is near per- Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781508241188 $29.99
daughter, Rose. C.B.L. fection. C.B.L.
Recorded Books 21.5 hrs. Unabridged Chelsea Green Publishing Company 13.75 hrs.
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781501969607 $123.75 Unabridged
THE GOURMANDS’ WAY
(also MP3, DD) Trade Ed.: DD $24.95
Justin Spring
Read by Bronson Pinchot

Narrator Bronson Pinchot’s excellent

French accent sets the mood for this
well-researched, somewhat gossipy
DARE NOT LINGER: account of six classic American food
The Presidential Years
Nelson Mandela, Mandla Langa, Graça Machel writers and their lifelong love of France
[Prologue] and its food and wine. During the
Read by Adrian Lester postwar years, A.J. Liebling, Alice B.
Toklas, M.F.K. Fisher, Julia Child, Alexis
This important audiobook is the second Lichine, and Richard Olney lived, ate,
volume of Mandela’s memoirs, which and drank all things French, crossing
were left unfinished when he died in 2013. paths through their shared passions and
It’s more a collection of speeches than a mutual acquaintances. Their cookbooks,
finished narrative, but it gives us a fuller guides, and articles forever changed
picture of this extraordinary man. Narrator America’s expectations of both restau-
Adrian Lester takes immediate control of the work, lending it a serious, con- rant and home dining. Pinchot’s soft,
sequential, worldly air. His Jamaican-tinged British accent envelopes the text nonjudgmental delivery allows listeners
and guides listeners through Mandela’s amazing journey. Lester also has the to come to their own conclusions as they
ability to transform his voice into Mandela’s in the middle of a sentence and peek behind the facade of whitewashed
then go back to his impeccably precise reading. His pacing keeps the story fame and good PR. Pinchot deftly signals
fresh, and he uses his vocal elasticity to convey complex emotions. The result the numerous extracts and footnotes and
is a wonderful audio experience. R.I.G. wisely refrains from using distinct voices
Macmillan Audio 13.25 hrs. Unabridged for the famous gourmands. C.B.L.
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781427292353 $39.99 (also DD)
Blackstone Audio 15.5 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538429556 $39.95 (also DD)
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538429549 $118.00
A wonderful audio experience. (also MP3, DD)

20 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 History & Biography

THE SHADOW
IN THE GARDEN:
A Biographer’s Tale HOOVER: An Extraordinary Life
James Atlas in Extraordinary Times
Read by George Newbern Kenneth Whyte
Read by Richard Ferrone
Expertly read by George Newbern, Atlas’s
Narrator Richard Ferrone adds a steady voice
history/memoir on the art of writing
to this provocative biography of the 31st pres-
biography is a listener’s treat. Atlas, the
ident of the United States. Unwilling to gloss
biographer of Delmore Schwartz and
over his deficiencies or elevate his successes
Saul Bellow, surveys the history of biog-
to legendary status, the writer and narrator
raphy with an insider’s eye and recounts
enable the listener to appreciate that timing is
his own career in what amounts to a fif-
everything. Ferrone delivers the tone and pace
ty-year history of American literary life.
of the chronicler as Hoover’s roller coaster of
Rich in anecdote, insight, and wit, this
a life unfolds. His ability to encapsulate the
is one of those rare literary gems that
anger and excitedness, the euphoria and deep
exceed their dimensions. Newbern per-
sadness of a life spent in service keeps the listener wanting to know more
fectly captures the fine balance between
about this underrated historical figure. Ferrone resurrects an extraordinary
reverence and irony of an author who is
life such that audiophiles will be looking for more. T.D.
part greenhorn, part cognoscente. Names
like Irving Howe, Dwight MacDonald, Random House Audio 27.5 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525500339 $27.50
and Leon Edel are mostly forgotten today. Books on Tape
Here is a voice to rekindle their unique Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525500346 $95.00
spirits, and those bygone decades they
defined. D.A.W.
Random House Audio 13.5 hrs. Unabridged
Ferrone adds a steady voice
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781524783631 $22.50
Books on Tape
to this provocative biography.
Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9781524783648 $95.00

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT: NEVER CAUGHT QUEENS OF THE CONQUEST

A Political Life Erica Armstrong Dunbar Alison Weir
Robert Dallek Read by Robin Miles Read by Julia Franklin
Read by Rick Adamson
Ona Judge was a mixed-race slave in the Alison Weir’s newest sweeping history
Franklin D. Roosevelt is remembered Mount Vernon household of George and recounts the stories of the five Norman
for his leadership during the Great Martha Washington until she escaped in queens of England and Europe, begin-
Depression and WWII, dealing with his 1796, three years before the president’s ning with Matilda of Flanders, wife of
disability from polio, and his efforts in death. Robin Miles gives voice to this William the Conqueror in 1066, and
conservation—but this work focuses on remarkable woman, who was pursued by ending with Empress Maud in 1154.
his political sense and accomplishments. the Washingtons but even- As suits a regal history,
Rick Adamson offers an even, easy-on- tually found freedom in narrator Julia Franklin
the-ears narration. He varies his tone New Hampshire. Miles’s adopts a highborn tone in
slightly, which makes some of the more reading is straightforward her narration. She reads at
arcane sections flow without becoming and unadorned, mirroring a graceful pace with appro-
tedious. The audiobook is more analysis Dunbar’s journalistic tone, priate pauses so listeners
than storytelling, so interested listeners but it’s never dry. Although can absorb the complex
will need to concentrate. Adamson’s read- the text includes few of details. Each of the various
ing helps keep one engaged. He wisely Judge’s own words, it con- people associated with the
doesn’t set off direct quotes with a change tains a wealth of historical queens and their courts is
of voice, which would be at best cartoon- context and personal detail gleaned from imbued with an appropriate accent and
ish, given how well known FDR’s voice interviews the fugitive gave to abolition- persona. Franklin differentiates the back-
is. While the work doesn’t break any new ist newspapers near the end of her long ground narrative from letters and written
ground, it’s an interesting examination life. In the hands of a skilled writer and historical accounts through a fluid shift
of the political life of one of the twentieth a passionate narrator, this rich source of inflection and emphasis. She brings
century’s greatest leaders. R.C.G. material is crafted into an entertaining the period alive with her polished, melo-
Penguin Audio 29.75 hrs. Unabridged and important history. D.B. dious performance. M.B.K.
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525497486 $60.00 (also DD)
Simon & Schuster Audio 6.75 hrs. Unabridged Recorded Books 17.5 hrs. Unabridged
Books on Tape
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781442394506 $17.99 Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781470376390 $123.75
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525497509 $60.00 (also DD)
(also MP3, DD)

February/March 2018 n 21
Name TKMalcolm
Graeme

Pay award-winning narrator Graeme Malcolm a com- segue into commercial work was pretty seamless for me.
pliment about his performance of Jussi Adler-Olsen’s I’m eternally grateful.”
Department Q mysteries, and he’s liable to say, “Thank you, but These days, the New York-based actor balances theater with
there are some books that just read themselves. Aren’t I lucky?” audiobooks by treading the boards at night and recording by
Indeed. As are Mr. Adler-Olsen and many other authors day. Audiobook assignments appear as PDFs on his iPad, a
whose work is performed by the Scottish-born Brit. Daniel blessed change from the days of “lugging about multiple man-
Mason, author of The Piano Tuner, wrote the actor to say uscripts.” He moves them into a notation app; then he reads
that he couldn’t imagine the narration being done by any- through, gets a feel for pace, atmosphere, and characters, and
one else. “That does make you feel lovely,” says Malcolm, makes notes on pronunciation “so that there won’t be any big
who also occasionally writes to authors to thank them for surprises when I sit down in front of a microphone.”
writing an extraordinary work. Then into the studio he goes.
Malcolm’s acting ambitions began early. “I grew up in a Not his own—“I’m not interested in editing or engineer-
home full of books. In play readings at school, I was given the ing”—but a professional production studio, “where
larger parts because I was a more fluent reader. That was nice. I can read to someone, the engineer usually, even though
Then I discovered that I could entertain my peers. That was huge.” it’s through a pane of glass. I like to know that there is one
Off to acting school he went. The career in audiobooks person, at least, who is listening.
began after he moved to the States, volunteered to record “If there’s humor, I try to plumb it. And if it’s the
for a blind acquaintance, and thought, “This is fabulous.” opposite, I’m involved without becoming drenched in sen-
He connected with the American Federation for the timentality. There’s a Brechtian distance while recording,
Blind’s Talking Books program, for which he performed where you don’t act something out fully, but you’re present
“everything from Chaucer to Beckett,” and grew adept at in empathy with the characters in the room.” He ponders
recording without needing correction because books were for a moment before continuing, “I’m tired at the end of a
recorded on both sides of reel-to-reel tape. “That meant no four- or five-hour session. It comes of sitting up straight,
cutting and splicing. The corrected version had to fit into not moving, not making any distracting sounds. It becomes
the same space as the original. meditative. I use that word advisedly. I lose myself in the
“Toward the end of the AFB program, they began to story—by the time I’m done, I feel that I’ve been someplace
welcome commercial producers into the studios, so the very other.”—Aurelia C. Scott

DEATH IN THE AIR:

The True Story of a
Serial Killer, the Great
London Smog, and the
Strangling of a City
Kate Winkler Dawson
Read by Graeme Malcolm

Scottish-born narrator Graeme

Malcolm reads this inventive mix
of true crime, social history, polit-
ical cover-up, and environmental exposé with just the right mix
of traditional British verve and stoicism. For five days in early
December 1952, a heavy, yellow, noxious fog descended upon
the city of London. The air was so thick with the ash and resi-
due of a cheap coal called “nutty slack” that the populace could
hardly see or breathe—a true pollution disaster. Meanwhile, a
serial killer was burying his latest victims under cover of “the
Smog.” There is a tone of justice served in Malcolm’s voice as he
delivers the final verdict: A politicized Parliament did nothing,
and 12,000 people perished. B.P.
Hachette Audio 9.5 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781478923138 $25.98

Malcolm reads
Quotewith just the right
TK.
Photo TK

mix of British verve

Quote and stoicism.
TK.
22 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Biography & Memoir

MY LOVELY WIFE
IN THE PSYCH WARD:
A Memoir PROMISE ME, DAD: A Year of Hope,
Mark Lukach Hardship, and Purpose
Read by Josh Bloomberg Joe Biden
Read by Joe Biden
In this audio memoir, Mark Lukach
This audiobook is a listening experience
shares what it is like to watch his beautiful
in which the author/narrator opens his heart.
wife, Giulia, suddenly experience a psy-
Vice President Joe Biden, a practiced orator,
chotic break and be hospitalized against
delivers his memoir with empathy, passion,
her will, and then take care of her when
and the occasional smattering of regret. A public
she comes home, including doling out
man who served more than three decades in
medications and hiding the rest so that
the U.S. Senate and eight years as vice president, Biden shares the wrench-
she can’t act on her suicidal impulses.
ing experiences of the year his son Beau, the attorney general of the state of
He is scared, shocked, mystified, help-
Delaware, suffered and ultimately died from a brain tumor. While his son was
less, and angry. It’s heartbreaking stuff to
being given heroic and experimental treatments, Biden was being encouraged
listen to, and narrator Josh Bloomberg is
to run for president. All the while, he maintained a globe-trotting schedule and
truly perfect. He conveys every emotion
had a weekly lunch meeting with the president. The audiobook has the additional
that Lukach expresses—devastation at
benefit of a fine interview at the end with journalist Mike Barnicle. A.D.M.
Giulia’s delusions and repeated hospital-
izations, frustration with the inflexibility Audible, Inc. 9 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: DD $29.95
and inexactitude of the mental health
system, sheer exhaustion and occasional
resentment at being a caregiver, and joy
at seeing the depression lift before his
Biden delivers his memoir with
eyes in an aerobics class full of elderly empathy and passion.
Asian women. An important story and a
lovely performance. A.B.
Harper Audio 8.75 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538418680 $34.99 (also DD) L’APPART: The Delights and Disasters MY LIFE WITH BOB: Flawed Heroine
of Making My Paris Home Keeps Book of Books, Plot Ensues
David Lebovitz Pamela Paul
Read by Graham Halstead Read by Eileen Stevens
AUTUMN
Karl Ove Knausgaard, Ihgvild Burkey [Trans.]
Read by Edoardo Ballerini
Listeners may well find that this is pretty Pamela Paul, editor of the New York Times
much the most charming audiobook about Book Review, and narrator Eileen Stevens
Knausgaard is best known for his a home renovation disaster that they can make excellent partners for Paul’s mem-
difficult and controversial series of auto- imagine. American cookbook author David oir. After a pleasant introduction by Paul
biographical novels, My Struggle, but in Lebovitz decides to buy and renovate an herself, Stevens performs with such
this audiobook he shows a different, apartment in Paris, and narrator Graham enthusiasm that she could be the author.
gentler side. He is writing to his unborn Halstead captures both the Despite the title, the audio-
daughter, Anna, his fourth child, and horror and the humor as the book is not just for those
musing on how the world works. A series process spirals wildly out of who adore books as much as
of short essays, eloquently voiced by control. Halstead pronounces she does. (Her passion bor-
Edoardo Ballerini, ranges among trees, copious French words easily ders on obsession.) In fact,
vomit, fingers, and jellyfish, from the and flawlessly as Lebovitz those wishing a book about
house where Anna will grow up to the recounts French bureaucracy, books will be disappointed;
far reaches of the cosmos. No matter the contractors who are “pas this is a memoir that men-
topic, Ballerini never forgets that this is a correct,” despairing trips to tions books without delving
father speaking to his daughter. His voice IKEA, and the steadfastness of his partner, into analyses of them. Stevens has a chip-
is gentle, warm, and intimate without Romain. Mouthwatering recipes are sprin- per delivery and audible expressiveness,
forsaking an appropriate range of emo- kled throughout the audiobook—read in which make her nice company as Paul
tions. Some listeners will find some of their entirety, they may seem distracting at travels the world and marries a couple
these meditations distasteful, but there is first, but they’re well integrated into the text of times. I found myself enjoying Paul’s
much here to appreciate. D.M.H. and become a welcome respite from the story enough to hope that she’d rein-
Recorded Books 4.5 hrs. Unabridged
renovation fiascos. J.M.D. forced her floor to bear the weight of her
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781501916847 $51.75 Random House Audio 10.75 hrs. Unabridged excess reading material. A.C.S.
(also MP3, DD) Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525496427 $17.50 Audible, Inc. 7 hrs. Unabridged
Books on Tape Trade Ed.: DD $19.95
Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525496434 $16.50

February/March 2018 n 23
Biography & Memoir

MONTAIGNE IN BARN RANGER GAMES: A Story THE BEST OF US: A Memoir

BOOTS: An Amateur Ambles of Soldiers, Family Joyce Maynard
Through Philosophy and an Inexplicable Crime Read by Joyce Maynard
Michael Perry Ben Blum
Read by Michael Perry Read by Johnathan McClain In this soul-baring journey of love, trag-
edy, and recovery, author Joyce Maynard’s
Would you enjoy listening for five hours What would incite an Army Ranger with satin voice delivers every emotion fluidly.
to a Wisconsin volunteer fireman dis- a spotless record and boundless poten- In her mid-50s, Maynard finds the love of
coursing on a sixteenth-century French tial to rob a bank and throw his career her life, and all is right with world. A year
essayist? You bet. Michael Perry is a con- away? That’s the question Ben Blum later, her husband is diagnosed with pan-
temporary equivalent of the traditional sets out to answer in this outstanding creatic cancer. With great skill Maynard
American humorist exem- piece of personal journalism modifies her pitch and tone to reflect a
plified by Mark Twain and about his cousin Alex, who register of emotions from joy to despera-
Finley Peter Dunne’s “Mr. committed this inexplicable tion. Tears erupt, and sorrow drips from
Dooley”—a faux rube who crime. Narrator Johnathan every word, but Maynard never gives in
balances common sense McClain’s pacing is ideal. He to defeat. Rather than distancing herself
with a droll, biting wit. Far carries the narrative briskly from the futile circumstances she finds
from the wise yokels of old, along, using more intensity herself in, she embraces each moment
Perry possess a voice and when needed but without and moves forward with overt pragma-
delivery that could easily fit slipping into melodrama. tism. At the same time, listeners will
the anchor’s chair of any major news net- He provides subtle vocal shifts for the absorb the melancholy that lies beneath
work. He is funny and engaging, and he various characters, including a passable the surface of her journey of strength
knows his stuff. These few hours really Canadian accent for Blum’s partner in and self-revelation. E.B.
do tell you a great deal about Montaigne, crime, a British Columbia-born Ranger
HighBridge Audio 12.5 hrs. Unabridged
and literature and philosophy, and fire- who incited the robbery. Ultimately, Blum Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781681689760 $39.99 (also DD)
fighting, and a whole lot more that you is unable to provide definitive answers,
wouldn’t think would be relevant or but he asks challenging questions about
funny—but is. D.A.W. the way elite soldiers are trained. D.B. WHERE THE PAST BEGINS:
Blackstone Audio 5.25 hrs. Unabridged Random House Audio 16 hrs. Unabridged A Writer’s Memoir
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538489246 $29.95 (also DD) Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9780804166058 $45.00 (also DD) Amy Tan
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538489239 $49.00 Books on Tape Read by Amy Tan
(also MP3, DD) Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9780804166072 $45.00 (also DD)
Add capable audiobook narrator to the
list of Amy Tan’s many talents. Her
unique memoir is made all the more
VACATIONLAND: accessible and personal through her
True Stories from Painful Beaches animated performance, which puts the
John Hodgman emphasis on survival and perseverance
Read by John Hodgman instead of obstacles and hardships. In
It’s no surprise that an audiobook by humor- this nonlinear overview of her life, Tan
ist John Hodgman is funny. More surprising, talks not only about her struggles with
though, are the emotional depths Hodgman health issues, her mother’s bouts of
reaches in this assortment of essays. Hodgman depression, and the early deaths of her
is known for his work on “The Daily Show” brother and father, but also about her
and as the stodgy personification of a PC in current writing routine and relationship
Apple’s “Get a Mac” commercials. He brings the expected dose of sardonic with her editor, her lifelong fascination
humor to his narration but is also a gifted storyteller. With expert timing and with language, and her evolving love of
pacing, he explores the foibles and malaise of middle age, in turn lampooning music. Tan’s rendering of her mother’s
his own perspective of “white privilege.” (“The central conflict of my life and Chinese-American accent carries both
this audiobook is this: I own two summer homes.”) This John Hodgman is more authenticity and respect and reminds
bittersweet than his comedic personas but also more compelling for those who listeners that Tan’s perspective has been
appreciate some hard truths within their comedy. A.T.N. 2017 Best Audiobook shaped by her status as a first-generation
American. C.B.L.
Penguin Audio 11 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525497691 $20.00 Harper Audio 7.5 hrs. Unabridged
Books on Tape Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538455432 $29.99 (also DD)
Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525497707 $85.50

A gifted storyteller.

24 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Biography & Memoir

OUT OF LINE:
A Life of Playing with Fire
Barbara Lynch THE MOTHER OF BLACK
Read by Christina Delaine HOLLYWOOD: A Memoir
Jenifer Lewis
Christina Delaine narrates this Read by Jenifer Lewis
audiobook with effervescent joy. Her Jenifer Lewis, star of the TV show “Black-
enthusiasm for the cooking, dining, and ish,” holds nothing back in delivering her
restaurant experiences of chef Barbara audacious, outrageous memoir. Dubbed
Lynch makes her narration especially “The Mother of Black Hollywood” by her
satisfying. Lynch’s tough background cohorts, Lewis recalls navigating her way
and extraordinary success are well told through Broadway and Hollywood as a
and read with candor, exhilaration, and young actor while dealing with the perils
empathy. Whether it’s the tough times faced by a woman, particularly a black woman, head-on and making a name
growing up as a “wicked pissah” in for herself in show business. She frankly reveals having been sexually abused
south Boston or her rise to stardom in as a child by her minister, her addiction to sex for emotional comfort, and
the food world, Delaine captures the her eventual diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Bursting into song, exploding with
spirit of this bootstrap restaurateur. Her over-the-top hilarity, Lewis confides some of her best-kept secrets to fans as
narration skills are put to good use in if they were her new BFFs. Wonderfully honest, intelligent, and brave, Lewis
an autobiography crammed with emo- delivers a tour-de-force performance not to be missed. S.J.H.
tional highs and lows, both professional
Harper Audio 10.75 hrs. Unabridged
and personal. This food-centric audio- Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538456248 $39.99 (also DD)
book celebrates a woman whose talent
and passion triumphed over her lack of
conventional education and professional Lewis delivers a tour-de-force performance
training. A.D.M.
Tantor Media 9.75 hrs. Unabridged
not to be missed.
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781541409323 $39.99
(also MP3, DD)

THE LONG HAUL: RECKLESS DAUGHTER:

WE’RE GOING TO NEED A Trucker’s Tales of Life on the Road A Portrait of Joni Mitchell
MORE WINE: Stories That Are Funny, Finn Murphy David Yaffe
Complicated, and True Read by Danny Campbell Read by Xe Sands
Gabrielle Union
Read by Gabrielle Union Author Finn Murphy started driving Find yourself some Joni Mitchell music
on a college break. Now he’s passed 50, on whatever platform works for you.
Actor Gabrielle Union begins by saying and he’s still on the road as a long-dis- Maybe Blue or Hejira, a couple of her
that the stories listeners are about to hear tance mover. Narrator Danny Campbell best albums. Turn it on. Softly. Begin
have previously been shared only with handles Murphy’s voice the way listen- listening to this audiobook. Float away.
close friends. As she treats listeners to ers would want Murphy The author has done a
her honest, soul-baring story, Union to handle their furniture. masterful job of research,
pauses during the tough moments and It’s both tough and gently including new information
laughs out loud during the happy ones. soft-spoken, with a hint of from recent interviews,
She becomes giddy and talks fast when weariness from long expe- and we learn a great deal
sharing a story about sneaking out as rience. Murphy’s stories about Mitchell and her
a teen. Her voice becomes hoarse with share the dangers of life songs. Narrator Xe Sands
shock as she shares revelations about not on the road; he opens by adopts an intimate conver-
wanting to be different while growing up, discussing all the possibil- sational tone that not only
which contrast with the happy details of ities for jackknifing on a supports Yaffe’s intent but
her favorite nights at home with her hus- mountain pass. Elsewhere, listeners will pretty much sums up the era in which
band, especially watching their favorite laugh over a tree-toppling disaster early Mitchell shone the brightest. Sands alter-
TV show together. The actress’s touching in his career and hear the plaintive cry of nately speeds up and slows down her
personal stories about race, fame, sexual- a dying piano. He also discusses rivalries delivery, but that only serves to keep our
ity, feminism, and family leave a lasting among truckers and decries the march attention and makes it seem as though
impression. A.L.C. toward automation. Listeners just might she is speaking only to us. R.I.G.
Harper Audio 7.75 hrs. Unabridged take this audiobook along when they go HighBridge Audio 12.25 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538455401 $29.99 (also DD)
on their own road trips. J.A.S. Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781681686981 $44.99 (also DD)

HighBridge Audio 8 hrs. Unabridged

Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781681686516 $29.99 (also DD)

February/March 2018 n 25
Alice Hoffman

THE RULES OF MAGIC More Listening

Alice Hoffman
Read by Marin Ireland FAITHFUL
Alice Hoffman, read by Amber Tamblyn
A prequel to Practical Magic, this audiobook Simon & Schuster Audio Unabridged
narrated by Marin Ireland is an enchanting per- Trade Ed.: CD, DD
formance of a charming story. The Owens siblings
grow up with odd and inexplicable restrictions THE MARRIAGE OF OPPOSITES
from their mother. They cannot wear red shoes, Alice Hoffman, read by Gloria Reuben,
Tina Benko, Santino Fontana, Alice Hoffman
walk in the moonlight, or fall in love (else their
Simon & Schuster Audio Unabridged
love will be cursed). When older, the three siblings Trade Ed.: CD, DD
journey to New York City to break the spell. Unlike some performers, Ireland
doesn’t focus on creating extremely distinct voices for each character; instead, NIGHTBIRD
she provides a perfect match for author Hoffman’s creative style, which is warm Alice Hoffman, read by Jenna Lamia
and lyrical. Ireland speaks clearly, enunciating every word, and reads at a smooth Listening Library Unabridged Ages 10+
pace. G.M. 2017 Best Audiobook Trade Ed.: CD, DD
Library Ed.: CD, DD
Simon & Schuster Audio 11 hrs. Unabridged
Photo by Deborah Feingold

Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781508238270 $39.99 (also DD) PRACTICAL MAGIC

Alice Hoffman, read by Christina Moore
Simon & Schuster Audio Unabridged
An enchanting performance Trade Ed.: CD, DD
Recorded Books
of a charming story. Library Ed.: CD, DD

26 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Fiction

SOFIA KHAN IS NOT

OBLIGED
Ayisha Malik HALSEY STREET
Read by Rita Sharma Naima Coster
Read by Bahni Turpin
Narrator Rita Sharma is hilarious as
Halsey Street, in Brooklyn, where Penelope
Sofia Khan, a 20-something British-
lives, is a place any listener might like to
Pakistani woman who is unsuccessful in
visit, despite Penelope’s mixed feelings
her search for love. Sharma sets a lively
about the place—and her family. Narrator
pace as she narrates the ups and downs
Bahni Turpin’s performance is gorgeous.
of Sofia’s search for a modern Muslim
Her voice has a texture that suits the
man. Sharma captures the British sen-
nuances of the novel’s plot: easy enough to
sibilities of the younger generation
absorb but with a depth and grittiness that
and contrasts their crisp accents with
make it interesting and real. As the novel opens, Penelope’s family has been
the musical rhythms of the accented
splintered for a while, and, thanks to Turpin’s skilled performance, listeners
English spoken by Sofia’s parents. This
come to care about these flawed, authentic people right away. She gives the
laugh-out-loud story will delight fans
varied characters distinct voices, and with a clear-eyed candor brings to life
of female-centered romantic comedies.
their conflicts, which expand to include larger social issues. Well-written and
Sharma maximizes Sofia’s irreverence
beautifully read, Halsey Street is worth a stroll. L.B.F.
in a confident, sarcastic tone that will
remind many of the best moments in the Brilliance Audio 12 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781536669077 $34.99 (also MP3, DD)
Bridget Jones series. M.R.
Bolinda Audio 11.5 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: MP3 ISBN 978-1-4893-9078-3 $9.99
(also DD) Narrator Bahni Turpin’s performance
is gorgeous.
THE POWER
Naomi Alderman
Read by Adjoa Andoh et al.
SPY OF THE FIRST PERSON HERE IN BERLIN
Narrator Adjoa Andoh capably portrays Sam Shepard Cristina Garcia
Read by Michael Shannon Read by Joan Walker
an international cast of characters in this
thrilling novel about the reshaping of the Before playwright and actor Sam This audiobook is structured as a set of
world when women develop powerful elec- Shepard passed away last July from ALS, stories collected by the unnamed narra-
trical abilities. Andoh makes the most of he struggled to write and dictate this final tor, most of them as told to her in the first
her vocal range, tone, and pacing, as well work with the help of family members. person. They’re reminiscences of life
as an extensive catalogue of accents. The He would have been pleased to hear it in Berlin from just before the German
audio presentation particularly shines performed by Michael surrender in 1945 to the
in the development of the character Allie Shannon, whose delivery near-present. Narrator
into Mother Eve, especially in some scenes strikes the perfect balance Jo a n Wa l k e r d o e s n’ t
in which the Mother Eve persona drops between gruffness and attempt to give each of
and Allie speaks in her own voice. The lyricism. His narration the many characters a
story segments are neatly set apart through would likely be too slow particular voice. Instead,
the use of other actors. Although the audio and languid if this were a she gives each of them a
presentation doesn’t include the illustra- 20-hour epic, but it’s ideal personality and a mood
tions in the print edition, they are cleverly for this spare novella. The ranging from seductive
recast as an “Audio Guide for the Museum semiautobiographical sketches are told intimacy to cold fury. Each of the speak-
of Post-Cataclysm Artifacts.” D.L.Y. by a man suffering from a debilitating ers comes to life in a different way. Many
Hachette Audio 12 hrs. Unabridged illness who reflects on the events of his of the characters also have ties to Cuba,
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781478999904 $24.98 life, a changing America, and his love the narrator’s native land. The oppres-
of his family. Shannon weaves each of sions of Castro, Hitler, Stalin, and of
MORE REVIEWS them with a voice that contains echoes family eventually come together into an
of Shepard himself. D.B. emotional saga held together by Walker’s
Exclusive Web-Only Random House Audio 1.75 hrs. Unabridged masterful interpretation. D.M.H.
Fiction Reviews Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525634591 $15.00 Dreamscape 4.5 hrs. Unabridged
[Link] Books on Tape Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781520085951 $59.99
Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525634607 $38.00 (also MP3, DD)

(Video on Blog) (Exceptional Audio) CD (Compact Disc) MP3 (MP3-CD) DD (Digital Download) PRE (Preloaded Media)

February/March 2018 n 27
 DINNER AT THE CENTER HER BODY AND OTHER PARTIES: MOVING KINGS
OF THE EARTH Stories Joshua Cohen
Nathan Englander Carmen Maria Machado Read by Jonathan Davis
Read by Mark Bramhall Read by Amy Landon
This audiobook begins as though it will
Narrator Mark Bramhall’s task can’t Narrator Amy Landon’s candid perfor- be a comedy but gets darker as it goes
be understated; his performance must mance allows the women of Machado’s along. Narrator Jonathan Davis tracks
cover complex characters, each with short story collection to speak for them- that progression through a multiplicity
motivations that become progressively selves. Landon skillfully balances humor, of New York voices and accents—Israeli,
clear. Englander’s audiobook examines sorrow, and a myriad of other emotions Arabic, Manhattan, outer boroughs,
interlocking stories and characters who as she draws out the complexities of these Hispanic, and more. He manages to
are involved in the Israeli-Palestinian women’s physical and emotional lives. convey some especially thick accents,
conflict. Scenes shift between 2002 and “The Husband Stitch,” reminiscent in for people who speak little English, with
2014 as relationships develop. Among some ways of Alvin Schwartz’s retelling complete clarity. There are passages in
the main characters are Prisoner Z, a spy of “The Green Ribbon,” includes read- which the prose is of considerable emo-
who has been captured whose existence aloud directives, though Landon doesn’t tional intensity, and Davis captures every
has been essentially erased. He pleads to demonstrate them. Landon strikes the bit of it. All the characters, even the most
the General for freedom. But, as the lis- right blend of fear and anger as women disreputable, come to life in their strug-
tener discovers, the General is not readily struggle to hold onto themselves during gles to learn how and who to be in the
able to grant that request. Englander’s an epidemic afflicting women in “Real world. Just don’t expect them to have
work is structured like a political thriller. Women Have Bodies.” In “Inventory,” happy endings. D.H.
But the work also considers issues Landon’s reflective tone mirrors the pro- Random House Audio 7.25 hrs. Unabridged
of identity, allegiance, and revenge. tagonist’s attitude as she recounts people Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781524779221 $17.50
Bramhall’s authoritative, deft narration she knew before and after a disease Books on Tape
Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9781524779238 $66.50
emphasizes these bigger themes. S.P.C. ravages the populace. Fantastical and hor-
Random House Audio 7 hrs. Unabridged rific elements woven throughout these
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525499978 $20.00 contemporary tales ensure they’ll leave
Books on Tape an indelible mark on listeners. J.R.T. IN THE MIDST OF WINTER
Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525499985 $76.00 Isabel Allende
HighBridge Audio 8.75 hrs. Unabridged Read by Dennis Boutsikaris,
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781681686882 $29.99 (also DD) Jasmine Cephas Jones, Alma Cuervo

Three narrators—three very different

voices—draw the listener into three tragic
MRS. OSMOND stories of suffering and survival that con-
John Banville verge on a wintry night in Brooklyn. The
Read by Amy Finegan listener clearly experiences the dramatic
backstories of the three main characters:
The famously convoluted narrative voice of Henry Lucia, from Chile; Evelyn, from
James sounds once again in John Banville’s out- Guatemala; and Richard, an American
standing sequel to James’s Portrait of a Lady. The who once lived in Brazil. Each of the nar-
work is brought to the audiobook format with rators, Dennis Boutsikaris, Jasmine Jones,
equal expertise by narrator Amy Finegan. More and Alma Cuervo, embodies the tone, per-
tour de force than pastiche, Banville’s story picks sonality, and pain of his or her characters,
up the same cast and storyline as the original, and with Cuervo providing the most genuine
the same elegant nineteenth-century milieu locked performance. Listeners may become so
between dynamism and repression. Finegan con- engaged in the characters’ histories that
veys this subtle opposition in the voices of a score of complex and conflicted they experience a jolt upon being brought
characters, and in her sure passage through the snares and quagmires of back to the present and the narrative about
Jamesian syntax. Only in the dialogue of her heroine does she, to this ear, the minor car accident that draws these
somewhat let listeners down, channeling a voice that is more uncertain, more three people together. E.Q.
timid, than the character whom James, or rather Banville, has conceived. But
Simon & Schuster Audio 9.75 hrs. Unabridged
that’s a mere quibble with a performance that exceeds all expectations. D.A.W. Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781508241959 $34.99 (also DD)
Random House Audio 12 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525588214 $22.50
Books on Tape
Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525588221 $95.00

VIDEO @ BLOG
A performance that exceeds all expectations. Watch narrator comments at
[Link]/blog

28 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Fiction

THE LAST BALLAD

Wiley Cash
Read by Karen White, FUTURE HOME
Elizabeth Wylie OF THE LIVING GOD
Louise Erdrich
Narrators Karen White and Elizabeth Read by Louise Erdrich
Wylie use pacing and tone to bring char- Louise Erdrich narrates her novel in a
acters to life in this novel about Ella Mae quiet voice that belies its power to con-
Wiggins, a forgotten heroine of history. vey her devastating and heart-wrenching
For the bulk of the story White’s capable story. Cedar, an adopted Ojibwe woman,
voice projects desperation and hope as slowly reveals the horrors of the novel’s
Ella Mae struggles to support her family dystopian setting as she writes a diary
amid deplorable working conditions that addressed to her future baby. Evolution is
lead, finally, to her commitment to strive going haywire, and society disintegrates as pregnant women are captured
for fair treatment. White gives unique to birth their babies in hospitals, with dismal chances of survival. Erdrich’s
voices to mill owners, union organizers, intimate narration seems as though one is hearing Cedar recount her story
and Ella’s fellow workers. Wylie is the herself; she voices her interpretations of her white adoptive and Native birth
believable elderly voice of her daughter families, along with nightmarish hospital staff and snatchers of pregnant
Lilly, who writes a letter to Ella’s grand- women. Erdrich devastates with her story as she projects Cedar’s strength,
son 79 years later to share the heroism convictions, and pain as she fights for control over her body and the destiny
and tragic consequences of those efforts. of her unborn child. E.E.C.
A powerful look at a dark chapter in our
Harper Audio 10.75 hrs. Unabridged
history when desperate people fought for Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538456156 $39.99 (also DD)
equity and respect. N.E.M.
Harper Audio 14 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538454923 $39.99 (also DD)
Erdrich devastates with her story.

THE LUNAR CATS

Lynne Truss
Read by Mike Grady RADIO FREE VERMONT OUT IN THE OPEN
Bill McKibben Jesus Carrasco
An imaginative tale featuring evil Read by Danny Campbell Read by W. Morgan Sheppard
talking cats (ETCs, for short) is delight-
fully brought to life by narrator Mike Narrator Danny Campbell perfectly cap- Actor W. Morgan Sheppard narrates this
Grady. A retired librarian receives an tures this audiobook’s protagonist, Vern captivating novel of escape, survival, and
unusual research question: Was there Barclay, a 72-year-old lifelong Vermonter rediscovery. With few vocal interactions
a feline companion aboard the famous and accidental freedom fighter. After the between the characters, this story shares
eighteenth-century voyages of Captain protest of a new Walmart takes an unex- itself through imagery and detailed
Cook’s Endeavor? It’s an odd question, pected turn, Vern, a former talk-radio descriptions of a boy, his thoughts, and
to say the least, but Alec Charlesworth is host, goes rogue and broad- his surroundings. Sheppard
a conscientious researcher with unique casts from a secret location prompts listeners to
past experiences investigating cats. as “Radio Free Vermont.” follow alongside the boy in
Embracing the playful language and Vern fills the airwaves with an unnamed country as he
quirky characters, human and feline talk of secession from the navigates a deserted grove
alike, Grady executes this offbeat mystery U.S., and his eccentric crew of olive trees in the moon-
perfectly. A variety of British and feline carries out inventive acts of light, finds a goatherd in a
accents are used, all of which are con- resistance, like the amus- barren field, and hides from
vincing and impeccable, and his comic ingly polite heist of a Coors his pursuers during the day.
timing shines. Ever heard an evil talking Beer truck. Campbell’s friendly, raspy Though the dialogue is spare, Sheppard
cat sing? Suffice it to say, it’s memorable. voice is ideal for Vern, who is world- raises the pitch of his voice when the boy
A great crossover choice for family listen- weary but ultimately optimistic. There finally speaks up, then lowers his voice
ing, especially for fans of dry humor. A.S. isn’t much vocal variation for other char- to a rasping timbre when portraying the
acters, but they’re broadly drawn anyway, weathered goatherd. Listeners will surely
Recorded Books/ Clipper audio 6.25 hrs. Unabridged
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781501967795 $72.75 (also DD)
and Vern is very much the heart of the be captivated by this story as they accom-
story. A.T.N. pany a boy in search of refuge. V.C.
Penguin Audio 6 hrs. Unabridged Penguin Audio 5.5 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525523239 $17.50 Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781524776923 $15.00
Books on Tape Books on Tape
Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525523246 $66.50 Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9781524776930 $57.00

February/March 2018 n 29
Fiction

A SECRET HISTORY THE HIDDEN LIGHT OF THE LIVING INFINITE

OF WITCHES NORTHERN FIRES Chantel Acevedo
Louisa Morgan Daren Wang Read by Roxanne Hernandez, Kyla Garcia,
Read by Polly Lee Read by Robin Miles Eddie Lopez

Five generations of a clan of witches, In a poignant and authentic tone, nar- The personal struggles of Princess
portrayed by narrator Polly Lee, flee per- rator Robin Miles brings her love of Eulalia are set against the historical back-
secution in Brittany for the unknown the theater to the fore in the telling of drop of the late nineteenth century, the
shores of the United Kingdom. The a little-known true chapter of the Civil final years of her family’s rule as Spanish
atmospheric opening scene, fraught with War. In early 1861, the tiny hamlet of monarchs. This is a rewarding listening
tension and determination, is captured Town Line in upstate New York seceded experience for fans of historical fiction
perfectly by Lee’s hushed from the Union—the because there are three narrators work-
voice and careful cadence, only northern town to do ing together to make sense of a large
setting the emotional tone so. As the Underground cast. Moving from Spain to Cuba and,
for what lies ahead. Each Railroad crosses paths with eventually, to the United States, their
generation faces challenges Confederate spies bent on capable narration carries us over the
inherent in practicing its dragging Canada into the years and obstacles that hinder Eulalia’s
craft in a world that fears its war, Miles gives distinct quest for love. As the voices of Roxanne
power. The complex rela- and vibrant voices to the Hernandez and Kyla Garcia mingle,
tionships between mothers immigrant German farm- almost indistinguishable from each
and daughters are enriched ers, the runaway slave, and, other, Eddie Lopez is a welcome addi-
by Lee’s strong characterizations, which especially, the young abolitionist, the tion to the chapters focused on Tomas
capture time periods, ages, genders, and real-life Mary Willis, who wouldn’t back Aargon. His lively pace matches the
social classes. Her narrative talents shine down from any challenge. Miles gives a robust man who captures the princess’s
further as she moves smoothly between compelling and very human voice to a heart. Listeners will appreciate this well-
French, British, and American accents. time of strife and redemption. B.P. told story. M.R.
Spellbound listeners won’t want this Macmillan Audio 11.5 hrs. Unabridged Blackstone Audio 10.5 hrs. Unabridged
story to end. J.R.T. Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781427293886 $45.99 (also DD) Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538478561 $34.95 (also DD)
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538478554 $90.00
Hachette Audio 17.5 hrs. Unabridged (also MP3, PRE)
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781478977025 $25.98

“After an all-day hike climbing KRISTIN LAVRANSDATTER

Sigrid Undset, Tiina Nunnally
a fjord, I realized that an [Trans.]
Read by Erin Bennett
audiobook had inspired me
all the way to Norway. Kristin Lavransdatter is a masterpiece of
It was a beautiful moment.” storytelling. It was published in 1922,
and its author won the Nobel Prize in
—Narrator Erin Bennett Literature in 1928. Her work has lost
none of its power or appeal since. That
the 1997 Tiina Nunnally translation is
now available as an audiobook is a lit-
erary event, since an immersive saga of
such length and depth will be particularly appealing to many in this format.
Kristin is a fourteenth-century Norwegian landowner’s daughter. Undset
created a historical world around her as fascinating and accessible as that
in Mantel’s Wolf Hall. Narrator Erin Bennett has prepared meticulously and
makes this distant world immediate and real, and the fates of myriad char-
acters inexpressibly believable and moving. Her pacing is compelling, and
her emotional range impressive. Brava. B.G.
Audible Inc./ Brilliance Audio 45 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: MP3 ISBN 978-1-5436-1954-6 $19.99 (also DD)

Bennett makes this distant world

immediate and real.

30 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Fiction

BEWARE OF PITY
Stefan Zweig
Read by Nicholas Boulton THE UNQUIET GRAVE
Sharyn McCrumb
Nicholas Boulton’s performance of Read by Candace Thaxton, Roger Casey
the only full-length novel of the great A true-life murder trial in 1897 and the legend
Stefan Zweig is impeccable, impas- of the Greenbriar Ghost offer rich territory for
sioned, and moving. Zweig’s storytelling Sharyn McCrumb. In interconnected stories,
here is old-fashioned, feeling almost narrators Candace Thaxton and Roger Casey
Chekhovian at this remove. Set right give McCrumb’s compelling characters con-
before WWI, it’s a domestic tragedy told sistent, believable personalities. Casey’s male
in the shadow of the looming destruction characters are authentic, including attorney
of a world and about a young Austrian James Gardner. In the 1930s, Gardner, an elderly black man, is consigned to
cavalry officer trying to behave honor- an insane asylum after a failed suicide attempt. While there, he tells the story
ably to a rich but hysterically needy of how, in 1897, he defended a white man against a murder charge based on
crippled girl with whom he is entangled. damning testimony from a ghost. In an equally strong performance, Thaxton
Boulton’s Lt. Hoffmiller is both exotic to completely immerses herself in nineteenth-century West Virginia. She ani-
us and utterly familiar as a young man mates each person, especially Mary Jane Heaster, who insists that the ghost
whose not-uncommon flaw is that he of her murdered daughter appeared to her, claiming her husband murdered
doesn’t understand his own emotions. her. McCrumb’s fascinating research and Thaxton’s and Casey’s top-notch
Zweig’s achievement is to show what performances make this must-listening. S.J.H.
damage this can do on small stages or
Simon & Schuster Audio 10.25 hrs. Unabridged
large; Boulton’s is to make us vibrate in Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781508238942 $23.99
sympathy with Hoffmiller. B.G.
Ukemi Productions 14.75 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: DD $30.26 Thaxton’s and Casey’s top-notch
performances make this must-listening.
IN THE SHADOW
OF DENALI: The Heart
of Alaska, Book 1
Tracie Peterson, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME SMILE
Kimberly Woodhouse André Aciman Roddy Doyle
Read by Christina Moore Read by Armie Hammer Read by Roddy Doyle
C h r i s t i n a Mo o r e’ s i m p r e s s i v e In Aciman’s sensitive portrait of a young The title of Roddy Doyle’s audiobook is a
performance sounds like a multicast man’s awakening, 17-year-old Elio’s family misdirection. It refers to a moment when
production. Listeners hear the story of hosts a young scholar for six weeks to help the main character, Victor Forde, is sin-
Alan Brennan, a man on a quest to find Elio’s father, a professor, with his research. gled out as a young student by an abusive,
answers about his father’s suspicious When 24-year-old Oliver, a charming tormenting teacher who states he can’t
death while climbing Denali. Once in American with “cruelly good looks,” resist Victor’s smile. It’s a dark moment
the Alaska Territory, Alan meets the arrives at their summer home that leads to a series of equally
guide for the expedition, John Ivanoff, on the Mediterranean, Elio difficult passages told both
and his lovely daughter, Cassidy. He soon goes into a “swoon.” Armie in the present and through
begins to realize that the story of John’s Hammer’s intimate whisper unreliable memories. Much
negligence is a cover for his father’s makes each beautiful, erotic, or of the audiobook takes place
murderous, greedy partner, Frank. Love, painful moment bittersweet. in a pub—that most relevant
friendship, and unexpected danger are Oliver’s scholarly research of Irish locales—where Victor
portrayed with emotion that enhances centers on Heraclitus, but that encounters a former class-
the narrative. Moore’s prodigious deliv- doesn’t stop him from doing some extra- mate from that dark past. Doyle weaves
ery of multiple distinct voices, including curricular research with the Italian locals the story from this locale, narrating his
that of an adolescent boy’s changing and with his host’s eager son. Hammer is own work. While it’s not safe to assume
voice, adds dimension to the story and a convincing as Oliver, and while his voice an author is a natural narrator, Doyle’s
touch of humor. C.L.S. is somewhat mature for 17-year-old Elio, unaffected tone engages listeners from
Recorded Books 8.5 hrs. Unabridged his emotional tone is impeccable. When the start. S.P.C.
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781501941870 $77.75
(also DD)
the men meet again years later, Hammer Penguin Audio 5 hrs. Unabridged
captures the moment, which is both ordi- Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525499558 $15.00
nary and devastating. S.J.H. Books on Tape
Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525499565 $47.50
Macmillan Audio 7.75 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781427291691 $39.99 (also DD)

February/March 2018 n 31
Name TK Delaine
Christina

If you’ve ever listened to an audiobook narrated by that work for the listener. It becomes a shared communal
Christina Delaine, you know her acting range goes experience. We experience it together.”
from innocent to incarcerated or from intimate to insane. The biggest challenge Delaine faced when recording The
Her lush, flexible voice and ability to disappear into a char- Prague Sonata by Bradford Morrow was language. “I don’t
acter make her a terrific fit for audiobooks. She got hooked speak Czechoslovakian.” She had to find a native speaker to
on the medium after her mother gave her the Amelia help her out. The book’s scope is enormous. It takes place
Peabody series. “They blew my mind! I had no idea what of over a period of 150 years, spanning many different loca-
an audiobook could be. I love audiobooks!” tions, styles, and language and speech tonalities. “It pushed
As an actor, Delaine loves the opportunity fiction gives me a little bit. It was a huge acting challenge as well as a
her to play a variety of characters. “There’s a mysterious physical challenge. Recording an audiobook is sort of like
and wonderful alchemy that happens when you’re record- the acting equivalent of running a marathon. Very physi-
ing fiction.” When recording nonfiction, she says, her job cally demanding.” To keep in shape, she keeps active.
is to advocate for the authors and their passion for their “First thing when I get up in the morning, I do cardio,
subject. If she’s not familiar with the topic, she counts that and then I go out with my dog.” (Her dog, Boo Radley,
as an opportunity to learn. “For example, with Incarceration has his own Facebook page and lots of friends.)
Nations, I knew nothing about the prison-industrial Delaine has fun in the booth and has been known to
complex. No matter what the subject is, it’s about grabbing burst into song. She had a sort of singing mini-meltdown
that author’s passion and wholeheartedly going for it and in an outtake from The Prague Sonata. To anyone who
advocating that point of view.” watches it, Delaine says, “You’ll have to excuse my cussing.
She believes that listening to an audio performance I am notorious for having the heart of a poet but the mouth
affects people differently than if they visually read the book. of a stevedore.”
“Absolutely different. When you’re reading a book, it’s you She just got to record Gold Dust Woman: The Biography of
and your imagination. You’re doing work yourself to create Stevie Nicks, by Stephen Davis. “I am the biggest Stevie Nicks
the author’s world. But when someone is reading it to you, fan. I couldn’t get through the book without breaking into song.”
you are being taken on the journey. As a narrator, I’m doing Those must be some fun outtakes.—S.J. Henschel

THE PRAGUE
SONATA
Bradford Morrow
Read by Christina Delaine

A magnificent obsession sparks

Morrow’s gorgeous novel, and
Christina Delaine’s narration
adds the needed heat. A plot as
intricate as a sonata weaves
together the German occupation
of Prague in 1939; an authentic eighteenth-century musical score
hidden from the Nazis; and the life of Meta Taverner, a young
musicologist in contemporary New York. Delaine’s lush tones
allow the characters to take center stage. A Czech immigrant gives
Meta one piece of a mysterious eighteenth-century score, asking
only that she search for its original owner. Delaine is spot-on at
conveying just the right emotions as Meta’s passion grows in her
quest to find the composer and the missing parts of the manu-
script—and to bring its haunting melodies together. S.J.H.
HighBridge Audio 18.75 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781681687001 $49.99 (also DD)

Delaine’sQuote
lush tones
TK. allow the
Photo TK

characters
Quote
to take
[Link] stage.
32 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Fiction

THE MERRY-GO-ROUND
IN THE SEA
Randolph Stow COMING RAIN
Read by Humphrey Bower Stephen Daisley
Read by Paul English
Narrator Humphrey Bower transports
This audiobook, superbly performed
listeners to Western Australia in the
by Paul English, is unlike anything
1940s. There, Rob Coram is living a
you’ve ever read. Daisley’s characters
seemingly idyllic and carefree childhood,
include a pair of itinerant Australian
playing outdoors in beautiful settings
sheep shearers, a pregnant dingo bitch,
with friends and family, looking at the
a Malayan-Chinese cook, and a rough-
world with magic and wonder, all the
neck sheep farmer who takes himself
while surrounded by the embrace of
for outback aristocracy. Daisley details
his tight-knit family. Bower’s Australian
the feelings and behaviors of all these earthly beings with astounding preci-
accent is captivating in its cadence.
sion, weighing them equally, as careful to describe exactly how you handle
He exquisitely presents the thoughts,
shearing tools or dig your whelping den as to convey the passions of the
feelings, and conversations of an inno-
young (human and canine) and the hot- and cold-blooded violence of the old.
cent boy as a war that will bring about
The story has sweep and power and vivid scents and scenes, and will leave you
unforeseen changes in his own family,
with unforgettable afterimages. English is extraordinary, laughing, weeping,
and in Australia itself, looms in the dis-
inhabiting wildly disparate characters with complete authority. B.G.
tance. Bower vividly evokes the author’s
descriptions of the landscapes and city- Bolinda Audio 7.25 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: MP3 ISBN 9781489390516 $9.99 (also DD)
scapes of his youth. S.E.G.
Bolinda Audio 10.5 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: MP3 ISBN 9781489390684 $9.99
(also DD) This audiobook is superbly performed
by Paul English.
FLUDD
Hilary Mantel
Read by Gordon Griffin
SAVAGE COUNTRY THE TWELVE-MILE STRAIGHT
Gordon Griffin, an entire acting company Robert Olmstead Eleanor Henderson
Read by Danny Campbell Read by Allyson Johnson
in one person, makes an audio romp of
this early novel by the irreverent and very Stark and bleak are good ways to describe Narrator Allyson Johnson weaves a
funny Hilary Mantel. In the 1950s, in the language, landscape, and characters Southern gothic tale that wraps around
benighted Fetherhoughton, on the edge of this novel of the Old West—where, in the listener like a coiling snake. After
of the moors, a Catholic priest has lost 1863, dreams are shattered, and greed a body is dragged and dismembered
his faith, a fact he conceals because the and cruelty triumph. Narrator Danny following a lynching, a town’s secrets
priesthood is the only job he knows. Enter Campbell has a wonderful fester through generations.
the sympathetic and mysterious Fludd. Is crusty storytelling voice Johnson’s delivery infuses
he the new curate the bishop threatened and lovingly reads the the story with verve. She
to send, or something quite different? historical details, dialogue, can voice a lisping preacher,
The subject here is what, if anything, and landscape descrip- a crying drunk, and a righ-
institutional religion has to do with the tions. Michael Coughlin, teous teetotaler. She glides
supernatural or, indeed, with kindness or now a British citizen, has over a testy honeymoon
love. The masterful Griffin works some- come back to pay off his and is tender in describ-
thing like magic himself, hilariously brother’s mortgage but ing a sisterly relationship.
conjuring a whole English village of inno- finds that his brother has Throughout, she makes
cents and small-town cranks, including a died. His sister-in-law, Elizabeth, is trying class and race divisions palpable. A
tobacconist who may be the devil. B.G. to help their hired men and their fami- listener can almost hear the splashes in
Recorded Books 6.75 hrs. Unabridged lies by mounting a large buffalo hunt. the baptismal creek, nearly taste the clay
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781470377847 $44.39 Characters are wonderfully defined by some characters eat. Henderson’s prose
(also MP3, DD)
Campbell. His intense pacing matches and Johnson’s voice make this production
this fast-paced Western as he adds drama a must-listen. M.P.P.
and emotional depth to the struggling Harper Audio 17 hrs. Unabridged
VIDEO @ BLOG characters. S.C.A. Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538454176 $55.99 (also DD)

HighBridge Audio 8.75 hrs. Unabridged

Watch narrator comments at Trade: CD ISBN 9781681689807 $34.99 (also DD)
[Link]/blog

February/March 2018 n 33
Classics, Poetry & Drama

DEAD SOULS LIFE ON MARS: Poems A CONNECTICUT YANKEE

Nikolai Gogol Tracy K. Smith IN KING ARTHUR’S COURT
Read by Nicholas Boulton Read by Tracy K. Smith Mark Twain
Read by Nick Offerman
There are many voices, of many classes Poet laureate Tracy Smith narrates her
and temperaments, for Nicholas Boulton 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning collection Mark Twain’s ironic tale follows a man
to portray in this audiobook. He meets of poetry, exploring reality and imagina- from the nineteenth century who travels
the challenge with a wide range of British tion in an expansive universe. She fills back in time to the sixth century. Narrator
class and regional accents, along with the space with purposeful pauses and Nick Offerman’s deep voice is at once
character voices. More of slow, steady monotones familiar. He uses his natural voice for the
a challenge is the range that blend the metaphor- narrator, the Connecticut Yankee, who
of moods, from comedy ical and the actual. There speaks in a likable tone and distinctly
to near-tragedy, and the is not much fluctuation American accent. However, Offerman
problematic text, which in her soft tone, which is especially surprising in his flawless
lacks an ending as well tends to evoke the feel- transition from the measured American
as several chunks toward ing that everything is speaker to the cadenced speech of the
the end. In several cases, okay, although that isn’t sixth-century British characters.
Boulton must build a necessarily the case. He achieves a range of British dialects,
scene that doesn’t have Her pronunciation is and his voice completely transforms in
a conclusion. But he sharp and clear. And she these vocal characterizations. Offerman’s
maintains as much continuity as possi- chooses to elongate certain words, con- distinct contrast between the informal
ble, even generating sympathy for some veying a yearning. She is a storyteller, narrator and the elevated sixth-century
reprehensible characters. The book is especially when she talks about her language enhances the conversational
Gogol’s flawed masterpiece, and this is father, a scientist. There is a sort of hum- exchanges. Offerman’s performance is
the presentation that it deserves. D.M.H. ble gratitude being offered to her father, fitting to Mark Twain, who even men-
Naxos AudioBooks 16 hrs. Unabridged who was an engineer who worked on the tions in the novel how essential dialects
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781781980521 $81.98 (also DD) Hubble Space Telescope. T.E.C. are in helping the reader to distinguish
HighBridge Audio 1.5 hrs. Unabridged
individual characters. D.M.W.
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781681688978 $9.99 (also DD) Audible, Inc. 13.5 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: DD $34.95

LOVE POEMS & A GOOD CRY:

What We Learn
From Tears and Laughter
Nikki Giovanni
Read by Nikki Giovanni

The acclaimed activist, educator, and

poet shares her life story through
poetry and narrative. Her voice is
familiar to the ear—it’s a voice that
has been used to combat injustices,
honor unsung heroes, and create
old and new ways to love. She whips
through certain poems as if their
rhythm and timing call for speed. At times, she offers a rhyming intonation
that sounds a bit like Dr. Seuss. It’s playful yet, due to its content, suggestive.
Overall, Giovanni’s seasoned voice sounds determined, clear, and poignant.
Her emotionally complex love poems span her own history, which runs the
gamut from an abusive family to friendships with some of the most extraordi-
nary people ever. Listening to this artist is a real treat. T.E.C.
Harper Audio 2.5 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538455524 $22.99 (also DD)

Listening to this artist is a real treat.

34 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Classics, Poetry & Drama

A HOUSE FOR MR BISWAS

V.S. Naipaul
Read by Sam Dastor SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
Jane Austen
Naipaul, whose body of writing earned Read by Alison Larkin
him Nobel laureate status, first came to Jane Austen’s classic novel about sisters
international attention with this engag- Elinor and Marianne has been produced
ing and accessible novel. Narrator Sam on audio many times and featured many
Dastor’s consistent Trinidadian accent is talented narrators. This version stands out as
perfect for its audio performance, mak- one of the best. Alison Larkin’s narration will
ing it as fresh and enjoyable as it was to captivate listeners from the first sentence.
readers when it was published in print Her delicate voice and perfect English accent
nearly 60 years ago. Dastor paces his sweep the listener back in time, right into the lives of the characters. Austen’s
narration so that it complements the nineteenth-century writing style flows off Larkin’s tongue, making the dense
phrasing Naipaul employed, adding yet passages easy to understand. She effortlessly conveys the many humorous
another layer of resonance to the hapless scenes, capturing the pompous gentry and their ridiculous (even to them,
central character, his not-always-helpful apparently) social conventions. Two passages from a book by Austen’s
friends, and his nearly overwhelming fifth-generation great-niece add a nice touch at the end of the story. M.M.G.
family. Naipaul fans will certainly enjoy
Alison Larkin Presents 14.25 hrs. Unabridged
this, while listeners who know noth- Trade Ed.: DD $24.95
ing of his literary status will be just as
delighted to discover his fiction through
this vibrant performance. F.M.R.G. Alison Larkin’s narration will captivate
Naxos AudioBooks 21.5 hrs. Unabridged
Digital Download: CD ISBN 9781781980835 $107.98
listeners from the first sentence.
(also DD)

ELECTRIC ARCHES JEFFERSON’S GARDEN NORTHANGER ABBEY

Eve L. Ewing Timberlake Wertenbaker Jane Austen, Anna Lea [Adapt.]
Read by Eve L. Ewing Read by Rosalind Ayres, Nate Corddry, Read by Emma Thompson,
Ellis Greer, Gregory Harrison, Douglas Booth, Eleanor Tomlinson,
Eve L. Ewing reads her first poetry Lovensky Jean-Baptiste, Ifan Meredith, Ella Purnell, Jeremy Irvine,
collection with brio and a tang that hook Darren Richardson, Emily Swallow, et al. Lily Cole
the listener from the get-go. She has a
youthful lilting voice that lifts listeners T h e A m e r i c a n Re v o l u t i o n w a s a With her natural elegance, fine ear
into the funny poems and carries them confrontation about land and indepen- for the English language, and hint of
safely over the tough ones, singeing dence from economic oppression, but it mischief, Emma Thompson has the
them perhaps, but not letting them drop was also the struggle of a young country ideal voice to narrate this Jane Austen
into the flames. A trained sociologist as to define a new set of lofty, hard-to-obtain classic. The first to be written (1798) and
well as a poet, Ewing ranges across the ideals and ethics. In this thoughtful and the last to be published after Austen’s
experience of being black, being female, thoroughly modern live death (1818), the gentle
and being human. The poems are simul- performance, L.A. Theatre gothic satire concerns
taneously specific and universal—the Works takes the listener on clergyman’s daughter
childhood freedom of a bicycle; the first a late-eighteenth-century Catherine Morland, who
time she was called that ugly racist word; journey to an all-too- is introduced to high soci-
the most astonishing what-if: What if real place in which many ety with all its manners,
there were a machine that let you speak patriots, including Thomas teas, and dances. Young
to your enslaved ancestors? When the Jefferson, found them- up-and-coming British
audiobook ended, I listened again from selves—caught between actors Ella Purnell and
the beginning. A.C.S. the heightened principles Jeremy Irvine play the star-
of “all men are created equal” and the crossed lovers and lead the ensemble in
Haymarket Books 1.5 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: DD $6.95
dark realities of slavery. The play’s lan- this full-cast production, which includes
guage and characters are simple and plenty of period music and sound effects
direct, and, like its cousin, Hamilton, such as the clinking of fine china. Still,
the results are seriously entertaining. it’s Emma Thompson who will mesmer-
MORE REVIEWS History and honest debate are alive and ize listeners. She and Jane Austen make
Exclusive Web-Only well in Jefferson’s Garden. B.P. a perfect pair. B.P.
Classics, Poetry & Drama Reviews L.A. Theatre Works 2 hrs. Unabridged Audible, Inc. 5.75 hrs. Audio Program
[Link] Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781682660430 $29.95 (also DD) Trade Ed.: DD $29.24

February/March 2018 n 35
 BLADE OF DARKNESS
Tease Dianne Duvall
Read by Kirsten Potter

Kirsten Potter’s narration of Duvall’s paranormal

series about supercharged fighters who protect unsus-
pecting humans from vampires is a must-listen on
audio. Potter’s natural pathos perfectly captures the
guilt that immortal Aidan feels when he becomes the
prime suspect in a series of kidnappings. After years
of arranging chance meetings with women, Aidan
finally finds his perfect match in psychic Dana. Terrified of messing things up, Aidan
approaches her with a shy tone, a charming Scottish accent, and old-world gallantry, all
of which Potter winningly serves up. From their first meeting, Dana comes across as
Romance on the Edge warm and loving. Potter competently manages a large cast of characters with various
Equal time. In my last column, accents, including French and British, to cap off an exquisite listening experience. C.A.
I focused on cozy romance. Tantor Media 13.25 hrs. Unabridged
This time, let’s hit shuffle on the player Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781541409415 $44.99 (also MP3, DD)
and turn to edgy and paranormal
romance. For any Twilight fans, it’s
my opinion that the successful edgy DRAGONSWORN: Dark-Hunter, Book 28
romance is an experience similar Sherrilyn Kenyon
Read by Holter Graham
to Bella’s jump off the cliff. Nothing’s
held back. It’s life or death, do or Narrator Holter Graham pulls listeners back into the
die, all or nothing, Montagues or paranormal world of the Dark Hunters. The action
Capulets. These narrators are intense; begins immediately as the dragon, Falcyn, and the
they’re living the story, making it granddaughter of the Greek god Apollo, Medea, are
impossible to stop listening for fear swept into another dimension. Graham does an excel-
of breaking the emotional experience lent job of creating unique voices for each character.
that feels all consuming. This type He gives Falcyn a rich accent that flows over listeners’
of romance can feel almost like a ears. Both Falcyn and Medea have suffered in the past, and Graham conveys this empa-
madness—think of Charlotte or Emily thetically. His timing works especially well during the bantering among the characters.
Brontë’s narratives. It’s key that the Overall, this is a highly enjoyable listening experience, especially for those familiar
narrator places listeners at the center with the series. S.B.
of the whirlwind rather than leaving Brilliance Audio 9.25 hrs. Unabridged
us outside it, staring judgmentally at Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781511363211 $34.99 (also MP3, DD)
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781511363235 $79.97
the couple, wondering, “What were
you thinking?” In a romance in which
it’s the couple against seemingly
REAL DIRTY: Real Dirty Duet, Book 1
insurmountable obstacles, the listener Meghan March
needs to feel at every moment that Read by Elena Wolfe, Sebastian York
together is better than apart. Take a
deep breath and dive into the addic- Narrators Elena Wolfe and Sebastian York pump up
tive experience of being someone’s this rocker romance to the level of guilty pleasure.
entire world. And check out the Hot Country music’s notorious star, Boone Thrasher, gets
Picks for historical romance and some dumped and seeks solace in a quiet bar. Its owner,
lighter listens. Love your listening. Ripley Fischer, detests Boone on sight, but an attrac-
tion between them builds. Wolfe captures Ripley’s
—Caitlin Augusta
fierce independence and passionate desire to avoid
the limelight. Wolfe’s voices for Boone and for Ripley’s abusive father—whose nasty
Find more Tease online at audio-
dialogue drips disdain—are equally compelling. Narrator Sebastian York voices Boone
[Link]/blog/category/
tease-romance-favorites with a hint of a twang that evokes Nashville. He also gives Boone a sincerity in his
internal monologues that balances his impulsiveness. The narrations transition evenly
from one to the other, with both narrators contributing equally to an immersive lis-
tening experience. The production ends on a cliff-hanger, and listeners will be eager
to queue up the second half. C.A. 2017 Best Audiobook
Blackstone Audio 5.5 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538437070 $29.95 (also DD)
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538437063 $76.00 (also MP3)

36 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Romance

HOLD TIGHT: For You, Book 2

Alexa Riley
Hot Picks
Read by Savannah Peachwood, Tristan James Love is laughter. These humorous
romances serve up “happily-ever-after”
Pandora Justice, portrayed by narrator Savannah with a smile.
Peachwood, is head of security when she meets hot-
shot consultant Royce Davenport. Narrator Tristan THE LADY TRAVELERS GUIDE
James doesn’t disappoint as he delivers the role of TO SCOUNDRELS & OTHER
Royce in a seductive and gravelly tone. Alexa Riley GENTLEMEN: Lady Travelers
Society, Book 1
excels at writing quick, steamy reads, and this second Victoria Alexander, read by
novella in her series is sure to be a hit. Peachwood fully Marian Hussey
captures Pandora’s strong-willed and independent personality as she meets her match Devious elderly ladies take control of the
in a handsome alpha male. The chemistry between the characters and their narrators action in a historical tourism romance.
cannot be denied. K.D. Harlequin Audio Unabridged
Harlequin Audio 2 hrs. Unabridged Trade Ed.: DD
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538472255 $19.99 (also DD)
HIS LADY BRIDE:
Brothers in Arms, Book 1
Shayla Black writing as Shelley Bradley,
RACE AGAINST TIME read by Tim Campbell
Sharon Sala
A medieval knight turned introvert
Read by Lexi Richmond
marries a young beauty who teases
him out of his shell.
Narrator Lexi Richmond gives grit and glamour to
Tantor Media Unabridged
Sala’s romantic suspense. Fiery-haired loner Quinn Trade Ed.: CD, MP3, DD
O’Meara and Las Vegas homicide detective
Nick Saldano meet again after once having shared CAUGHT BY THE SCOT:
the same foster care home. Las Vegas and its seamy Made to Marry, Book 1
underbelly are exposed as Richmond’s animated voice Karen Hawkins, read by Gary Furlong
recounts the crimes that are unleashed when a young Privateer Conner Douglas pulls out
prostitute escapes with her baby and her pimp gives chase. Richmond blends the every dirty trick to woo his best friend,
Lady Thea, away from another man.
characters smoothly and with emotion while building to an ending that continues a
Simon & Schuster Audio Unabridged
burgeoning romance yet comes to a screeching halt for all the others involved. A.M.G. Trade Ed.: DD
Harlequin Audio 10 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538409671 $39.99 (also DD) WILDE IN LOVE: The Wildes
of Lindow Castle, Book 1
Eloisa James, read by Susan Duerden
CAN’T LET GO: Original Heartbreakers A misunderstanding about Lord
Gena Showalter Alaric’s scandalous reputation causes
Read by Savannah Richards humorous banter with the proper
Miss Willa Fynche.
In this fast-paced romance, Showalter introduces us Harper Audio Unabridged
to a damaged war vet, Wade Laurent, who thinks his Trade Ed.: CD, DD

life is over, and a voluptuous struggling bar owner,

CHASING DOWN A DREAM:
Ryanne Wade, who has had her share of failures. Blessings, Book 8
Narrator Savannah Richards’s delivery matches this Beverly Jenkins, read by
novel’s hot romance, which sizzles and sparks through Lynnette Freeman
all its ups and downs. As Richards’s voice reflects the Gemma’s story brings laughter with the
protagonists’ strengths and flaws and expresses their tears in small-town Kansas.
hopes for the future, Wade and Ryanne come alive. Showalter writes a steamy con- Recorded Books Unabridged
temporary romance but keeps it believable, and Richards breathes life into its main Trade Ed.: CD, DD

characters. A.M.G.
BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE:
Harlequin Audio 11.75 hrs. Unabridged Bluff Point Romances, Book 2
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538471807 $39.99 (also DD) Jenn McKinlay, read by Allyson Ryan
Who will you love more—Carly and
James, or their dogs? Both are irresistible.
Dreamscape Unabridged
MORE REVIEWS Trade Ed.: CD, MP3, DD

Exclusive Web-Only Romance Reviews

[Link]

February/March 2018 n 37
NameBerkrot
Peter TK

Narrator Peter Berkrot may be the very definition of He began taking acting lessons at the age of 12, but over the
the word “versatile.” Whether it’s a police procedural years he’s found that the most effective acting is instinctual
or a courtroom thriller, or a suspense, history, biography, and raw. “I’ve also been an acting teacher for over 25 years,
memoir, business advice, and more—he can do it all. and I teach narrators as well. When I started teaching,
“Like anything else in the [audiobook] industry,” he says, everything changed dramatically because I discovered it’s
“the more you can do, the more you can do.” kind of like being a therapist.” He adds that working with
He’s not only adept at playing all the parts in novels, but actors means helping people take emotional risks that can
he’s also able to take on just about any role and any kind of be painful and embarrassing.
accent. “Everything you do is a challenge,” he says. “I always He believes he has evolved as a teacher; he’s started to see
think of narrating a novel as being in a movie and playing the actor’s responsibility to commit to the character’s jour-
all the parts, all the music, all the singers. But when you’re ney. It eliminates ego. “What happens when you have years
doing a nonfiction piece or a memoir, there’s still acting of acting training is that you stop thinking about how you’re
involved. The responsibility is to channel the author’s voice going to make it sound or how the audience might react.”
and make it as organic and three-dimensional as possible.” Instead, you ask yourself, “Am I on the right narrative track
Berkrot began as a child actor—he once appeared in a to tell the story? And instinctively as an actor and a teacher,
scene with Bill Murray in the hit movie Caddyshack— all of those things kick in.”
and he continues to hone his craft by performing on the And while Berkrot might mark up the manuscript on
stage, in films, in television episodes, and in video games his iPad with reminders on words to emphasize and where
as a voice actor. He says, “I’m successful because I’m able pacing is essential, he relies on instincts developed through
to invest emotionally and psychologically in the imaginary education and experience to produce award-winning audio-
world to a level where the storyteller takes you there and books. “With training and with the background, you’re
keeps you there.” going to automatically take those pauses that are filled with
Berkrot says that trying to capture the voice of an author feeling. You’re going to find the nuance and the beats that
incorporates all his experiences and his imagination. are natural and honest.”—Randy O’Brien

WITHOUT FEAR
OR FAVOR
Robert K. Tanenbaum
Read by Peter Berkrot

Na r r a t o r Pe t e r B e r k r o t
handles this timely, well-
written police procedural and
courtroom thriller about
racism within police depart-
ments and the world at large. Butch Karp is the district attorney
of New York City and an easy character to like. Listeners will
appreciate Berkrot’s deft use of pacing and accents to bring
out the characters’ personalities and emotions. He is espe-
cially adept at the many, mostly male, voices and at building
the drama of the story. From the beginning, we know that the
black Baptist preacher’s son, Ricky Watts, was armed and that
he fired first in an attempt to assassinate Officer Bryce Kim.
Ricky, however, was set up by a sociopath who calls himself
“Nat X.” The intriguing, well-plotted story is compellingly deliv-
ered by Berkrot. S.C.A.
Dreamscape 9.75 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781520078823 $59.99 (also MP3, DD)

The intriguing,
Quotewell-plotted
TK. story
Photo TK

is compellingly
Quote
delivered
TK. by Berkrot.
38 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Mystery & Suspense

GOOD ME BAD ME
Ali Land
Read by Imogen Church TWO KINDS OF TRUTH:
Harry Bosch, Book 22
Milly is traumatized when she realizes Michael Connelly
her mother is a serial killer. After she Read by Titus Welliver
turns her mother in to the police, Milly
Narrator Titus Welliver portrays Detective
is put into a foster home and has to tes-
Harry Bosch in the latest installment of this
tify against her mother in court. But Milly
long-standing series. Bosch says there are two
has secrets that make her wonder if she’ll
kinds of truth in the world: that which we all
become like her mother. Narrator Imogen
Church is particularly haunting when can agree on, which is immutable, and that
she acts out Milly’s internal dialogue. which comes from the mouths of politicians,
In a near-whisper that makes her sound lawyers, and their clients, which is malleable.
vulnerable and even secretive at times, Bosch takes on two cases, a cold-case murder he thought he’d closed decades
Milly questions herself and seems not to earlier and a new double murder involving the opioid crisis. In a gravelly and
want to hear her own torturous thoughts. sometimes growling voice, Welliver lets Bosch’s indignation shine when the
Church gives each character in Milly’s life facts are revealed and takes on a softer and loving tone when Bosch deals with
a particular trait, making each one easily friends and family. Fans will love the climax and the promise of more Harry
distinguishable. Church’s narration of Bosch and, one hopes, more Welliver. R.O.
what Milly witnessed makes this a grip- Hachette Audio 10 hrs. Unabridged
ping psychological thriller. D.Z. Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781619694248 $40.00 (also DD)

Macmillan Audio 10 hrs. Unabridged

Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781427290021 $39.99 (also DD)
Fans will love the climax and the promise
of more Harry Bosch.
THE MIDNIGHT LINE
Lee Child
Read by Dick Hill

Fans of Jack Reacher (the “Reacher THE PEOPLE VS. ALEX CROSS: MISS KOPP’S MIDNIGHT
Creatures”) will find everything they’ve Alex Cross, Book 25 CONFESSIONS
James Patterson Amy Stewart
come to expect in the series: long bus Read by Andre Blake Read by Christina Moore
trips to nowhere; detailed, well-choreo-
graphed fist fights, which Reacher always Dr. Alex Cross—respected police officer, Listeners are introduced to this fictional
wins; and a never-ending pursuit of jus- FBI profiler, and psychologist—finds version of the real-life Kopp sisters and
tice. Narrator Dick Hill’s gruff, evenly himself on the other side of the law when their story, set against the backdrop of
paced voice has become the voice of Jack he’s accused of a murder that he claims WWI. Constance, a newly appointed
Reacher, even when Reacher says noth- was self-defense. Narrator Andre Blake sheriff’s deputy in Hackensack, New
ing. Reacher’s self-appointed mission is voices Cross’s frustration, Jersey, faces the challenges
to track down the owner of a women’s fear, and determination of all women forging a life
West Point Class of 2005 ring, which he and captures the impact the for themselves at this time.
finds in a pawn shop. Hill successfully case has on his family and The plot weaves together
voices the many characters, male and friends. The multilayered the lives of the sisters
female, cop and criminal, whom Reacher story alternates between and other girls whom
encounters. Reacher’s pursuit unravels a past and present and Constance finds in her care.
tragic, eye-opening story of veterans who between the courtroom and Narrator Christina Moore
have been abandoned by their country another case that draws in rises to the challenge of
to cope on their own with the traumatic
Alex, his partner, and his characterizing the various
physical and mental scars of war. E.Q.
loved ones. In true Patterson fashion, young female characters with ease. Her
Random House Audio 13 hrs. Unabridged as tension rises for the characters and a narration helps listeners to picture the
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781524774271 $45.00 (also DD)
Books on Tape verdict becomes imminent, the story also girls from a range of backgrounds as well
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781524774295 $45.00 (also DD) takes the opportunity to tackle topical as to follow the different plotlines. She
issues, including race, justice, and tech- also voices the male characters with con-
nology. Listeners will be immediately fidence. This is an interesting story, in
invested in this suspenseful story. K.S.M. particular because if offers us a window
MORE REVIEWS
Hachette Audio 8.75 hrs. Unabridged onto another time. K.J.P.
Exclusive Web-Only Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781478923343 $35.00 (also DD) Recorded Books 10 hrs. Unabridged
Mystery & Suspense Reviews Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781490667096 $123.75
[Link] (also MP3, DD)

February/March 2018 n 39
Mystery & Suspense

THE GIRL WHO TAKES THE FORGOTTEN GIRL: A Thriller THE ROOSTER BAR
AN EYE FOR AN EYE: Rio Youers John Grisham
Millennium Series, Book 5 Read by Kevin T. Collins Read by Ari Fliakos
David Lagercrantz
Read by Simon Vance Listeners join peace-loving street John Grisham returns to his professional
performer Harvey Anderson as his life roots as an attorney for this drama of
While the author of the blockbuster is turned upside down one day when white-collar crime, which will remind
Millennium series has changed, Simon he is kidnapped and beaten for reasons listeners of his earlier bestseller The
Vance has been the consistent narrator of he doesn’t understand. Soon, Harvey is Firm. With quiet certitude, narrator
the audiobooks. Vance created the voices pulled into a thrilling chase Ari Fliakos captures the
and masterfully embodies the personali- to find a girlfriend who mounting despair of three
ties of the indomitable computer hacker has mind-erasing abilities, contemporary law students
Lisbeth Salander, the journalist Mikael whom he has apparently at a subpar law school who
Blomkvist, and the other characters whom forgotten. Narrator Kevin suddenly realize that their
listeners have followed through the series. T. Collins’s accomplished futures consist of debt and
We now find Lisbeth in a women’s prison, narration combined with unemployment. Fliakos
where she leverages all her resources the first-person narrative begins the story at a sedate
(physical and technological) to defend helps to transport listen- pace but soon picks up
an abused fellow inmate. Listeners will ers into the story. His speed to match the plot. He
finally learn the meaning behind Lisbeth’s pitch-perfect characterizations, which hits his stride as Mark, Todd, and Zola
dragon tattoo. Vance’s extraordinary tal- emphasize Harvey’s “regular guy” qual- realize the bind they’re in—and who
ent comes through in the tense dramatic ities in contrast to the evil of the villains, might be to blame. Fans of Grisham’s sto-
scenes involving a research study of twins plus his spot-on timing, help to deliver a rytelling will enjoy this academic Robin
gone awry and in his special ability to dif- truly thrilling listen. K.J.P. Hood story. The villains are loan sharks,
ferentiate men, women, young, and old so listeners will be rooting for the good
Brilliance Audio 14 hrs. Unabridged
from all over the globe. E.Q. Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 978-1-5436-1865-5 $29.99 guys—millennials with a cause. M.R.
Random House Audio 11 hrs. Unabridged (also MP3, DD)
Brilliance Audio Random House Audio 10.25 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781524708979 $45.00 (also DD)
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 978-1-5436-1867-9 $39.99 Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9780399564994 $45.00 (also DD)
Books on Tape
Books on Tape
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781524708993 $45.00 (also DD)
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9780399565014 $45.00
(also DD)

A CASUALTY OF WAR:
Bess Crawford, Book 9
DON’T LET GO Charles Todd
Harlan Coben Read by Rosalyn Landor
Read by Steven Weber
Narrator Rosalyn Landor carries this
Steven Weber is an exceptional narrator.
installment of the Nurse Bess Crawford
He adds tension, drama, and empathy
series. When Sister Crawford nurses
to New Jersey detective Napoleon “Nap”
Captain Alan Travis, he tells her a disturb-
Dumas’s search for the truth about his
ing story of having been shot by a member
twin brother’s death and the disappear-
of his own unit. Landor deftly re-creates
ance of his high school girlfriend. The
Travis’s horrific story and the warm yet
engaging characters and the tight plot
tough personality of Crawford. After the
with its many twists will intrigue listen-
Armistice, Landor’s tone becomes more
ers as Weber and Coben make their way to a surprise, maybe even shocking,
deliberative as Crawford decides to inves-
ending. Weber’s pleasant, fluid reading becomes more dramatic as the action
tigate Travis’s story. It’s enjoyable to hear
intensifies. His portrayal of Nap is endearing and witty as he expresses heart-
Simon Bradon assist her. Do we dare
break, stubbornness, and a desire for revenge. With a fast-paced performance,
hope that he’ll pursue a romance with
Weber delivers the sharp dialogue and straightforward writing style of this
her in subsequent books? Landor’s best
mystery. S.C.A. 2017 Best Audiobook
creations are Mrs. Travis, a bitter, vocal
Brilliance Audio 8.75 hrs. Unabridged woman whom Crawford questions, and
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781501217678 $39.99 (also MP3, DD)
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781501217692 $79.97 Vicar Caldwell and his wife. The couple
are on opposite sides of Crawford’s inves-
tigation, a situation that adds further
Steven Weber is an conflict to the story. S.G.B.
exceptional narrator. Harper Audio 12 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538454565 $39.99 (also DD)

40 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Mystery & Suspense

LAST BREATH:
The Good Daughter,
Book 0.5 THE WESTERN STAR:
Karin Slaughter Walt Longmire, Book 13
Read by Kathleen Early Craig Johnson
Read by George Guidall
Kathleen Early performs Karin Slaughter’s
Narrator George Guidall continues his
suspenseful mystery, which introduces
stellar delivery of Craig Johnson’s Walt
defense attorney Charlie Quinn. With
Longmire series. This installment involves
grace and apparent ease, Early leads lis-
shifts in time between Longmire’s current
teners to believe she’s known Quinn
concern, an old nemesis who’s about to
intimately her entire life. The balance
be paroled, and his early years as a sher-
Early maintains between Quinn’s tough,
iff when he returned from the War in
intelligent exterior and her compas-
Vietnam. Guidall expertly carries listeners back and forth between 1972 and
sionate, sensitive interior easily draws
the present day, maintaining the plot’s suspense without losing his audience
listeners into the complex young wom-
in the 45-year gap. Johnson is a master of dialogue, and Guidall picks up every
an’s emotional world. And she treats the
nuance perfectly. The later installments in this series seem to be taking on a
supporting characters with just as much
darker tone, which Guidall adapts to accordingly while still managing to nail
attention to detail and nuance. Early’s swift
Johnson’s humor. With Johnson and Guidall as a team, first-class entertain-
pace and deft concealment of Slaughter’s
ment is guaranteed. J.F. 2017 Best Audiobook
plot surprises allow the mystery’s resolu-
tion to sneak up on listeners with the most Recorded Books 7.5 hrs. Unabridged
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781490616940 $123.75 (also MP3, DD)
potent of revelations. Slaughter has mas-
terminded a fascinating new character
for the world of crime fiction, and Early
ensures that she’s appreciated. Catch
With Johnson and Guidall as a team,
your breath—this audiobook is frighten- first-class entertainment is guaranteed.
ingly good. J.F.
Blackstone Audio 4 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538460450 $24.95
(also MP3, DD) GUILT IN THE COTSWOLDS END GAME: Will Robie, Book 5
Rebecca Tope David Baldacci
Read by Caroline Lennon Read by Kyf Brewer, Orlagh Cassidy
LIGHTNING MEN:
Darktown, Book 2 Caroline Lennon skillfully captures the In the first chapter the body count shoots
Thomas Mullen endearing yet irritating Thea Osborne up to 17 and escalates exponentially from
Read by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in her latest house-sitting adventure. there. In the fifth in David Baldacci’s Will
When Thea’s fiancé, undertaker Drew Robie series, Will and fellow agent, sniper,
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s deliberate
Slocombe, is approached by Rita Wiltshire and sometimes love interest Jessica Reel
narration matches the slow-burning fuse
to prearrange her green burial, he recom- are sent to Colorado to investigate the dis-
that runs through this historical proce-
mends Thea to inventory Mrs. Wiltshire’s appearance of their mentor. Kyf Brewer
dural. The setting is 1950s Atlanta, where
many possessions. Lennon’s expertly voices the male char-
a third of the police force is believed to be
Slocombe sounds mild-man- acters, while Orlagh Cassidy
Klan members and vigilante “justice” is
nered and deliberate, while adeptly portrays the women.
dispensed with impunity. Into the mid-
Mrs. Wiltshire is typically The listener is treated to two
dle of this is thrown a team of “Negro”
upper-class English, even performers who are highly
officers, an experiment in policing—
imperious. Colorful descrip- skilled in differentiating
though they cannot arrest whites, patrol
tions of the picturesque characters and in creating
white neighborhoods, or drive patrol
Cotswolds, the Wiltshire the tension in the many gun
cars. Abdul-Mateen’s portrayal of these
country house, and Thea’s battles. From the listener’s
police officers, although methodical and
warm relationship with Hepsie, her dog, point of view, dialogue tags are necessary
controlled, hints at suppressed rage. His
add atmosphere. When Mrs. Wiltshire’s but sometimes confusing, as here, where
narration builds the tension all the way to
son, Richard, is found dead—suicide, or a female’s comment is tagged with a male
the surprising ending. Listeners may be
murder?—Lennon’s tone reflects shock voice saying “she said.” Overall, the lis-
so absorbed by the plot and performance
and bewilderment. After meeting many tener will be drawn into an engaging
that they are unaware they’re hearing a
likely suspects, listeners will be surprised listening experience. E.Q.
well-researched history lesson. R.W.S.
by an unexpected conclusion. S.G.B. Hachette Audio 12 hrs. Unabridged
Simon & Schuster Audio 13 hrs. Unabridged Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781478930037 $40.00 (also DD)
ISIS Audio Books/ Soundings 9.5 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781508232995 $23.99
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781407964218 $84.95
(also MP3, DD)

February/March 2018 n 41
Mystery & Suspense

A PERFECT SPY: THE DEEP DARK DESCENDING THE MARRIAGE PACT

BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Allen Eskens Michelle Richmond
Dramatisation Read by R.C. Bray Read by Tom Taylorson
John le Carre
Read by Michael Maloney, R.C. Bray is the perfect narrator for Tom Taylorson narrates this thriller with
Bill Paterson, Julian Rhind-Tutt this dark story of grief and revenge. precision, helping listeners to be pulled
Homicide detective Max Rupert never into the story. Alice, a lawyer, and Jake, a
Taut, intricate, and urbane—this BBC
believed his wife’s death was an acci- marriage counselor, sign on to The Pact,
Scotland radio adaptation captures
dent, and after four years of grieving, he a secret society of couples who are com-
the sound and feel of the British-grey
receives a recording of a phone call in mitted to ensuring that their marriages
atmosphere and cold war imagery of John
which the speakers are plan- are happy. When Alice and
le Carré’s 1986 masterwork. The story
ning her murder. The action Jake inadvertently break the
focuses on a spy who seems to be a friend
alternates between the days rules, the consequences are
and confidant to all who suddenly disap-
immediately preceding this dire—more dire than they
pears. With a tone that moves between
revelation and the present, ever expected. Taylorson’s
hope and a feeling of lost chances, British
in which the man behind voice becomes more expres-
character actor Julian Rhind-Tutt dives
her murder is now Rupert’s sive as the tension builds—he
deep into the motivations of the perfect
prisoner. On a frozen lake deftly captures the charm-
spy—Magnus Pym. The plot twists
on the Canadian border ing veneers of the society’s
include a number of flashbacks, so it is
Rupert can decide his fate. Bray imbues members. But while the plot is riveting,
left to the wonderfully naturalistic perfor-
the descriptions of Rupert’s moral and its resolution is too speedy and ultimately
mances by the entire cast to keep the story
physical struggle with tension, pain, and unsatisfying. Still, Taylorson ramps up
immediate and grounded. It’s not often
fatigue. Will Rupert be defeated by the the suspense in this sinister psychologi-
that a spy novel can be described as heart-
cold before deciding to kill or exonerate cal drama. Listeners will find his delivery
breaking, but that’s just how close to the
his prisoner? Can he find redemption if a compelling and rich experience. S.C.A.
bone and well told this spy story is. B.P.
he survives? C.A.T. Blackstone Audio 13 hrs. Unabridged
BBC Digital Audio 3 hrs. Audio Program Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781504758598 $34.95 (also DD)
Trade Ed.: DD $12.39 Tantor Media 8.5 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781541403475 $39.99 Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781504758581 $109.00
(also MP3, DD) (also MP3, DD, PRE)

“I just absolutely loved ORIGIN: Robert Langdon, Book 5

Dan Brown
this book and the characters Read by Paul Michael
I was fortunate enough to Narrator Paul Michael dazzles in this latest
give voice to; it was a joy Dan Brown thriller featuring symbologist
from day one! Like the rest Robert Langdon. At the Guggenheim in
Bilbao, Spain, futurist Edmond Kirsch is
of us, I’m just along for assassinated in front of a live audience,
the ride—and what a ride.” including Langdon, before he can unveil
—Narrator Paul Michael two earth-shattering scientific revela-
tions—the origin of life and the future of
mankind. Langdon teams up with Ambra Vidal, the museum’s curator, and
a disembodied AI program named Winston to crack Kirsch’s computer pass-
word and find out what he discovered. Michael’s narration provides a tone of
erudition that complements Brown’s signature blend of art, architecture, his-
tory, and thriller. Michael’s inspired vocal work adds further texture, though
Winston, surprisingly, outshines most of the human characters. A.T.N.
Random House Audio 18 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9780739319291 $50.00 (also DD)
Books on Tape
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781524779115 $50.00 (also DD)

Paul Michael dazzles in this latest

Dan Brown thriller.

42 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Mystery & Suspense

HARDCORE TWENTY-FOUR:
Stephanie Plum, Book 24
Janet Evanovich MURDER ON THE
Read by Lorelei King ORIENT EXPRESS
Agatha Christie
Zombies? Really? Plum fans know that Read by Kenneth Branagh
the series has not thrived on its plots, but Kenneth Branagh offers a full-cast
on its funny, quirky characters, especially performance all by himself in this delicious
their dialogue. So the best way to expe- production of a 1934 Christie classic that is
rience Evanovich is by having narrator often remembered only for its film adap-
Lorelei King bring to life Stephanie, Lula, tations. What a pleasure to encounter the
Morelli, Ranger, Diesel, Grandma Mazur, author’s original intent and be reminded of
and all the other lovable and sometimes how cleverly she devised plots and characters. For those who need remind-
despicable secondary characters. King’s ing, the plot involves a murder on a snowbound Orient Express and Hercule
skill in consistently projecting timbre, Poirot’s investigation of the crime. The characters include Americans,
tone, intonation, and accent allows the Swedes, Russians, Brits, French, and, of course, our favorite Belgian. Men and
listener to know immediately which char- women. Highborn and low. In between his fine, warm narration, Branagh
acter is speaking. She’s a master narrator becomes a fretful American lady, a nervous French train steward, a haughty
who expertly conveys sexy males (and Russian countess, an Italian laborer, and many more. In conversation, it’s
there are three in this book), females of breathtaking. Make it your next listen. A.C.S.
different ethnicities, the young, and the
Harper Audio 6.25 hrs. Unabridged
very old. While Stephanie’s life remains Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538520857 $29.99 (also DD)
frustratingly static, King’s performance
of Lula and Grandma Mazur will still
make listeners laugh out loud. E.Q. Kenneth Branagh offers a full-cast
Random House Audio 7 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525501350 $32.00 (also DD)
performance all by himself.
Books on Tape
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525501374 $32.00 (also DD)

THE QUANTUM SPY PULSE

THE WHISPERING ROOM: David Ignatius Felix Francis
Jane Hawk, Book 2 Read by Edoardo Ballerini Read by Clare Corbett
Dean Koontz
Read by Elisabeth Rodgers David Ignatius’s newest techno-thriller is While on duty as a physician in a British
ably served by Edoardo Ballerini’s driven hospital emergency room, Dr. Chris
Elisabeth Rodgers returns to narrate
narration, which helps propel the story Reynolds attempts to save a man, but he
the second book in Koontz’s Jane Hawk
through its many twists and turns. Based dies of mysterious causes, and no one
series. Her tough, tense performance
on actual science, the plot involves secret knows who he is. Narrating from the
is essential to this audiobook’s impact.
efforts to create a functional quantum first-person point of view, Claire Corbett
Hawk is an FBI agent whose background
computer, and the result- becomes Chris, revealing
gives her insight into the suicide of a
ing competition between her troubled thoughts as
teacher who died after committing mass
American and Chinese spy she investigates the death
murder. What seems like an inexplica-
agencies to steal each oth- and as she struggles with
ble action is revealed to be a large-scale
er’s information and “turn” depression and a fragile
deployment of deadly technology. A road
each other’s spies. The hero relationship with her
trip to unmask the conspiracy ensues,
is a non-Chinese-speak- husband. Performing a
with Hawk encountering characters who
ing American of Chinese multitude of regional
may be threats, or who need help them-
heritage, who is used and British accents with ease,
selves. Fans of Koontz’s last audiobook in
doubted by both sides. Corbett creates suspense
the series should find this a worthy fol-
Ballerini builds our empathy by painting through her character portrayals and
low-up. Listeners who meet Hawk here
both American and Chinese characters pace as internal and external pressures
won’t be lost, however. Rodgers’s perfor-
with audible personalities. And he reads build. Chris is convinced that her patient
mance is a perfect match for Hawk and
the women as believably as the men. In has been murdered, but who would want
keeps the listener involved. S.P.C.
between, he narrates in a straightforward to kill him—whoever he is—and why?
Recorded Books 16.75 hrs. Unabridged “thank you, m’am” tone that sounds direct And now, why does it appear they also
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781470394455 $123.75
(also MP3, DD) from CIA headquarters. A.C.S. want to kill her? L.M.A.
Recorded Books 11 hrs. Unabridged Recorded Books 9.25 hrs. Unabridged
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781501920011 $123.75 Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781501960505 $123.75
(also MP3, DD) (also MP3, DD)

February/March 2018 n 43
Contemporary Culture

DRAFT NO. 4: RECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES: BUNK: The Rise of Hoaxes,

On the Writing Process Connecting in a Disconnected World Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies,
John McPhee Dawna Markova, Angie McArthur Post-Facts, and Fake News
Read by John McPhee Read by Ellen Archer Kevin Young
Read by Mirron Willis
Celebrated author John McPhee narrates This audiobook investigates the different
this long-awaited audiobook of essays on ways we experience and understand our Young systematically tackles the history
writing nonfiction with his characteristic world. Ellen Archer’s articulate narra- of intentional misdirection in the U.S.,
precise language and keen observations tion highlights examples that show how exploring how deceit has harmed us
reflected in his delivery. He can sound by to recognize our biases, for example, by through lenses such as popular culture,
turns like a grandfather doling out advice examining the stories we tell ourselves journalism, literature, race, history, and
more. Mirron Willis’s narration drives
or a scold impugning fash- about our lives. By doing so,
the prose from P.T. Barnum to Lance
ion and fancy in the world we can grow to understand
Armstrong to President Trump, keeping
of nonfiction. Calling on his how others see their world
listeners attuned with a deep voice and
experiences over more than and better connect by skillful pacing. Young’s writing can drag
half a century of crafting reconciling our differences. and leave the reader unsure of where
pieces for Time and The New Archer easily navigates book is going, but Willis’s command of
Yorker, as well as writing 29 chapters that are filled with the text and tonal emphasis helps pro-
books, he shares his mem- checklists, questionnaires, vide guidance. Willis has the ability to
ories of editors, celebrities, and acronyms. Her modula- vocally draw out the drama and tension
and the many people and places he has tions and precise pauses clearly delineate of any scene or description, making the
profiled. At 86, his suggestions are wise, between questions and answers. Her audiobook an exciting listen that will
worthwhile, and helpful, among them: delivery also allows time for completing leave listeners more skeptical and criti-
“Structure should be invisible; selection is the exercises aimed at identifying one’s cal about what they read and hear. L.E.
at the heart of nonfiction; spend time on preferred “mind pattern” and under- HighBridge Audio 20.5 hrs. Unabridged
leads and titles.” McPhee delivers a fine standing how different styles relate to Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781681687100 $44.99 (also DD)
performance of this master class in non- one another. Archer is good at conveying
fiction writing. A.D.M. 2017 Best Audiobook a variety of emotions, which adds to the
Recorded Books 6.75 hrs. Unabridged impact of her performance. M.F. THE RIVER OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781501962554 $72.75 Oliver Sacks
Random House Audio 7 hrs. Unabridged
(also MP3, DD) Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525525400 $17.50 Read by Dan Woren
Books on Tape
Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525525417 $57.00 Narrator Dan Woren’s deep middle-
American voice won’t be mistaken for
the reedier British tones of the late Oliver
Sacks, and fans familiar with that voice
may miss some of Sacks’s sprightliness.
WHAT UNITES US:
Reflections on Patriotism However, Woren’s reading is solid and
Dan Rather, Elliot Kirschner easy to follow, and none of the wonder of
Read by Dan Rather Sacks’s thinking is lost—particularly, his
ability to synergize theories and concepts
In this era of hyper-partisanship, it is across scientific disciplines in a deeply
helpful to review the values that unite us. personal way. Sacks begins with plants
Veteran newscaster Dan Rather does just and moves through insects, animals, and
that in this audiobook, exploring themes finally to human beings as he explores
such as community, patriotism, and immi- consciousness: What is it? Who or what
gration. At the heart of it all is empathy, has it? How have we understood or mis-
which Rather says is clearly lacking in many understood it across time? This audio
national leaders. Not surprisingly, given his TV background, Rather offers a presentation allows one to leave one’s
smooth, easy-on-the-ears reading. Because he cares so deeply about his subject eyes free to gaze out on a world trans-
and because portions of his book are highly personal, there is an undertone formed by what one is hearing. K.W.
of emotion in his delivery. That emotion never rises to the level of stridency, Random House Audio 5.75 hrs. Unabridged
and the control he demonstrates adds even more power to his reading. R.C.G. Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780804192347 $20.00
Books on Tape
HighBridge Audio 7 hrs. Unabridged Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9780804192361 $76.00
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781681687360 $29.99 (also DD)

MORE REVIEWS
Rather offers a smooth, Exclusive Web-Only
easy-on-the-ears reading. Contemporary Culture Reviews
[Link]

44 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Contemporary Culture

LOCKING UP OUR OWN: Crime and

Punishment in Black America
James Forman, Jr. I CAN’T BREATHE:
Read by Kevin R. Free A Killing on Bay Street
Matt Taibbi
This audiobook focuses on the role that Read by Dominic Hoffman
elected African-American leaders played Police brutality against African-Americans
in adopting more stringent criminal pun- is depressingly common, but the 2014 case
ishments in response to rising crime in of Eric Garner was in a class by itself. A cell
the 1990s. The effect today has been dev- phone video captured his dying gasps—“I
astating for that community and has led can’t breathe”—as he was trapped in a
to a national discussion on the merits of choke hold by a police officer. Narrator
the approach. Narrator Kevin R. Free’s Dominic Hoffman’s gravelly timbre and
deliberate style sometimes slows down tough tone are an ideal fit for this outstanding piece of journalism. There is
the book and accentuates his propen- a lot of dialogue here—a testament to Taibbi’s outstanding reporting—and
sity to try to pronounce every syllable. Hoffman expertly characterizes New York and African-American speech with-
Nonetheless, his deep, accessible voice out slipping into caricature. He also manages to capture Taibbi’s dark and
adds emotional depth by emphasiz- occasionally sarcastic humor when recounting the injustice of the Garner
ing the author’s real concern about the case and others like it. The account loses some steam in the final couple of
results of his research. Free reinforces hours, but the slow denouement won’t be enough to defuse the anger lis-
the data by using his voice to express con- teners will feel at the end of this powerful narrative. D.B. 2017 Best Audiobook
cern, empathy, and, sometimes, outrage.
Random House Audio 13 hrs. Unabridged
It’s a timely audiobook, and Free does his Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9780735288133 $45.00 (also DD)
best to rouse our sense of justice. R.I.G. Books on Tape
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9780735288157 $45.00 (also DD)
Recorded Books 8.5 hrs. Unabridged
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781501942150 $123.75
(also DD)
Hoffman’s gravelly timbre and tough tone
are an ideal fit.
INFERIOR: How Science Got Women
Wrong and the New Research That’s
Rewriting the Story
Angela Saini
Read by Hannah Melbourn THE RETREAT OF WESTERN IN VINO DUPLICITAS: The Rise and
LIBERALISM Fall of a Wine Forger Extraordinaire
In this hugely important book, Angela Edward Luce Peter Hellman
Saini debunks scientific studies that Read by Julian Elfer Read by Charles Constant
determined that women are intellectually
and physically inferior to men. Topics This audiobook argues that the rise of The highly skilled Charles Constant does
include comparative brain size, medical leaders who are challenging Western com- his best to maintain listener interest as
trials, the ability to feel empathy, promis- mitments to global connectedness, liberal he narrates Hellman’s detailed factual
cuity, and why women are sicker than freedoms, and the protection of refugees account of a wine forger’s exploits and
men but more likely to survive illnesses in both Europe and the U.S. presents the ultimate undoing. Chinese-Indonesian
and live longer. Hannah Melbourn’s nar- greatest threat to political order and to Rudy Kurniawon, a most unlikely crim-
ration is appealingly British and a perfect democracy since WWII. Narrator Julian inal, was the purveyor of choice for
match for this material. She has a lovely Elfer delivers this message with convic- American intelligentsia seeking rare
accent, a conversational style that main- tion, supported by his strong, confident wines in the early 2000s. Hellman,
tains the listener’s attention even during British accent and a firm tone that makes a journalist whose work has often
deep dives into detailed research, and a the author’s meaning clear. Elfer also appeared in Wine Spectator magazine,
wry sense of understatement that quietly varies his pitch to keep us focused and has chosen to err on the side of “more is
draws attention to historical absurdities. pauses to let the words sink in. He doesn’t more.” His writing is articulate and effec-
Stereotypes are more complicated and miss a vowel and knows to emphasize the tive, if not efficient in its account of the
insidious—a 2012 study showed that key words and phrases that underlie the story. Constant is spot-on in tone, pacing,
male and female scientists evaluating audiobook’s main themes. Many books warmth, enthusiasm, and remarkably
identical resumes except for the name on this topic have been published in the perfect French pronunciation. This is a
on the top were equally likely to judge last six months; this one is certainly worth must-listen for oenophiles, a complex
female candidates as less qualified and a listen. R.I.G. crime story for others. W.A.G.
less deserving of higher salaries. A.B. Tantor Media 6 hrs. Unabridged Tantor Media 8.5 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 978-1541409224 $32.99 Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781541403666 $39.99
Beacon Press Audio 7.5 hrs. Unabridged (also MP3, DD) (also MP3, DD)
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780807090466 $15.00

February/March 2018 n 45
Name
Rob Shapiro
TK

File under aspects of an audiobook narrator’s life that the Mic video on our blog: [Link]/blog/
you’ve probably never thought much about: lunch. behind-the-mic-the-world-remade).
Narrator Rob Shapiro tells us that the studio at Penguin Shapiro credits timing and rhythm with a successful
Random House is “one of my favorite places in the universe, narration, particularly for nonfiction titles. “You want to
especially because the lunchroom is so great—it’s all my give the listener the right amount of time to absorb a
peers, who are all literate, funny, wonderful people, and concept and see it in their mind, and then lead them into
you’re just sitting in a lunchroom kibitzing and laughing for the next concept. If you go too fast, you lose them. If you
an hour. And then you go back and read.” And, he confides, go too slow, they get bored really quickly.”
“Every so often you’ll be sitting in there, and there’s some Shapiro has a natural affinity for nonfiction. “I was an early
really famous person.” reader, and from the time I was about 5, believe it or not,
On the opposite end of the spectrum from lunch with I started reading very heavily about history. I loved history,
famous people is the problem of occasional ambient noise in part, because these were stories that actually happened—
at his home studio. “Where we live, there are only two these weren’t imaginary stories, these were real things that
things that can bleed through my booth and the building, occurred, with these amazing figures. One of the great things
and that’s helicopters or gardeners. There are many days about being a narrator is that I still read all the time, and it’s
I’m just sitting in my studio waiting for the helicopters to like a world-class education,” Shapiro says. “It’s wonderful.”
stop circling over our house.” Ultimately, Shapiro says, no matter the subject, audio-
The joys and challenges of the narrating booth have books are all about the connection with the listener. “I’m
translated into Earphones Award-winning audiobook also a singer, and there’s a particular kind of singing that
performances from Shapiro—from Max Tegmark’s I call pillow singing, where you sing as if you’re singing
Life 3.0 to a biography of Al Capone to The World Remade, to someone lying on the pillow next to you. It’s such an intimate
G.J. Meyer’s account of America and WWI. (Don’t miss relationship—it’s just my voice in the listener’s ear. That’s
Shapiro talking about The World Remade in a Behind it. It’s very personal.”—Jennifer M. Dowell

LIFE 3.0:
Being Human in
the Age of Artificial
Intelligence
Max Tegmark
Read by Rob Shapiro

It’s hard to believe that a

machine could replace Rob
Shapiro’s effective, nuanced
narration of this audiobook,
but then again it was once
hard to believe there would be driverless cars and voice-activated
homes. We are witnessing the baby steps of artificial intelli-
gence (AI) research. But what happens when machines become
more intelligent than humans? Will malicious red–eyed robots
enslave humanity (not likely), or will man and machine become
one (“the singularity”—or as it’s known by nonbelievers, “the
rapture of the Geeks”)? Author Max Tegmark doesn’t predict
the future, but he lays out AI in an engaging style, particularly
in the use of entertaining scenarios, read with flair by narrator
Shapiro. R.W.S.
Random House Audio 13.5 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780451485083 $22.50
Books on Tape
Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9780451485106 $95.00
TK Josh Daugherty

Rob Shapiro
Quote
gives
TK.
an effective,
Photo by

nuanced
Quotenarration.
TK.
46 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Contemporary Culture

AMERICAN KINGPIN:
The Epic Hunt for the
Criminal Mastermind THE INNER LIFE OF ANIMALS:
Behind the Silk Road Love, Grief, and Compassion:
Nick Bilton Surprising Observations
Read by Will Damron of a Hidden World
Peter Wohlleben, Jane Billinghurst [Trans.],
If you didn’t know any better, you’d Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson [Fore.]
Read by Mike Grady
swear this story was the concoction of a
Hollywood screenwriter. Narrator Will Before hitting the play button on this audio,
Damron embodies the determination and it would be easy to feel skeptical about the
frustration of the driven but flawed fed- idea that animals have rich emotional lives.
eral agents who sought to bring down the But the combination of Wohlleben’s deep
world’s largest website for the purchase of wisdom and Mike Grady’s warm narration will win listeners over within the
illegal drugs, weapons, and even deadly first hour. The text is translated from the German, but Grady’s British accent
poisons. What is truly frightening is that and avuncular tone recall David Attenborough’s narrations of natural history
this is the true story of Ross Ulbricht, videos for the BBC. The author is both insightful and humble, and these qual-
a bored, idealistic computer whiz who ities are nicely reflected in Grady’s welcoming voice. Drawing on his lifetime
designed and ran the Silk Road, a part of of experience with animals as diverse as horses and honeybees, Wohlleben
the dark web, in an effort to cause a world- mixes science and anecdotes to build a compelling case that humans are not
wide revolution and make all drugs legal. nearly as special as we think. D.B.
He made hundreds of millions of dollars
Novel Audio 7.5 hrs. Unabridged
but spent almost none of it. Damron Trade Ed.: DD $15.39
effectively embodies Ulbricht’s idiosyn-
crasies and those of the federal agents
who pursued him. Damron makes them Wohlleben’s deep wisdom and Grady’s
all more human. M.S. warm narration will win listeners over.
Penguin Audio 12.25 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781524750848 $22.50
Books on Tape
Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9781524750855 $95.00
MAESTROS AND THEIR MUSIC: ZAPPED: From Infrared to X-rays,
The Art and Alchemy of Conducting the Curious History of Invisible Light
IN THEIR LIVES: Great Writers on John Mauceri Bob Berman
Great Beatles Songs Read by John Mauceri Read by Peter Ganim
Andrew Blauner [Ed.], Paul McCartney [Note]
Read by Tandy Cronyn, Richard Poe, Kevin In 18 years of working with conductor/ In this wide-ranging survey of electro-
R. Free, Eva Kaminsky, John Keating composer Leonard Bernstein—and having magnetic energy in all its forms, Berman
a career as a respected conductor in his provides historical detail on how we
This is a must for Beatles fans, which covers own right—John Mauceri seems to have humans came up with the discoveries
just about everybody. Twenty-nine famous learned a great deal about communicating and conclusions that so enlighten (as
and somewhat famous authors opine the subtleties of music to the it were) the modern era.
about their favorite Beatles song. Some of public. Writing and reading Narrator Peter Ganim adds
the song choices are obvious, like “She’s this audiobook, he clarifies a smooth voice, authorita-
Leaving Home” and “Yesterday”; others many of the mysteries of the tive and friendly at the same
are unusual, like “Helter Skelter.” (Really, conductor’s art. While the time, never stumbling over
Chuck Klosterman?) The audiobook is book is dotted with famous exotic names and technical
performed by an ensemble of narrators names such as Bernstein, phrases. Like any good non-
who voice the opinions of the writers so Birgit Nilsson, Gian Carlo fiction narrator, his presence
perfectly that it’s easy to forget they’re not Menotti, and more, Mauceri fades into the background
the writers themselves. My favorite entry is remains modest. His delivery suggests that as the text unfolds. The listener is left to
Gerald Early’s entry on “I’m A Loser.” He these were merely people he met through ponder the undeniable fact that his or
grew up in my hometown of Philadelphia, his work, and their stories are there to illus- her body is being bombarded by mostly
rocked to the same radio station, WIBG, trate his points. He is a fine interpreter of invisible electromagnetic energy trillions
and loved the Beatles as much as I did. his own text, and there is so much infor- of times a second, the bulk of it zipping
Be warned, the audiobook will force you mation that classical music fans may want through as if the body weren’t there.
to replay your Beatles collection with new to listen to this more than once. D.M.H. Fascinating. D.R.W.
insights and appreciation. M.S.
Random House Audio 9.75 hrs. Unabridged Hachette Audio 8.25 hrs. Unabridged
Recorded Books 8 hrs. Unabridged Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525523192 $20.00 Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781478936916 $25.98
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781501940378 $92.75 Books on Tape
(also MP3, DD) Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525523208 $76.00

February/March 2018 n 47
Personal Growth & Business

MAKE IT STICK: The Science REST: Why You Can Get More Done BORED AND BRILLIANT:
of Successful Learning When You Work Less How Spacing Out Can Unlock
Peter C. Brown, Hanry L. Roediger Alex Soojung-Kim Pang Your Most Productive
III, Mark A. McDaniel Read by Adam Sims and Creative Self
Read by Qarie Marshall Manoush Zomorodi
Still think you’re a work hero if you Read by Manoush Zomorodi
A lot of what we think we know about spend more hours at the office and check
learning is wrong, according to 10 years emails at the dinner table? Author Pang Levity is mixed with earnestness as author
of research carried out by a team of 11 argues that, paradoxically, the most cre- and narrator Manoush Zomorodi sets
cognitive psychologists. Written by a pro- ative and productive people are those who forth the “Bored and Brilliant challenge,”
fessional storyteller, this audiobook flows enjoy “deliberate rest.” In no-nonsense, which encourages listeners to spark their
with melodic sentences that are made declarative tones that suit the author’s creativity by detaching from their tech
even more appealing to hear by narrator style, narrator Adam Sims moves the devices. In this spirited exploration of our
Qarie Marshall. His effortless-sounding author’s message ahead at just the right relationship with technological devices,
articulation and broad phrasing palette pace as he delivers a mix of scientific Zomorodi’s melodic voice beckons and
make this a production that listeners can studies and anecdotes about writers, inspires listeners to develop a deeper
warm up to while they’re absorbing what scientists, and other creative types who understanding of how tech devices affect
science tells us about optimal learning. thrive by insisting on integrating leisure our potential. Zomorodi humorously
Among the findings is that retention into their schedules. Not all of the argu- examines the relationship between bore-
is higher when repetition is deliberate ments are equally compelling—you may dom and brilliance, emphasizing how
and spaced, and when new information not be able to convince your boss to let many people don’t realize just how con-
is offered in a variety of contexts and you nap—but Sims’s confident narration nected they are to their phones and social
interspersed among lessons on dispa- ensures they all get their due. D.B. media. In her interview with the devel-
rate topics. More than aphoristic tips, oper of Two Dots, Zomorodi playfully
Hachette Audio 7 hrs. Unabridged
these are powerful strategies, sometimes Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781478988762 $25.98
chastises him as she reveals how she, too,
counterintuitive, that are already revolu- became quickly addicted to the phone
tionizing training and education in a app. Zomorodi persuasively conveys her
variety of realms. T.W. compelling points on the need for reflec-
Dreamscape 8.5 hrs. Unabridged
tion to make room for enlightenment in
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781629239743 $34.99 VIDEO @ BLOG this age of technological overload. M.F.
(also MP3, DD)
Macmillan Audio 7 hrs. Unabridged
Watch narrator comments at Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781427287427 $29.99 (also DD)
[Link]/blog

WE NEED TO TALK: How to Have

Conversations That Matter
BE FIERCE: Celeste Headlee
Stop Harassment and Read by Celeste Headlee
Take Your Power Back
Gretchen Carlson We live in an age in which we are becom-
Read by Gretchen Carlson ing ever more polarized and fragmented as
a society and as individuals. In response,
When Carlson walked away from her
radio host Celeste Headlee presents this
job as a news anchor for Fox News to
timely audiobook on bridging the gaps
fight—and win—her sexual harass-
that divide us by employing strategies to
ment case, she discovered that her story
ensure better communication. It is evident
is just one of many that deserve to be
in Headlee’s narration that she is a profes-
told. In steady, measured tones, Carlson
sional accustomed to tailoring her diction
digs deep into the history of harassment
to a broad audience: She enunciates clearly
cases, current laws in place to protect women, and why Human Resources
and deliberately, maintaining a comfort-
isn’t always your friend. At times, Carlson’s voice wavers with raw emotion
ably relaxed yet forward-moving pace and
as she recounts her own harassment experience and those of others. She
emphasizing key words and phrases appro-
unflinchingly tackles a hot topic, along with its complicated intricacies, and
priately for impact. Headlee’s hope is that
suggests practical steps women can take to stand up for themselves. A deeply
by employing the techniques she presents
moving and relevant listen. E.E.
in this book, we can all learn to communi-
Hachette Audio 7.5 hrs. Unabridged
cate better in this age of digital distractions
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781478992738 $35.00 (also DD)
and make efforts to truly connect as indi-
viduals by listening and sharing. S.E.G.
A deeply moving and relevant listen. Harper Audio 5.25 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538454503 $34.99 (also DD)

48 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Personal Growth & Business

COURAGE FOR THE

UNKNOWN SEASON:
Navigating What’s Next BRAVING THE WILDERNESS:
with Confidence and Hope The Quest for True Belonging
Jan Silvious and the Courage to Stand Alone
Read by Ann M. Richardson Brené Brown
Read by Brené Brown
Ann Richardson’s voice adds a tone
It’s hard to imagine a Brené Brown audio-
of comfort and joy as she narrates an
book narrated by anyone other than Brené
invaluable resource on preparing for
Brown. While her performance isn’t per-
the inevitable surprises of life encoun-
fect or polished, it’s authentic—a strength
tered by young and old. Oddly enough,
that is no more clearly demonstrated than
Richardson is so smooth and exuberant
in a passage that includes her singing. And
that her young-sounding voice conflicts
therein lies the power of her performance, especially when combined with
with the aged wisdom of the author.
the subject matter. In her latest work, Brown explores the nature of belong-
Regardless, the wisdom pours through
ing. The discussion is built on earlier and continued research on shame,
one’s speakers as she delivers these much-
vulnerability, resilience, and courage. Her narration is driven by the desire to
needed insights, which take a Christian
communicate and enlighten, so she makes her points emphatically and uses
perspective. The twinge of regret and the
pauses to give listeners moments to consider what she’s said. The result is
softness of acceptance that can be heard
a timely and thoughtful listen during times of division—within individuals
throughout offer comfort to those who
and society. A.S.
are considering their future direction and
those who are on the precipice of making Random House Audio 4 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525494881 $30.00 (also DD)
difficult end-of-life decisions. This book Books on Tape
is a worthwhile listen for both the young Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525494904 $30.00 (also DD)
and the not-so-young anymore. T.D.
Oasis Audio 5 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781621887409 $14.99 (also DD) A timely and thoughtful listen
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781631082665 $26.99
during times of division.

THE BAD FOOD BIBLE:

How and Why to Eat Sinfully
Aaron Carroll LAGOM: Not Too Little, Not Too LIFE IS LIKE A MUSICAL:
Read by Jeff Cummings, Kate Rudd Much, Just Right: The Swedish Guide How to Live, Love, and Lead
to Creating Balance in Your Life Like a Star
Aaron Carroll, a pediatrician and New Niki Brantmark Tim Federle
York Times contributor, shares his some- Read by Ana Clements Read by Tim Federle
what controversial take on the most
recently published research on nutrition, This audiobook introduces the concept With his theater background and two
eating, health, and quality-of-life matters. of lagom, the Swedish belief in “not Odyssey honors under his belt, it’s no
With distinct vocal clarity, narrator Jeff too little, not too much” or “just right.” surprise that Tim Federle provides a
Cummings conveys Carroll’s perspec- (There’s no exact translation.) Narrator stellar performance of his latest book. A
tives in a relaxed, reassuring manner. Ana Clements’s British voice sounds swelling musical introduction places the
Kate Rudd offers an unremarkable nar- friendly and inviting as she explains listener in a theater, awaiting the start of
ration of Nina Teicholz’s foreword. Each that lagom is possible in all aspects of a magnificent show. Federle’s narration
chapter discusses a single hot-button life—in one’s personal life and relation- delivers on the promise, with anecdotal
food that at some point has been identi- ships, and in the wider world. Parts of evidence backing up his suppositions on
fied as “bad” or “sinful,” such as butter this audiobook seem an odd mash-up the similarities between life and musi-
and fats, salt, gluten, coffee, and many of The Little Book of Hygge and The Life- cal theater. The short chapters make for
others. Carroll consistently debunks the Changing Magic of Tidying Up—many easy listening during brief moments of
prevalent negative thinking about them. suggestions and tips don’t seem new. free time. Though written for adults,
Not surprisingly, he says moderation in Sounding engaged and happy, Clements Federle’s narrative style make this a great
nearly all foods is best. Listener, beware: breathes life into the book’s many lists title for teens as well. Federle’s casual,
You may be tempted at this audiobook’s of suggestions, tips, and descriptions of even tone brings his advice to life while
conclusion to fire up the barbecue for DIY projects. Clements even paces DIY imparting the feeling of chatting with a
some steaks topped with butter. W.A.G. lists of tools at the tempo you’d need if friend. A.L.S.M.
you were writing them down, also with- Hachette Audio 4 hrs. Unabridged
Brilliance Audio 7.25 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781543663280 $29.99
out sounding tedious. J.C.G. Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781478997733 $30.00 (also DD)
(also MP3, DD) Harper Audio 4 hrs. Unabridged
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781543663303 $59.97 Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538479629 $25.99 (also DD)

February/March 2018 n 49
Learning By Ear

Revolution and Opportunity in the Workplace

The learning audios heard for this issue were so stimulating that I often
sat in my driveway after trips and commutes just so I could keep listening.
Narrated by a talented group of voice pros and authors, these audios include
some exceptional career guides for people who work with others in groups
in which effort is coordinated to get things done. Kristine Stewart’s Our Turn
is a good example. With the help of a savvy performance by Laurel Lefkow,
Stewart urges women to find more ways to express their talents at work, seek
more responsibility, and demand fair compensation. Coming at a time when
male biases (and misbehavior) are being called out more often, her invitation
for women to step into leadership positions fits nicely with today’s flattening of
organizational hierarchies. Most of us thrive when working for someone with
the fluid decisiveness and social skills that I see in effective female executives—
someone who respects the individuals on their team instead of using them.
Other audios we heard took a more aerial view of today’s workplace challenges
by examining societal issues like learning opportunities and dignity for work-
ers, technology’s dramatic impact on work, and the human foundations of our
financial system. These “big picture” audios may not tell us how to play the
game but do provide a clearer view of the playing field. All read with clarity
and impact, these audiobooks make us think instead of just stirring us up with
sound bites and slogans. Good listening and bon courage!—Tom Walken

WHIPLASH: How to Survive OUR TURN GIVE WORK: Reversing Poverty

Our Faster Future Kirstine Stewart One Job at a Time
Joi Ito, Jeff Howe Read by Laurel Lefkow Leila Janah
Read by James Foster Read by Leila Janah
Laurel Lefkow’s beguiling narration is
Tw o p r o d i g i o u s t h i n k e r s e x p l a i n notable for lyrical phrasing that never The author’s earnest narration, com-
how the technology and communication sounds innocent and never betrays the bined with a perspective on work that
revolutions have upended the way we power of this timely broadside about rises above political rhetoric, makes this
seek progress in almost every area of life. women’s value in today’s challenging a must-hear audio for anyone concerned
Narrator James Foster’s enthusiasm and workplaces. With a performance that about poverty and the dignity of work.
sensitivity to every nuance make this a sounds both intelligent and beautiful to The grim tone in her otherwise clear per-
compelling audio. With both steadiness hear, she is a wonderful choice for this formance is not altogether inappropriate,
and phrasing verve, he holds this book message, which weaves in and out of given the plight of people with no jobs or
together, which is not easy when so much the author’s personal journey from girl any means to feel like they are contribut-
of the book’s ideological payload is deliv- Friday to VP of media at an international ing members of their communities. With
ered deep into the authors’ long-running, company. The author argues persua- her thorough research and clear writing,
information-laden narratives. Foster’s skill sively that, with authoritarian leaders she is persuasive that solutions will be
with this kind of deductive writing rivets and rigid hierarchies being less effective possible when we start encouraging small
attention and makes the authors’ princi- and less tolerable in today’s business cul- businesses and municipalities to define
ples and strategies even more compelling ture, it’s the right time for women to seek work that needs doing and pay workers a
when they finally appear. In the future more responsibility and respect at what- living wage. Her finely drawn examples
the next great ideas will emerge from the ever organizational level they happen to of poverty in Kenya, the rural U.S., and
ambitious, ultra-connected masses, rather be working. This audio offers compelling inner-city neighborhoods sound both
than being pushed onto them by elites in narratives and recommendations that stark and rich in opportunity for anyone
hierarchical bureaucracies. T.W. every working woman will benefit from wanting to bring these forgotten people
Brilliance Audio 7.75 hrs. Unabridged hearing. T.W. into our otherwise thriving society. T.W.
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781469253169 $29.99 Penguin Audio 8.25 hrs. Unabridged
Bolinda 6 hrs. Unabridged
(also MP3, DD) Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525499435 $17.50
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781489382672 $14.99
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781469253190 $69.97 Books on Tape
(also MP3, DD)
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781489382696 $59.97 Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525499442 $66.50

50 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 More Listening for Opportunities in the Workplace
WHITE WORKING CLASS: HIDING IN THE BATHROOM:
Overcoming Class Cluelessness An Introvert’s Roadmap to Getting
in America Out There (When You’d Rather
Joan C. Williams, read by Liisa Ivary Stay Home)
THE WISDOM OF FINANCE We are condescending toward the work- Morra Aarons-Mele,
Mihir A. Desai ing class, and they know it.   read by Coleen Marlo
Read by Mihir A. Desai Blackstone Audio Unabridged How to be your own type of achiever
Trade Ed.: CD, MP3, DD when you’re not an extrovert   
According to this lucid and inspiring Library Ed.: CD Harper Audio Unabridged
audio, finance loses its humanity Trade Ed.: DD
when it’s thought of solely in terms LET THE STORY DO THE WORK:
of math, probability, and self-interest. The Art of Storytelling HACKING GROWTH: How
for Business Success Today’s Fastest-Growing
Author-narrator Mihir Desai reads with Esther K. Choy, read by Emily Woo Zeller Companies Drive Breakout Success
appealing style and emotional engage- Sean Ellis, Morgan Brown,
Fresh, creative advice on how to influ-
ment and uses rich narratives from ence people with narratives read by Sean Ellis, Morgan Brown
film, literature, history, and culture to Brilliance Audio Unabridged How Facebook, Uber, and other super-
illustrate how interwoven finance is with Trade Ed.: CD, MP3, DD star companies got to the top   
the human condition. The audiobook is Random House Audio Unabridged
a primer on basic economic principles, TROUBLEMAKERS: Silicon Trade Ed.: DD
Valley’s Coming of Age Books on Tape
tweaked with perspectives on risk, lever- Library Ed.: DD
Leslie Berlin, read by Amanda Carlin
age, obligation, insurance, and capital
The exciting lives of the entrepreneurs
markets that are quite creative. It’s like THE NEW RULES OF WORK:
who gave life to tech
taking a master class on how to think The Modern Playbook for
Simon & Schuster Audio Unabridged Navigating Your Career
about all your financial transactions Trade Ed.: DD Alexandra Cavoulacos, Kathryn Minshew,
and obligations. Full of stories and read read by Alexandra Cavoulacos,
with clarity, this audio will reshape your BRAVING THE WILDERNESS: Kathryn Minshew
views on financial practices that are too The Quest for True Belonging and
How flexibility will prepare you for
often misunderstood or dismissed as the Courage to Stand Alone
the new world of work     
Brené Brown, read by Brené Brown
immoral. T.W. Random House Audio Unabridged
The invincible author on how to speak Trade Ed.: CD, DD
Blackstone Audio 8.5 hrs. Unabridged up and stay connected in a more Books on Tape
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538427804 $34.95 (also DD)
polarized world (see review, page 49). Library Ed.: CD, DD
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538427798 $76.00
(also MP3) Random House Audio Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD, DD
Books on Tape
Library Ed.: CD, DD
AN EVERYONE CULTURE
Robert Kegan, Lisa Laskow Lahey GLOBAL INEQUALITY:
Read by Stephen R. Thorne A New Approach for the Age of
Globalization
Stephen R. Thorne captures the optimism Branko Milanovic, read by Joe Barrett
in this invitation to make your organiza- Historical, analytical overview of why
tion a crucible for human growth instead income gaps are growing
of a place where learning is stifled and Tantor Media Unabridged
spirits are deadened. His phrasing and Trade Ed.: CD, DD
pacing have the energy to give hope to
WEIRD IN A WORLD THAT’S
leaders who have become complacent or NOT: A Career Guide for Misfits,
cynical about helping people grow. Using F—kups, and Failures
the examples of three companies, the Jennifer Romolini, read by Em Eldridge
authors explain how learning cultures Take-no-prisoners strategies for succeed-
are created with practices that are woven ing when you are different
into the company’s daily operations and Harper Audio Unabridged
communication. Delivered with consis- Trade Ed.: CD, DD
tent clarity and confidence, this is an
THANK YOU FOR BEING LATE
important lesson for anyone who cares
Thomas L. Friedman, read by Oliver Wyman
about how people can thrive in organi-
Continuous adaptability will help you
zational settings. T.W. keep up with today’s technology.   
Tantor Media 10.5 hrs. Unabridged Macmillan Audio Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781515917045 $39.99 Trade Ed.: CD, DD
(also MP3, DD)

February/March 2018 n 51
Science Fiction & Fantasy

RUBY 10: The Black Star of THE TERCENTENNIAL BARON: THE GUNS ABOVE
Summa Nulla The Bellirolt Chronicles, Book 1 Robyn Bennis
Tom Lopez Will Damron Read by Kate Reading
Read by a Full Cast Read by Tim Gerard Reynolds
Narrator Kate Reading’s steady voice
Rodent Kappor, who sounds like Peter One of the most impressive features of powers this exciting airship adventure.
Lorre, has started his own P.S. (Private Tim Gerard Reynolds’s narration of this Auxiliary Lieutenant Josette Dupre
Snoop) firm on his home planet of fantasy epic is the many lyrical accents receives a dubious promotion, becoming
Summa Nulla. That can only mean silli- he deploys. In addition to French and the first female captain of Garnia’s Air
ness, trouble, horrible puns, and his Italian notes, Reynolds teases out dif- Signal Corps. Reading portrays Dupre’s
old pal, Ruby, having to save the day. ferences in class and temperament, and subtle humor and steely strength as
The sci-fi/noir send-up, expertly navigates subtle she tests her assigned ship, crew, and
“Ruby: The Adventures differences in the regional Lord Bernat, a man better suited to lei-
of a Galactic Gumshoe,” accents of the English sure. The aristocratic tones and languid
first appeared on over and Scottish characters. pace Reading gives him reflect motives
500 radio stations world- He e v e n h a n d l e s t h e drenched in self-interest and secrets.
wide 35 years ago and has throaty Gaelic-sounding The antagonistic relationship between
been entertaining a loyal language of the sorcer- Dupre and Bernat provides humorous
following ever since. The ers with ease. Reynolds’s moments as well. Reading also captures
dialogue and characters pleasant, clipped deliv- everyday life amid nations constantly at
are gentle and sweet, with ery keeps this sprawling war, adrenaline-filled skirmishes and
just the right touch of satirical sting. The story moving at a steady, enjoyable pace battles, and mind-numbing bureaucracy.
jazz-infused background music is gor- while still reflecting the differences in When Dupre discovers enemy activity,
geous, and the production values are spirit between young Percival and the she enlists the aid of unlikely allies and
second to none. Ruby 10 is another won- centuries-old baron. This accomplished a well-characterized crew, many of whom
derful offerings from ZBS—one of audio production enhances the text and sug- remain leery of women serving in the
theater’s best, oldest, and most indepen- gests the potential of the adventures yet military. J.R.T.
dent producers. An audio treasure. B.P. to come as this imaginative saga contin- Macmillan Audio 12 hrs. Unabridged
ZBS Foundation 1 hr. Audio Program ues. D.L.Y. Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781427295804 $26.99
Trade Ed.: DD $10.00 Odyssean Studios 14.5 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: DD $24.95

“Having recorded some YEAR ONE:

Chronicles of The One, Book 1
wonderful Nora Roberts Nora Roberts
Read by Julia Whelan
titles in the past, I thought
I knew what to expect with Nora Roberts’s newest audiobook,
Year One. I was wrong. narrated by Julia Whelan, involves a dysto-
pian world in which technology has failed,
It’s a helluva ride and one good and evil fight for control, and a belief
I was honored to take.” in magic reasserts itself. Whelan brings
—Narrator Julia Whelan the cast of characters to life as they escape
a world that is possibly in its death throes.
In varied speech patterns, she portrays their determination and strength,
yet their vulnerability also comes through clearly as she fully captures the
intensity of their predicament. First in the Chronicles of The One, this long
audiobook will be over before the listener is ready. Roberts’s fans will surely
want to come back to learn how the cliff-hanger ending resolves. A.M.G.
Brilliance Audio 12.25 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781531834449 $44.99 (also MP3, DD)
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781531834463 $89.97

Whelan fully captures the intensity

Photo by Kei Moreno

of the characters’ predicament.

52 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Science Fiction & Fantasy

THE GIRL IN THE TOWER:

Winternight Trilogy, Book 2
Katherine Arden PROVENANCE
Read by Kathleen Gati Ann Leckie
Read by Adjoa Andoh
Narrator Kathleen Gati invites listeners
Narrator Adjoa Andoh creates a stun-
to embark on a journey of defiance and
ning tapestry of characters within
bravery alongside protagonist Vasilisa
the vast galaxy this audiobook spans.
Petrovna. Gati seamlessly brings to life
Her theater background allows her to
the myriad characters found in Kathleen
give distinctive timbres and accents to
Arden’s second Winter Trilogy novel.
every character, which helps to keep the
Most of the reappearing “cherti” that
large cast and complex story straight.
aid Vasilisa are characterized by their
Ingray Aughskold starts out as a young
disconcerted and raspy voices, though
woman who is quite unsure of herself
some, like the “bannik” and the demon,
and her place in the world, but by the end of the story she knows exactly who
have softer, slyer tones. While born of a
she is and what she wants. Andoh is utterly convincing as Ingray blossoms
high social class, Vasilisa doesn’t put on
into a confident, self-assured individual. While this novel is set in the same
airs. Read by Gati, her words are always
universe as the Imperial Radch series, it is a stand-alone that can be enjoyed
steady and confident as she fights for
on its own merits. K.M.P.
her and her family’s freedom. Weaving
Russian history and folklore with a pow- Hachette Audio 12.5 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781478923176 $25.98
erful narrative, this audiobook makes for
a captivating listen. V.C.
Random House Audio 12 hrs. Unabridged
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525496540 $20.00
Andoh creates a stunning
Books on Tape tapestry of characters.
Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525496557 $76.00

THE X-FILES: STOLEN LIVES:

The X-Files (Audible Original), Book 2 SPIDER-MAN: FOREVER YOUNG ARTEMIS
Joe Harris, Chris Carter, Dirk Maggs [Adapt.] Stefan Petrucha Andy Weir
Read by David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Read by Richard Rohan and a Full Cast Read by Rosario Dawson
Mitch Pileggi, William B. Davis,
Tom Braidwood, Dean Haglund, Neither Spider-Man nor his young self, Rosario Dawson narrates the story of a
Bruce Harwood Peter Parker, can catch a break. When young woman on a moon colony who is
a young Spider-Man tries to keep a tab- half-hero, half-something else. You can’t
Gillian Anderson, David Duchovny, let from getting into the hands of the call Jasmine Bashara a villain—she cares
and other familiar voices return for this Kingpin, he puts the lives about people too much. But
sequel to The X-Files: Cold Cases. The of all he loves at stake. then again, her desire to be
production values remain high, with Delivering the narrative, rich makes her happy to
outstanding sound effects, editing, and Richard Rohan provides a become a smuggler. And not
voice acting. Anderson is once again the deep, energetic voice as well just any smuggler—she’s the
standout, and Duchovny, after a flat per- as emphasis and pacing best. Dawson makes Jasmine
formance in the first installment, livens that fit each scene. As the sound like the lovable rogue
up and sounds more like the Fox Mulder young Spider-Man, narra- she is. As in Weir’s previous
of yore. Supporting cast members Mitch tor Chris Stinson offers a novel, The Martian, this
Pileggi, William B. Davis, and the Lone youthful voice that wavers between lack audiobook is filled with science that
Gunmen trio of Tom Braidwood, Dean of confidence and brazen cockiness. The sounds realistic. Dawson makes listeners
Haglund, and Bruce Harwood add to sound effects coupled with the musical care about a diverse cast of characters
the experience as they slip back into score and full cast make this production with quirky mannerisms. M.S.
their iconic roles. The stories, though, another solid audio drama for comic fans Audible, Inc./ Brilliance Audio 9 hrs. Unabridged
are a mess. Convoluted plotting and and listeners alike. L.E. Trade Ed.:: CD ISBN 9781543658026 $34.99
poor writing plague both the overarch- (also MP3, DD)
GraphicAudio 7 hrs. Audio Program Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781543671353 $59.99
ing alien conspiracy and the stand-alone Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 978-1-62851-388-2 $19.99
cases. Still, it’s undeniably fun to hear (also MP3, DD)
the whole gang back together. A.T.N.
Audible, Inc. 3.75 hrs. Unabridged VIDEO @ BLOG
Trade Ed.: DD $24.95
Watch narrator comments at
[Link]/blog

February/March 2018 n 53
In the Studio

AudioFile’s Jo Reed sat down with

Orli Moscowitz, a senior executive
producer at Penguin Random House
Audio Listening Library; director and
actor Garrick Hagon; and Tim Ditlow,
former publisher of Listening Library, to
talk about the extraordinary audiobook
productions of Philip Pullman’s fantastic
worlds. This is an excerpt from their
conversation. Listen to the full podcast on
AudioFile’s blog: [Link]/
blog/audiobook-productions-of-
philip-pullman

Tim Ditlow: Before reading The Golden (l to r) Tim Ditlow, Josephine Reed,
Orli Moscowitz, Robin Whitten
Compass, I had an imprint with a well-
known children’s author named Bruce
Coville. I had approached him to start JR: That strikes me as a roll of the dice Garrick Hagon: Philip felt very, I think,
an imprint specifically aimed at reluc- because it turns out that he was a fab- nervous, but he was absolutely bang-on
tant readers. We cut our teeth on about ulous narrator—but suppose he hadn’t all the way through and incredibly fluent.
30 recordings—a lot of truly incredible been? That was a risk! The great thing about having Philip as a
middle-grade novels that worked as full- narrator was having him in the studio with
cast recordings—so that by the time The TD: It was a big risk because I had the actors and his giving them inspiration
Golden Compass crossed our desks, learned from my father, who’d had a diffi- and occasional pointers and dramatic
Bruce and I looked at each other and cult experience with a well-known author. pointers. So it gave a kind of unity to the
said, “This is the Holy Grail! Let’s write to He advised me when I started working for production because we were actually
Philip.” And Bruce wrote him an amazing him that that the policy to put in place is recording out of sequence. We were
letter in which he made the case that that all authors are welcome to read only recording according to the availability
although there had been an abridged ver- if they’re willing to audition. So I’ve had of the actors. It was like a film in that the
sion done by Random House, it just didn’t the misfortune of telling many well-known actors would come in having read the
do justice to his work, and that, really, a authors, “No, you can’t read your own scenes but perhaps not having read the
full-cast interpretation would be the way to book.” But we felt that the only way into whole book, and Philip was often there to
go, and Philip signed on to be part of the Philip was to say yes. We had heard guide them and give his encouragement.
production as well. though through the grapevine that he is
a former teacher and a great storyteller. JR: I want to talk about how you actually
Orli Moscowitz: I was just wondering So, it was sort of a risk—but not risky. recorded the books. You had actors who
how you decided to use Philip, which was were in a scene together in the studio
a beautiful decision. He has such a rich, OM: That’s the voice I hear when I read together, which is not the way full-cast
buttery voice. the books—I hear Philip’s voice. recordings always work.

Garrick Hagon Rupert Degas and Jo Wyatt Sean Barrett

54 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 More Listening: His Dark Materials and Beyond
THE GOLDEN COMPASS LYRA’S OXFORD
Philip Pullman, read by Philip Pullman Philip Pullman, read by Philip Pullman
and a Full Cast and a Full Cast
Philip Pullman has created a stunning Lyra and her daemon, Pantalaimon,
OM: When recording a full-cast record- alternate universe peopled by those are swept up in an adventure that
ing, you really do approach it as you who seem familiarly human and by takes them from the rooftops of Jordan
would a film: according to the most miraculous creatures: daemons, armored College to the streets of Oxford in this
bears, witches. But now something sin- short story set sometime after the events
efficient groupings of actors. So if actors
ister is abroad in this strangely modern, of The Amber Spyglass.
are in a scene together, it makes sense to strangely archaic world, and 12-year- Listening Library Unabridged
have them come into the studio together, old Lyra Belacqua must try to discover Trade Ed.: CD, DD
but you also have to consider their avail- the truth. This is an example of a full-cast Library Ed.: CD, DD
ability and the efficiency of the recording recording at its zenith.
process. Actually, the best person to talk Listening Library Unabridged ONCE UPON A TIME
Trade Ed.: CD, DD IN THE NORTH
about it is Garrick—organizing the actors Library Ed.: CD, DD Philip Pullman, read by Philip Pullman
and their schedules and getting them into and a Full Castt
the studio in the most efficient way and THE SUBTLE KNIFE Texas aeronaut Lee Scoresby becomes
the most efficient groupings is an art form. Philip Pullman, read by Philip Pullman embroiled in local politics when he
and a Full Cast lands his balloon in the Arctic town of
JR: And did Garrick do the casting? Classic themes of good versus evil, inno- Novy Odense in this prequel to The
cence versus experience intertwine with Golden Compass.
those of intrigue and deception, compas- Listening Library Unabridged
GH: No, we all made the casting deci- sion and loyalty in this second volume of Trade Ed.: CD, DD
sions, and Orli and Tim approved them. We His Dark Materials. Library Ed.: CD, DD
had a lot to draw on. We had a lot of radio Listening Library Unabridged
actors who were incredibly experienced, not Trade Ed.: CD, DD THE COLLECTORS
Library Ed.: CD, DD Philip Pullman, read by Bill Nighy
only with onstage acting but also with voice
acting in all its forms. And I think Philip This atmospheric story of a painting
THE AMBER SPYGLASS of a girl and a monkey statue unfolds
approved all the actors when he heard them Philip Pullman, read by Philip Pullman like a delicate and frightening puzzle.
working. Orli and Tim approved them in and a Full Cast Pullman’s brief story is a little marvel,
advance. So it was a group of which we Metaphysical explorations and fast- and so is Nighy’s reading.
were very proud. At the end, Philip gave us paced battles and escapes conclude the Audible, Inc. Unabridged
all the great compliment of saying, “I think it trilogy. The production, recorded with Trade Ed.: DD
so many characters, and with such care
was better than the film.”
and sureness, is a masterwork. THE BOOK OF DUST:
Listening Library Unabridged La Belle Sauvage
JR: Tim and Orli, I believe you traveled Trade Ed.: CD, DD Philip Pullman, read by Michael Sheen
to England for at least some of the record- Library Ed.: CD, DD
Eleven-year-old Malcolm Polstead meets
ing sessions. baby Lyra and embarks on a perilous
adventure to protect her from the myriad
TD: That was really magical. Orli and forces that have designs on her. Michael
I were in London to watch what happened Sheen’s single-voice narration is pleas-
ingly old-fashioned.
as it unfolded in the studio. There was
Listening Library Unabridged
a certain chemistry—the type that I think Trade Ed.: CD, DD
we’ve all witnessed firsthand when we’ve Library Ed.: CD, DD
seen a Broadway show in which the magic
happens, or a symphony orchestra . . .

OM: It was really special. It was an incredi-

ble trip, and getting into the studio is always
fantastic, but especially so for a full-cast pro-
duction. Watching this intricate dance of
moving actors in and out of the studio and
the way they interacted with each other—
it really was phenomenal. Garrick is an
actor’s director. He’s an actor himself, and
he knows—he really knows intimately—what
is going to make it work for an actor and
how to direct them. He has the vocabulary
to really work with actors and explain
to them how to get that finished product. n

February/March 2018 n 55
Young Adult

FOREST OF A THOUSAND RENEGADES MOXIE

LANTERNS: Rise of the Marissa Meyer Jennifer Mathieu
Empress, Book 1 Read by Rebecca Soler, Dan Bittner Read by Suzy Jackson
Julie C. Dao
Read by Kim Mai Guest Teens on opposite sides of a long-run- Narrator Suzy Jackson voices young,
ning feud between the Renegades and determined Vivian, a high school junior
Reimagining the Evil Queen legend, Dao the Anarchists, two very different groups who is tired of the boys in her school
recounts the story of a peasant girl’s quest of superheroes, find themselves caught treating her and her female classmates
to become empress. Kim Mai Guest’s in the middle. When Anarchist Nova like objects. Vivian is ready to do some-
narration emulates not only Xifeng’s Artino infiltrates the Renegades by pos- thing new—something gutsy. Inspired
ruthlessness in trying to fulfill her ing as a recruit, she connects by some crazy-awesome girl
destiny but also a young woman’s deter- with Adrian Everhart, the bands and photos from her
mination to keep her morals along the adopted son of Renegade mother’s defiant teenage
way. Pieces of the story are carried over leaders who is hiding secrets years, she sets out to change
from the original, including aspects of of his own. Rebecca Soler things. Secretly writing and
the notorious villainess. Guest’s flowing voices the chapters from distributing hundreds of
voice changes inflection as Xifeng trans- Nova’s point of view; Dan zines isn’t easy, especially
forms over the course of the audiobook. Bittner reads Adrian’s chap- when so many of Vivian’s
Listeners follow this young woman as ters. Both narrators bring classmates are hesitant to
she literally loses herself to the darkness authenticity to the young characters, but respond to the motto “Moxie girls fight
inside her. With this powerful narration, substantially different interpretations of back!” In this beautifully narrated audio-
we see her innermost thoughts and can some secondary characters can make book, listeners follow along with Viv as
empathize with her even through her them seem inconsistent. Bittner also she learns just what it takes to change
terrible actions. C.G. struggles to create natural-sounding the perspective of a school, a city, and,
Listening Library 13.5 hrs. Unabridged Ages 14+ female voices. Still, for Meyer’s (The eventually, herself. V.C.
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525493969 $27.50
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525493976 $70.00
Lunar Chronicles) many fans, this fun Recorded Books 9 hrs. Unabridged Young Adult
(also DD) and surprisingly thoughtful superhero Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781501968051 $87.75
tale will be a rewarding listen. E.C. (also DD)

Macmillan Audio 17 hrs. Unabridged Ages 12+

Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781427290083 $44.99 (also DD)

“I love the characters— BEFORE THE DEVIL

BREAKS YOU:
I want to be best friends The Diviners, Book 3
Libba Bray
with all of them. They’re cool, Read by January LaVoy
they’re smart, they’re diverse,
Narrator January LaVoy shines in the third
they’re fearless.” installment of The Diviners series. In 1920s
—Narrator January LaVoy Harlem, the Diviners, a disparate group of
preternaturally gifted young people, work
to discover the source of their powers as a
new threat to the equilibrium between
good and evil emanates from a local asy-
lum. The story is a striking blend of history, magic, horror, and romance, and
LaVoy’s narration highlights each element through clear enunciation, careful
pacing, and dramatic flair. Despite the considerable number of characters
and their intersecting storylines, LaVoy never misses a beat, demonstrating
a wide range of vocal dexterity and skill that creates the impression of an
ensemble. Listeners are encouraged to begin at the beginning of this planned
four-audiobook series and enjoy LaVoy’s mastery. A.S.
Listening Library 21.5 hrs. Unabridged Ages 12+
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780449808825 $30.00
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9780449808832 $70.00 (also DD)
Photo by Scott Sherratt

LaVoy never misses a beat.

56 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Young Adult

GIVEN TO THE SEA

Mindy McGinnis
Read by Monika Felice Smith, FAR FROM THE TREE
Sunil Malhotra, Robbie Daymond, Robin Benway
Alex McKenna Read by Julia Whelan

This ensemble cast gives a superb per- Narrator Julia Whelan animates the three
formance presenting the characters of characters in this engrossing 2017 YA
the kingdom of Stille in this young adult National Book Award winner. Whelan
audiobook. Narrator Monika Felice shows teen Grace’s torment when she
Smith, as Khosa the Given, envelops her- puts her child up for adoption and the
self in her role as the young woman who heartbreak that motivates her to find out
is doomed to be taken by the sea. Robbie about her own adoption. Soon Grace
Daymond infuses Vincent, the heir to builds bonds with Maya and Joaquin, sib-
the throne of Stille, with uncertainty and lings who were given up by the same birth mother. Maya has been adopted
indecision as he searches for his place by loving parents but is breaking up with her lover, Claire, as her adoptive
in the kingdom. Alex McKenna as Dara parents separate. Whelan’s portrait of Joaquin, who has spent most of his life
the Indiri is a fierce and determined in foster homes, is the most complex. He distrusts himself and questions
warrior fighting to win Vincent’s love. positive relationships. Resolution for him is particularly heartfelt and joy-
Sunil Malhotra colors the voice of Witt ful. Whelan poignantly animates the pain of each character and the comfort
the Lithos with intelligence and cunning found in their reunion. S.W.
as he schemes to invade Stille. Together, Harper Audio 9 hrs. Unabridged Ages 12+
they reveal the events and characters in Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538518755 $34.99 (also DD)

this first of two Given fantasies. E.E.S.

Listening Library 11.5 hrs. Unabridged Ages 14+
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525532682 $27.50
Whelan poignantly animates the pain
Library Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525532699 $69.00 of each character.

I AM NOT YOUR PERFECT

MEXICAN DAUGHTER
Erika L. Sanchez THE LIBRARIAN OF AUSCHWITZ ALL THE WIND IN THE WORLD
Read by Kyla Garcia Antonio Iturbe, Lilit Thwaites [Trans.] Samantha Mabry
Read by Marisa Calin, Dita Kraus [Prologue] Read by Maria Cabezas
Narrator Kyla Garcia’s portrayal of Julia,
This powerful young adult novel intro- Maria Cabezas’s narration of Sarah Jac’s
a first-generation Mexican-American
duces listeners to 14-year-old Dita Kraus, life at the Real Marvelous Ranch is a stun-
daughter of undocumented immigrants,
a Czechoslovakian Jew who, with her par- ning rendition of the story. Her soothing
brings the frustrated, angst-ridden teen-
ents, was sent to Auschwitz in December voice gives authenticity to the heartbreak-
ager to life. After her sister’s accidental
1943. Through meticulous research, ing love story of Sarah Jac and James. They
death, Julia struggles with the expecta-
including multiple corre- work in the maguey fields
tion that she will step into her sister’s
spondences with Dita, of the bone-dry Southwest,
role, giving up her own ambitions. Julia’s
Antonio Iturbe paints an trying to earn enough
depression and anxiety, as well as her
accurate picture of life in money to buy a home for
grief over her sister’s death and the dis-
Auschwitz in all its horror. themselves. Slowly, over the
tress of discovering her sister’s secrets,
Marisa Calin’s narration course of the narrative, we
are deftly voiced through inflections and
straightforwardly tells this find out about their past.
other vocal cues. Garcia gives each of
chilling but ultimately Cabezas’s narration not
the secondary characters a unique voice,
inspiring story with an only reflects the voice of the
including an appropriate accent. Despite
unemotional delivery that young narrator but also the
some slightly distracting mouth sounds
emphasizes the amazing strength, hope, heartbreaking stories of all the characters
and an often slow-paced narration, this
and courage that sustained the prison- who are trying so hard to survive. With its
coming-of-age story’s timely topics make
ers of Auschwitz in the face of incredible beautiful imagery and a compelling mys-
it a worthy listen. A.L.S.M.
inhumanity and deprivation. An opening tery filled with magical realism, this is an
Listening Library 9.75 hrs. Unabridged Ages 14+ letter, read by Dita herself, and an after- audiobook not to miss. C.G.
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781524782238 $25.00
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781524782245 $60.00 word recounting what happened to the Recorded Books 7.25 hrs. Unabridged Young Adult
(also DD) real-life people who appear in the story Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781501971952 $66.75
give this work the weight of history (also DD)

within a compelling tale. N.E.M.

Macmillan Audio 13.5 hrs. Unabridged Ages 12+
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781427287076 $39.99 (also DD)

February/March 2018 n 57
Young Adult

AN ENCHANTMENT THE LAST OF AUGUST: THE EPIC CRUSH OF GENIE LO

OF RAVENS Charlotte Holmes, Book 2 F.C. Yee
Margaret Rogerson Brittany Cavallaro Read by Nancy Wu
Read by Julia Whelan Read by Graham Halstead, Julia Whelan
Once Genie Lo’s only concerns were
Julia Whelan’s skillful narration intensi- Brilliant, intrepid Charlotte Holmes college applications—that is, until the
fies the drama in this stirring debut novel. and ardent, pragmatic Watson are back ancient Chinese Monkey King leapt
Using pitch and deliberate pacing to full in a second installment of Cavallaro’s upon her Silicon Valley school desk in
advantage, Whelan draws listeners into charming mystery series. Graham the form of the scandalously handsome
a romantic fantasy world of faeries who Halstead’s sharp, earnest narration as rebel Quentin Sun. Narrator Nancy Wu
covet the creative abilities of humans, Watson lends urgency and introspection uses ample snark and deadpan humor as
using enchantment as currency. Isobel, to the adventurous prose. Holmes and Genie balances her quest for the Ivies with
a talented portrait painter, Watson attempt to solve a Quentin’s quest to harness her newfound
runs afoul of Rook, the disappearance and protect superpowers to defeat an army of Chinese
Autumn Prince, and is drawn themselves from threats at demons. Wu is serious when Genie
into the dangerous faerie every step. A varying pace ponders the stereotypes of her Chinese-
lands where nothing is as it lends gentleness to intimate American culture, but entertainment is
seems and horrors lurk at moments between dear her primary goal. She humorously por-
every turn. Whelan’s ener- friends, then quickens as trays Genie’s stereotypical Asian mother
getic performance creates danger and intrigue propel as she fawns over Quentin, thinking him
a perfect balance between the mystery forward. While part of a socially desirable family, rather
fae and natural worlds; she sounds as Halstead narrates the bulk of the story, than the furry-tailed rabble-rouser from
comfortable voicing the fearsome Alder Julia Whelan’s crisp, somber interlude another millennium that he is. Imagine
King as she does Isobel’s sensible, loving provides valuable insight into Charlotte mythical Chinese characters as comic
aunt. Whelan deftly develops the growing Holmes. The characters are complex, superheroes and villains, and you’ll have
attachment between Isobel and Rook, cap- conflicted, and engaging; their journey, the vibe of this campy adventure. L.T.
turing alternating moments of humor and engaging and suspenseful. K.S.B.
Recorded Books 8.75 hrs. Unabridged Young Adult
melancholy and producing an altogether Harper Audio 8.25 hrs. Unabridged Young Adult Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781501968020 $77.75
delightful listening experience. S.G. Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780062661296 $22.99 (also DD)

Simon & Schuster Audio 8.75 hrs. Unabridged Ages 14+

Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781508243526 $17.99

“Turtles All the Way Down TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN
John Green
is a novel that would have Read by Kate Rudd
really helped me as a teen; Popular author John Green’s story is inspired
it also helps me now.” by his own suffering with obsessive-compul-
—Narrator Kate Rudd sive disorder. Narrator Kate Rudd dramatizes
the quick intelligence and high anxiety of
high school junior Aza Holmes, who has an
incapacitating fear of being infected with a
deadly bacteria. Rudd offers poignant pictures
of Aza’s struggles through vivid portrayals of
other characters. She colors Aza’s mother with restrained worry and fierce
protectiveness and gives a steady, calming voice to wealthy Davis, Aza’s old
friend and potential new boyfriend. She paints Aza’s oldest friend, Daisy, with
animated concern and, sometimes, frustration. Rudd expresses most strongly
Aza’s sarcastic inner voice, which is so developed that it becomes a character.
The convincing portrayals makes it easy to see how Aza is hindered in loving,
thinking, and living without fear. S.W. 2017 Best Audiobook
Listening Library 8 hrs. Unabridged Young Adult
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525591023 $35.00 (also DD)
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525591047 $35.00 (also DD)

Rudd offers poignant pictures.

58 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Young Adult

SNOW & ROSE

Emily Winfield Martin
Read by Cassandra Campbell LONG WAY DOWN
Jason Reynolds
Cassandra Campbell delightfully per- Read by Jason Reynolds
forms this retelling of a famous fairy tale This novel in verse, made to be read
by the Brothers Grimm. In lilting, soft aloud, makes a compelling case for
tones, she conveys the sweet innocence gun control. Its potency is increased by
of Snow and Rose, two girls who find the narration of author Jason Reynolds,
themselves living alone with their sor- which buoys listeners through the intense
row-filled mother after the disappearance linked stories. Three poems into Will
of their father. Campbell’s modulated Holloman’s first-person narrative, one
voice combines with the sounds of birds learns about his brother. Shawn is funny,
and weather to bring out the magic and tells stupid jokes, and “was shot . . . and killed.” Reynolds excels at delivering
mystery of the forest in which the girls dramatic pauses in the short poems, which are packed with sensory details
go wandering. Campbell’s varied voices and emotions that anchor listeners even as they stun with painful beauty. Will
showcase the personalities of the char- enters a mystical elevator, a gun sticking out of his pants like a “steel tail,” his
acters the girls meet, such as the cheeky grief mixed with a desire for vengeance. As if the raw poignancy isn’t enough,
Ivo and the shrill little man whom they Reynolds’s rich voice transports listeners to a strange reality in which Will is
save but who only brings them trouble. transformed by those from his past who have been killed by the very kind of
Campbell’s expert pacing creates ten- violent act he is contemplating. S.W. 2017 Best Audiobook
sion during some of the suspenseful
Simon & Schuster Audio 1.75 hrs. Unabridged Ages 12+
moments, heightening the drama to Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781508241584 $9.99
make this a captivating listen for older
children and adults alike. M.F.
Listening Library 4.5 hrs. Unabridged Ages 12+ This novel in verse is made to be read aloud.
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781524782030 $15.00
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781524782047 $38.00 (also DD)

BEASTS MADE OF NIGHT THERE’S SOMEONE THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END
Tochi Onyebuchi INSIDE YOUR HOUSE Adam Silvera
Read by Prentice Onayemi Stephanie Perkins Read by Michael Crouch, Robbie Daymond,
Read by Bahni Turpin Bahni Turpin
Listeners will benefit from narrator
Prentice Onayemi’s theater background Stephanie Perkins merges romance with In this dystopian world, Death-Cast noti-
as he sweeps them into the world of horror, and narrator Bahni Turpin does fies those who have only a day to live.
Kos, in which a sinner can pay to have both justice. She gives an especially con- Mateo and Rufus are two teens who get
a mage remove his or her sins. The sins vincing portrait of the complex character that early morning call. Michael Crouch
turn into a beast that can be eaten by at the center of this story. Makani Young, and Robbie Daymond narrate first-per-
a paid sin-eater. The voice of the most a transplant from Hawaii, has come to son chapters that recount their feelings
gifted sin-eater, Taj, is the heart of the an insular Nebraska town. Warm with upon receiving the fateful news. Crouch
story. Onayemi gives him an African- close friends, she has a veiled quality animates Mateo, an anxious 18-year-old
sounding accent that is reflective of the that comes from a secret she’s hiding who regrets all the years his fears have
story’s use of African mythology. Taj is and from feeling like an outsider. But stopped him from living. Daymond
easily differentiated from the other char- she finds her coldness thawing when delivers 17-year-old Rufus’s sarcasm, bit-
acters, including the darker characters she develops a crush on Ollie. In Turpin’s terness, and fatalism, which began when
who would use his talent, and the prin- performance, Ollie’s calm contrasts his whole family died in a car crash and
cess who cares for him. Onayemi allows Makani’s passionate nature. Interspersed he was sent to foster care. When the two
the suspense to build naturally through- between scenes of their growing relation- find each other through the Last
out the story. B.F. ship are Turpin’s chilling renditions of Friend app, Crouch and Daymond regis-
a ruthless killer who stalks, taunts, and ter their tenuous feelings, which soon
Listening Library 9.25 hrs. Unabridged Ages 14+
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525524908 $25.00
murders teens. Turpin increases the ten- turn to fondness and deepen into more.
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525524915 $60.00 (also DD) sion as the body count grows, reflecting Bahni Turpin narrates short passages of
the town’s mounting terror and Makani’s third-person exposition that give more
fear after having barely escaped death context to Mateo and Rufus’s world. S.W.
once before. S.W.
VIDEO @ BLOG Listening Library 9.5 hrs. Unabridged Ages 14+
Harper Audio 8.5 hrs. Unabridged Ages 12+
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538456903 $34.99 (also DD)
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525495307 $25.00
Watch narrator comments at
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525495314 $60.00 (also DD)
[Link]/blog

February/March 2018 n 59
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

“It’s really crucial

that we teach kids
about critical
thinking and how
to discern the
difference between
what’s good
and what’s bad.”

Known for his larger-than-life accomplishments, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar—

sports legend, cultural ambassador, and author—wants to address another
important audience: young readers. His memoir, Becoming Kareem: Growing Up
On and Off the Court, chronicles important lessons that he absorbed from a
variety of teachers who guided his path, ultimately allowing him, as he writes,
to “walk that path on my own, confident in my own choices.”
Recapturing memories that range from early childhood to his college bas-
ketball days, his story includes moments of joy (meeting Wilt Chamberlain
and Martin Luther King, Jr.) and of searing betrayal (facing the high school coach
who “motivates” him by calling him a racial epithet). He hopes to hold out a
hand to others beginning their journey of self-discovery.
For him, addressing this young audience came quite naturally. “Just try to
think like a parent. That makes it really easy—because the issues are clear right
away. If you’ve been a parent, you have a sense of what kids should be hearing,
what to try to communicate in terms of values. It’s especially important right
now, considering what we’re going through—the whole idea of people trying
to do things with integrity is under attack. Stuff like fake news and people who
don’t have a very good track record with the truth attacking other people for being
dishonest. It’s really crucial that we teach kids about critical thinking and how
to discern the difference between what’s good and what’s bad. It’s quite a job!”
Abdul-Jabbar is a disciplined writer. “I try to adhere to my outline—I live and die
with outlines! If you don’t have that skeletal structure down, there’s nothing there
Photo by Iconomy LLC

to flesh out. You can’t just have an amorphous idea and hope it materializes,” he
laughs. “You have to build from the inside out. At least that’s how I see it.” He adds
that photographs helped him to bring the stories back. “My dad was a camera nut.
60 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 BECOMING KAREEM:
Growing Up On and Off the Court
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Raymond Obstfeld
Read by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar narrates his deeply

engaging memoir, which includes the
events that shaped his life from early child- More Listening
hood to the beginning of his fame on the BROTHERS IN ARMS:
basketball court. Though he’s not a profes- The Courageous Story of WWII’s
sional narrator, his distinctive voice adds 761st “Black Panthers”
immense value to the listening experience. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Anthony Walton,
Abdul-Jabbar’s level, low-key delivery cre- read by Richard Allen
ates the sense that he’s chatting about his life in a companionable way, and Books on Tape Unabridged
Library Ed.: DD
chapters often end with suspenseful observations that prompt continued lis-
tening. Pivotal moments of astonished happiness (as when Wilt Chamberlain COACH WOODEN AND ME:
himself admires his long legs) and piercing discomfort (as when a best friend Our 50-Year Friendship
betrays him in middle school) are all the more striking for being delivered with On and Off the Court
restrained intensity. This audiobook creates a portrait of an impressive life lived Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, read by
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
against the backdrop of the Civil Rights movement. J.C.G.
Hachette Audio Unabridged
Hachette Audio 5.75 hrs. Unabridged Trade Ed.: CD, DD
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781478923404 $25.00 (also DD)
WRITINGS ON THE WALL:
Searching for a New Equality Beyond
A portrait of an impressive life. Black and White
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Raymond Obstfeld,
read by Ben Adducchio
Hachette Audio Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD, DD
He was always taking pictures, so I had those to look at. And I have a good memory
for stuff that happens. Especially the emotional stuff. Even though I was never very ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS:
demonstrative about my past, it is a vivid part of me.” My Journey Through the
Harlem Renaissance
The author hopes that sharing his story is one way to effect change. “What Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Raymond Obstfeld,
changes people’s minds is having the patience, I think, to persist in explaining read by Richard Allen
your point of view. So that when those moments arrive and people see some- Tantor Media Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD, MP3, DD
thing, they’re open to it. And then you can, in very human terms, say, ‘This is
what I’m talking about.’” The author thinks of his relationship with the legendary ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS:
coach John Wooden. “He had no idea, for example, of white privilege until he Vols. 1-4
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Raymond Obstfeld,
started traveling with me and seeing how I got treated. He said it revealed read by Avery Brooks, Marcus Garvey,
so much to him. I think that was a very important moment in his expanding his Maya Angelou, Samuel L. Jackson, et al.
understanding of how prejudice actually is for those who experience it.” Recorded Books Unabridged
Trade Ed.: CD, DD
He pauses before adding, “I think it’s great what’s been happening recently—
all these exposés of women talking about how they’re constantly under attack.
It’s not like they have an opportunity to live a normal life; they have to be constantly
on guard, cautious in ways that people don’t understand until they walk a few
steps in their shoes. Then you have a much better idea of what it’s all about.”
Initially, Abdul-Jabbar was reluctant to narrate his book. “You know, I was really
skeptical about doing it. But they talked me into it! So I went on ahead and did it, and
it really made me relive those moments and tugged on the emotional aspects of these
stories that still live within me.” Like so much else in his life, the author found that
with narrating, “it pays to be prepared. It’s a very physical task, on top of the intellec-
tual and emotional effort—if you find yourself slouching and your voice fading, you’ve
got to do something about that! People can tell that; they can hear it in your voice.”
In the end, he says, “I was glad I did it. I did it because it was my story and
so particular to my life. I hope it helps people figure out who they want to be by
giving them examples from my life of how I figured out who I wanted to be.
I wish them good luck with that.”—Jessie C. Grearson
February/March 2018 n 61
Children & Family Listening

THE EMPTY GRAVE: THE WHIZ MOB AND THE THE SECRET OF
Lockwood & Co., Book 5 GRENADINE KID NIGHTINGALE WOOD
Jonathan Stroud Colin Meloy Lucy Strange
Read by Emily Bevan Read by Bronson Pinchot Read by Lucy Strange

This is the fifth and final Lockwood & Narrator Bronson Pinchot creates a Author Lucy Strange narrates her debut
Co. audiobook, all of them exquisitely distinct accent for each member of the novel with the sensitivity that comes
narrated by Emily Bevan. The satisfying Whiz Mob gang, a network of young from having written it. She fully dra-
conclusion fulfills the promise of author pickpockets who are trained to steal matizes the upheavals of 12-year-old
and narrator. The book begins with from wealthy folks all over the world. Henrietta, whose grief at her older broth-
the usual suspense as the When well-to-do Charlie er’s death is multiplied by the cruelties
Lockwood crew discovers meets a young pickpocket her catatonic mother suffers at the hands
that the coffin of famed psy- named Amir and strikes up of the uncaring Doctor Hardy. Strange
chic Marissa Fittes is empty. a friendship, he decides to animates Henrietta’s determination to
Bevan delivers that dynamic delve into the life of petty help her family and her frustrations in
scene in the voice of the witty crime and join the Whiz doing so. The story’s post-WWI British
first-person heroine, Lucy, Mob gang. Pinchot balances setting in a mysterious wood provides
while at the same time inject- an evenly paced narrative a melancholy, mysterious backdrop.
ing it with spine-tingling with moments of exciting Strange gives even minor characters lay-
tension. The entire listen is gripping, dialogue, sometimes even taking a break ered portraits. Doctor Hardy’s menacing
and even portrayals of minor characters from the story to speak directly to the demeanor is due to his megalomania,
are consistent. Amazingly, Bevan ramps listener about what will happen next. Henrietta’s caretakers are strict mostly
the drama in the final battle and delivers Listeners will be intrigued by Charlie’s for her protection, and Moth, who lives in
a resolution to savor. Fans will find com- struggle to keep his friendships but also the woods, has a kindness born from her
fort in re-listening to the series until the protect his affluent father from becoming own loss. A passion for words is always
promised TV series comes. S.W. a victim of his newfound lifestyle. M.D. evident, and lyricism provides emotional
Listening Library 12.75 hrs. Unabridged Ages 8+ Harper Audio 10 hrs. Unabridged Ages 8+ respites in this difficult story. S.W.
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525500698 $27.50 Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781538457566 $39.99 (also DD) Scholastic Audiobooks 6 hrs. Unabridged Ages 8+
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525500704 $70.00 (also DD) Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781338187540 $24.99

THE PURLOINING OF PRINCE

OLEOMARGARINE
Mark Twain, Philip Stead, Erin Stead
NEVERMOOR: THE TRIALS Read by Keegan-Michael Key, Philip Stead,
OF MORRIGAN CROW Mark Bramhall, Julia Whelan, Francis
Jessica Townsend Gilbert [Note]
Read by Gemma Whelan
Author and narrator Philip Stead created
Narrator Gemma Whelan provides lis- this funny, rollicking story from a set
teners with an immersive experience of of notes by Mark Twain. Stead capably
the wondrous world of Nevermoor. She voices the humorous chapter introduc-
ably presents the funny and enticing tale tions and author asides, which provide a
of a “cursed” girl who avoids meeting framework for the fable. Keegan-Michael
her doom by escaping to a world where Key narrates the tale of young Johnny,
she encounters strange and miraculous his pet chicken, and all his other ani-
people, creatures, and events. But the mal friends. Key’s combination of verve
threat of a dire destiny still looms. Whelan’s clear English accent is perfect and gentleness reflects Johnny’s sweet
for the otherworldly nature of both worlds, Jackalfax and Nevermoor, as well as nature and willingness to set off on a
the characters. Younger characters’ voices have not yet dropped, and each voice great adventure. Mark Bramhall delights
has a unique characteristic, such as Noelle’s prideful, sarcastic, and slightly as the crotchety Twain, who argues with
nasal tones or Fenestra the Magnificat’s confident boredom. Listeners will be Stead over story details between chapters.
left eagerly awaiting the next installment. B.F. With Julia Whelan and Frances Gilbert
Hachette Audio 11 hrs. Unabridged Ages 8+ performing as Susy Clemens and the
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781478923428 $30.00 (also DD) voice of the Editor’s Note, this produc-
tion creates a unique audio experience
and maintains the unusual format of the
Whelan provides listeners with text without sacrificing clarity. N.M.
an immersive experience. Listening Library 1.25 hrs. Unabridged Ages 10+
Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525498698 $8.00
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525498704 $20.00 (also DD)

62 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Children & Family Listening

THE VANDERBEEKERS
OF 141ST STREET
Karina Yan Glaser THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS
Read by Robin Miles Kenneth Grahame
Read by Simon Vance
In this holiday tale, Robin Miles’s vocal-
Award-winning narrator Simon Vance has
izations of the five Vanderbeeker children,
the perfect English accent for this 1908 classic
their family, and their friends place the
featuring four anthropomorphized friends:
listener firmly in the family’s old brown-
Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger. Vance’s char-
stone in their Harlem neighborhood. By
acter voices are gently nuanced—discernible
using distinct voices for each of the char-
without distracting from the considerable
acters, Miles displays the generational
descriptive prose that embellishes this tale of
and ethnic diversity of the family and
friendship and adventure along the riverbank at the edge of the Wild Wood.
their community—from 4-year-old Laney
He brings long passages to life, rapturously capturing the mood when Rat
to the Vanderbeekers’s elderly upstairs
hears the mysterious piping of the demigod Pan or when Mole smells the
neighbors. When their crotchety landlord,
urgent call of his underground home. Only the arrogant Toad is unmoved
Mr. Beiderman, decides against renewing
by the pastoral setting. Vance lustily sings Toad’s self-congratulatory songs
their lease, the children conspire to save
as he experiences wild escapes from motor cars. Vance’s Badger is suitably
their beloved home. Additional dramas,
gruff but kindly as he and his companions strive to rein in Mr. Toad. L.T.
such as misunderstandings between
friends and preparing for Christmas Brilliance Audio 5.75 hrs. Unabridged Ages 6+
Trade Ed.: DD $6.99
despite the need to quickly move into a
new home, are captured in Miles’s narra-
tion. This is a heartwarming story with a
“happily-ever-after” that is sure to delight
Award-winning narrator Simon Vance has
listeners of every age. A.L.S.M. the perfect English accent for this 1908 classic.
Recorded Books 5.5 hrs. Unabridged Ages 8+
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781501966590 $51.75 (also DD)

GREETINGS FROM WITNESS EUGENIA LINCOLN

LORD OF MONSTERS: PROTECTION! AND THE UNEXPECTED
Out of Abaton, Book 2 Jake Burt PACKAGE
John Claude Bemis Read by Tara Sands, Arthur Morey, Kate DiCamillo
Read by Ralph Lister Danny Campbell, Olivia Mackenzie-Smith Read by Lorna Raver

Ralph Lister returns for his second nar- Narrator Tara Sands brings this debut Narrator Lorna Raver knows Eugenia
ration of this series. Listeners now find middle grade novel to life with heart and Lincoln and her sister, Baby, from the
Pinocchio and Princess Lazuli adjusting humor. A supporting cast adds icing to inside out. She takes the narration from
to life as “presters” in the Moonlit Court. the cake. Sands is the voice of 13-year-old cranky to imperious to almost tender and
Just as things are looking up for their Nicki Demere, foster kid back again with ease. When
kingdom, a monster appears to challenge and master pickpocket. Her Eugenia’s predictable life
their rule and the strength of their magic. whole life is reset when fed- is disturbed, greatly, by the
Lister’s storytelling is accompanied by eral marshals recruit her to arrival of an unreturnable
sound effects and short musical passages, join a family that is hiding package, Eugenia has to
new elements that enhance the listening from the Mob in Witness contend with the contents
experience. Though a few sound effects Protection. Sands gives and with all the neighbors,
overpower some of the dialogue, most Nicki, a.k.a. Charlotte, a who are suddenly interested
add a fascinating new dimension to old realistic teenage voice, one in the mysterious arrival.
and new characters. This production is moment flippant and overconfident and Raver narrates with enthusiasm. Her
sure to delight listeners of all ages. V.C. the next overwhelmed by the pressure to delivery is purposeful, carefully paced, and
Oasis Audio 9.75 hrs. Unabridged Ages 8+
fit into a new life and keep her new family rich with the personalities of Deckawoo
Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781613759233 $19.99 (also DD) safe. Arthur Morey and Danny Campbell Drive, each with a distinctive voice. Raver
add a little spice as the villain and his law- sounds firm, no-nonsense, and bursting
yer, who plot to locate the family, while with cantankerous opinions and a tone of
Olivia Mackenzie-Smith provides a tone decisive actions. Now, what did Eugenia
MORE REVIEWS of normalcy to the adventure. N.E.M. receive, and who sent it? A.R.
Exclusive Web-Only Listening Library 9.25 hrs. Unabridged Ages 10+ Listening Library 1 hr. Unabridged Ages 6+
Children & Family Reviews Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525494737 $25.00 Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9781101916117 $10.00
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525494744 $60.00 (also DD) Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781101916124 $20.00 (also DD)
[Link]

February/March 2018 n 63
Children & Family Listening

TROMBONE SHORTY
Troy Andrews
Read by Dion Graham

Music featuring a single trombone

precedes Dion Graham’s narration of
this picture-book autobiography by
“Trombone Shorty” Andrews, a New
Orleans native and Grammy Award-
nominated musician. Then, the first
words of the audiobook—“Where
y’at?”—greet listeners with an energetic
New Orleans welcome. Graham draws
listeners of all ages into an experience
that’s lyrical in word, illustration, and
music. His dynamic reading blends with
Andrews’s words and music to drama-
tize everything from Shorty’s weak initial
efforts on the trombone to the crowds
who roar with pleasure as he shares the
stage with Bo Diddley. Andrews refers
to creating “a musical gumbo,” and the
metaphor represents this audiobook per-
fectly. S.W. 2017 Best Audiobook
Live Oak Media 13 mins. Unabridged Ages 4-6
Book & Recording: CD ISBN 9781430125969 $31.95

ECHO ECHO: Reverso Poems ROSIE REVERE, DANZA! Amalia Hernandez and
About Greek Myths ENGINEER El Ballet Folklorico de Mexico
Marilyn Singer Andrea Beaty Duncan Tonatiuh
Read by Joe Morton, Marilyn Singer Read by Rachel L. Jacobs Read by Adriana Sananes

Author-narrator Marilyn Singer and Narrator Rachel Jacobs gently shares the Adriana Sananes narrates with the
narrator Joe Morton transport listeners of story of an imaginative second grader exuberance and lightness of voice that
all ages into the world of Greek mythology who is enthralled with creating who- Amalia Hernandez, the founder of the
with this collection of reverso poetry— knows-what from scavenged items. Ballet Folklórico de México, choreographs
poems that can be read top to bottom or Jacobs narrates slowly, letting young into her dances. Young listeners will revel
bottom to top. Each work imparts a differ- listeners tune in to Rosie’s late-night in this biography of Hernandez, begin-
ent meaning depending on the direction brainstorms and dreams as well as her ning with her early love of dance—both
of the reading. Ponder whether Pandora or moments of confidence ballet and modern—and
Zeus might be responsible for the release and despair. While rhyming then following Amalia as
of the contents of the infamous box, for couplets abound, Jacobs’s she travels around Mexico
example, or how different are the feelings even-keeled pacing keeps collecting ideas about dance,
of Icarus and his father. Singer and Morton the story in the foreground. history, art, and costumes
narrate with purposeful pacing, leaving As Rosie’s great-great-aunt to weave into her works.
time between words, phrases, and lines. Rose, Jacobs radiates love, Sananes sets a fast pace,
Their elocution includes crisp words, elon- support, and wise words and repeated listens are
gated sounds emphasizing alliteration, with just the right amount of emphasis helpful to take in the whole story. An
and moments of high drama that are loud to make Rosie’s confidence rise. What author’s note adds many details about
or sneering, melancholic or playful. Each does young Rosie create for the elder Hernandez’s life and the increased inter-
poem is followed by a brief explanation Rose? Background music that builds to est in Mexican folkloric dances, as does
of the myth it is based on. Spot-on sound the climax of the story and a brief histor- the glossary. Mexican music provides
effects and music and an author’s note ical note about the role of women during background sound throughout. A.R.
complete the production. A.R. WWII round out the production. A.R. Dreamscape 22 mins. Unabridged Ages 6+
Live Oak Media 31 mins. Unabridged Ages 6+ Dreamscape 11 mins. Unabridged Ages 4-6 Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781520082813 $14.99 (also DD)
Book & Recording: CD ISBN 9781430126928 $29.95 Trade Ed.: CD ISBN 9781520093833 $14.99 (also DD)

64 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Children & Family Listening

TOWN IS BY THE SEA

Joanne Schwartz
Read by Mark Turetsky

Narrator Mark Turetsky lets the story of

a young Cape Breton boy speak for itself.
His day has familiar scenes—a morning
spent watching the sea and swinging, an
afternoon walk to the store for his mother
and a visit to his grandfather’s grave, and
an evening that begins with the arrival
home of his father, who has spent his day
digging for coal under the sea. Turetsky
has an even tone. Each word, phrase, and
thought stands out as he describes the
salty smell of the air and the dilapidated
swings, undersea mining and the boy’s
belief that he will be a miner, too, when
he is grown. An author’s note about min-
ing towns and the legacy they held for
children completes the recording. A.R.
Recorded Books, Inc. 8 mins. Unabridged Ages 4-6
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781501971976 $15.75
(also DD)

THE SEA LION MAX AND BIRD THE INFAMOUS RATSOS: Books 1-2
Cynthia Rylant Ed Vere Kara LaReau
Read by Mark Nelson Read by L.J. Ganser Read by Mark Turetsky

Mark Nelson narrates in a rich, upbeat Narrator L.J. Ganser draws listeners right Mark Turetsky narrates tough—just the
voice as Pandora and the other mem- in as Max’s forceful voice declares that he way the Ratso brothers like to be. In Book
bers of the Lighthouse family welcome a is a kitten; therefore, he would like to eat One, Louie and Ralphie do their best to
young guest—a sea lion. When “Topper” Bird. Bird utters in a high-pitched voice do mean deeds, including taking the hat
is discovered sitting in a chair at the that he cannot be eaten since he has of a large rat, shoveling snow in front of a
kitchen table one morning, amazement never flown before. Max and Bird decide door, and soaping windows. As Big Lou,
abounds. But it’s not long that they’ll work together the boys’ gruff and presumably just-as-
before Topper is exploring t o l e a r n h o w t o f l y. tough father, Turetsky surprises listeners
the island with the children Ganser’s tone changes from with a range of emotions and sage coun-
and, for his safety, learning dramatic to energetic as sel. In Book Two, Turetsky depicts anxiety
to swim. Nelson maintains the two take on attempts at and remorse—new emotions for the two
a leisurely pace and keen flight by flapping tirelessly brothers. With their gang of buddies,
interest in the details of and eventually seeking help the brothers come to grips with having
playing with scallops and from a cackling pigeon. made assumptions about a schoolmate
filling a handmade basket Listeners will be engaged and learning how to conquer fear while
with delicious treats. His by this heartwarming story transforming an almost vacant lot. In
characters are lively, and listeners will of a predator and his prey forming an both books, Turetsky is straightforward
enjoy Pandora’s motherly voice as well unexpected friendship and conquering a and evenly modulated as he enunciates
as the goose’s news that Topper’s mother challenge set before them. M.D. the repetitions with relish that empha-
is coming “baack” and the deep, throaty Recorded Books 9 mins. Unabridged Ages 4-6 sizes the humor. His young characters
voice of the grateful mother sea lion. A.R. Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781501963438 $15.75 (also are distinctive, spunky, and spot-on. A.R.
DD)
Recorded Books 14 mins. Unabridged Ages 4-6 Listening Library 1 hr. Unabridged Ages 6+
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9781501963407 $15.75 (also DD) Trade Ed.: DD ISBN 9780525527381 $15.00
Library Ed.: CD ISBN 9780525527398 $20.00 (also DD)

February/March 2018 n 65
 Index of Print Reviews February & March 2018

ALL THE WIND IN THE WORLD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 ECHO ECHO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 HOLD TIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Samantha Mabry . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Maria Cabezas Marilyn Singer. . . . . . . Read by Joe Morton, Marilyn Singer Alexa Riley. . . Read by Savannah Peachwood, Tristan James
AMERICAN KINGPIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 HOOVER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
ELECTRIC ARCHES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Nick Bilton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Will Damron Kenneth Whyte. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Richard Ferrone
Eve L. Ewing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Eve L. Ewing
ARTEMIS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 A HOUSE FOR MR BISWAS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Andy Weir. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Rosario Dawson THE EMPTY GRAVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Jonathan Stroud. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Emily Bevan V.S. Naipaul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Sam Dastor
AUTUMN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 I AM NOT YOUR PERFECT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Karl Ove Knausgaard, Ihgvild Burkey [Trans.] . . . . . . . . . . . AN ENCHANTMENT OF RAVENS . . . . . . . . . . 58
Margaret Rogerson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Julia Whelan MEXICAN DAUGHTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Read by Edoardo Ballerini Erika L. Sanchez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Kyla Garcia
THE BAD FOOD BIBLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 END GAME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
David Baldacci. . . . . . . Read by Kyf Brewer, Orlagh Cassidy I CAN’T BREATHE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Aaron Carroll. . . . . . . . . Read by Jeff Cummings, Kate Rudd Matt Taibbi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Dominic Hoffman
BE FIERCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 THE EPIC CRUSH OF GENIE LO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
F.C. Yee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Nancy Wu IN THE MIDST OF WINTER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Gretchen Carlson . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Gretchen Carlson Isabel Allende. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Read by Dennis Boutsikaris,
BEASTS MADE OF NIGHT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 AN EVERYONE CULTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jasmine Cephas Jones, Alma Cuervo
Tochi Onyebuchi. . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Prentice Onayemi Robert Kegan, Lisa Laskow Lahey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Stephen R. Thorne IN THE SHADOW OF DENALI. . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
BECOMING KAREEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Tracie Peterson, Kimberly Woodhouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Raymond Obstfeld. . . . . . . . . . . . . . EUGENIA LINCOLN AND THE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Christina Moore
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Read by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar UNEXPECTED PACKAGE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Kate DiCamillo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Lorna Raver IN THEIR LIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
BEFORE THE DEVIL BREAKS YOU. . . . . . . . . . 56 Andrew Blauner [Ed.], Paul McCartney [Note]. . . . . . . . . . .
Libba Bray. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by January LaVoy FAR FROM THE TREE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Tandy Cronyn, Richard Poe,
Robin Benway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Julia Whelan . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin R. Free, Eva Kaminsky, John Keating
THE BEST OF US . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Joyce Maynard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Joyce Maynard FASTING AND FEASTING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 IN VINO DUPLICITAS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
BEWARE OF PITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Adam Federman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Naomi Frederick Peter Hellman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Charles Constant
Stefan Zweig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Nicholas Boulton FLUDD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 THE INFAMOUS RATSOS: BOOKS 1 . . . . . . . . . . 65
BLADE OF DARKNESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Hilary Mantel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Gordon Griffin Kara LaReau. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Mark Turetsky
Dianne Duvall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Kirsten Potter FOREST OF A THOUSAND LANTERNS . . . . . . 56 INFERIOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
BORED AND BRILLIANT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Julie C. Dao. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Kim Mai Guest Angela Saini . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Hannah Melbourn
Manoush Zomorodi. . . . . . . . . Read by Manoush Zomorodi THE FORGOTTEN GIRL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 THE INNER LIFE OF ANIMALS . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
BRAVING THE WILDERNESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Rio Youers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Kevin T. Collins . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Wohlleben, Jane Billinghurst [Trans.],
Brené Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Brené Brown FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson [Fore.]. . . . . Read by Mike Grady
BUNK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Robert Dallek. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Rick Adamson THE INTERNATIONALISTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Kevin Young. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Mirron Willis FUTURE HOME OF THE LIVING GOD. . . . . . . . . . 29 Oona A. Hathaway, Scott J. Shapiro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Louise Erdrich. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Louise Erdrich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Amanda Carlin
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
André Aciman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Armie Hammer JEFFERSON’S GARDEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
THE GIRL IN THE TOWER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Katherine Arden. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Kathleen Gati Timberlake Wertenbaker . . . . . . . . Read by Rosalind Ayres,
CAN’T LET GO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Gena Showalter. . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Savannah Richards . . . . . . . . . . . Nate Corddry, Ellis Greer, Gregory Harrison,
THE GIRL WHO TAKES AN EYE FOR AN EYE. . 40 . . . Lovensky Jean-Baptiste, Ifan Meredith, Darren Richardson,
A CASUALTY OF WAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 David Lagercrantz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Simon Vance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emily Swallow, Inger Tudor
Charles Todd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Rosalyn Landor
GIVE WORK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 KRISTIN LAVRANSDATTER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
COMING RAIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Leila Janah. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Leila Janah Sigrid Undset, Tiina Nunnally [Trans.]. . . Read by Erin Bennett
Stephen Daisley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Paul English
GIVEN TO THE SEA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 L’APPART. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
A CONNECTICUT YANKEE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mindy McGinnis. . . . . . . . . . . Read by Monika Felice Smith, David Lebovitz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Graham Halstead
IN KING ARTHUR’S COURT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 . . . . . . . . Sunil Malhotra, Robbie Daymond, Alex McKenna
Mark Twain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Nick Offerman LAGOM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
GOOD ME BAD ME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Niki Brantmark. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Ana Clements
COURAGE FOR THE UNKNOWN SEASON . . . 49 Ali Land. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Imogen Church
Jan Silvious . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Ann M. Richardson THE LAST BALLAD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
THE GOURMANDS’ WAY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Wiley Cash. . . . . . . Read by Karen White, Elizabeth Wiley
DANZA! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Justin Spring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Bronson Pinchot
Duncan Tonatiuh. . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Adriana Sananes LAST BREATH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
GREETINGS FROM WITNESS PROTECTION!. . . . . 63 Karin Slaughter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Kathleen Early
DARE NOT LINGER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Jake Burt. . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Tara Sands, Arthur Morey,
Nelson Mandela, Mandla Langa, Graça Machel [Prologue] . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Danny Campbell, Olivia Mackenzie-Smith THE LAST OF AUGUST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Read by Adrian Lester Brittany Cavallaro. Read by Graham Halstead, Julia Whelan
GUILT IN THE COTSWOLDS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
DEAD SOULS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 THE LIBRARIAN OF AUSCHWITZ. . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Rebecca Tope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Caroline Lennon
Nikolai Gogol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Nicholas Boulton Antonio Iturbe, Lilit Thwaites [Trans.]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
DEATH IN THE AIR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 THE GUNS ABOVE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Marisa Calin, Dita Kraus [Prologue]
Kate Winkler Dawson. . . . . . . . . Read by Graeme Malcolm Robyn Bennis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Kate Reading
LIFE 3.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
THE DEEP DARK DESCENDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 HALSEY STREET. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Max Tegmark. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Rob Shapiro
Allen Eskens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by R. C. Bray Naima Coster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Bahni Turpin
LIFE IS LIKE A MUSICAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
DINNER AT THE CENTER OF THE EARTH. . . . . 28 HARDCORE TWENTY-FOUR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Tim Federle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Tim Federle
Nathan Englander . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Mark Bramhall Janet Evanovich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Lorelei King
LIFE ON MARS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
DON’T LET GO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 HER BODY AND OTHER PARTIES . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Tracy K. Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Tracy K. Smith
Harlan Coben . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Steven Weber Carmen Maria Machado. . . . . . . . . . . Read by Amy Landon
LIGHTNING MEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
DRAFT NO. 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 HERE IN BERLIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Thomas Mullen. . . . . . . . . . Read by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
John McPhee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by John McPhee Cristina Garcia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Joan Walker
THE LIVING INFINITE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
DRAGONSWORN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 THE HIDDEN LIGHT OF NORTHERN FIRES. . . . 30 Chantel Acevedo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sherrilyn Kenyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Holter Graham Daren Wang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Robin Miles . . . Read by Roxanne Hernandez, Kyla Garcia, Eddie Lopez

Exceptional audiobooks awarded “Earphones”

66 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
LOCKING UP OUR OWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 THE POWER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 SNOW & ROSE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
James Forman, Jr.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Kevin R. Free Naomi Alderman . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Adjoa Andoh et al. Emily Winfield Martin. . . . . . Read by Cassandra Campbell
THE LONG HAUL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 THE PRAGUE SONATA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 SOFIA KHAN IS NOT OBLIGED . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Finn Murphy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Danny Campbell Bradford Morrow. . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Christina Delaine Ayisha Malik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Rita Sharma
LONG WAY DOWN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 PRAIRIE FIRES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 SPIDER-MAN: FOREVER YOUNG. . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Jason Reynolds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Jason Reynolds Caroline Fraser. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Christina Moore Stefan Petrucha. . . . . Read by Richard Rohan and a Full Cast
LORD OF MONSTERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 PROMISE ME, DAD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 SPY OF THE FIRST PERSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
John Claude Bemis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Ralph Lister Joe Biden. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Joe Biden Sam Shepard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Michael Shannon
LOVE POEMS & A GOOD CRY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 PROVENANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 THE TERCENTENNIAL BARON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Nikki Giovanni. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Nikki Giovanni Ann Leckie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Adjoa Andoh Will Damron . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Tim Gerard Reynolds
THE LUNAR CATS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 PULSE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 THERE’S SOMEONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE. . . . . . 59
Lynne Truss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Mike Grady Felix Francis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Clare Corbett Stephanie Perkins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Bahni Turpin
MAESTROS AND THEIR MUSIC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 THE PURLOINING OF PRINCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
John Mauceri. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by John Mauceri OLEOMARGARINE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Adam Silvera. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Michael Crouch,
MAKE IT STICK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Mark Twain, Philip Stead, Erin Stead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robbie Daymond, Bahni Turpin
Peter C. Brown, Hanry L. Roediger,III, Mark A. McDaniel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Keegan-Michael Key, Philip Stead,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Qarie Marshall . . . . . . Mark Bramhall, Julia Whelan, Francis Gilbert [Note] TOWN IS BY THE SEA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Joanne Schwartz. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Mark Turetsky
THE MARRIAGE PACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 THE QUANTUM SPY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Michelle Richmond. . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Tom Taylorson David Ignatius . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Edoardo Ballerini TROMBONE SHORTY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Troy Andrews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Dion Graham
MAX AND BIRD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 QUEENS OF THE CONQUEST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Ed Vere. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by L.J. Ganser Alison Weir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Julia Franklin TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN. . . . . . . . . . . . 58
John Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Kate Rudd
THE MERRY-GO-ROUND IN THE SEA . . . . . . . 33 RACE AGAINST TIME. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Randolph Stow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Humphrey Bower Sharon Sala. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Lexi Richmond THE TWELVE-MILE STRAIGHT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Eleanor Henderson. . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Allyson Johnson
THE MIDNIGHT LINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 RADIO FREE VERMONT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Lee Child. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Dick Hill Bill McKibben. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Danny Campbell TWO KINDS OF TRUTH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Michael Connelly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Titus Welliver
MISS KOPP’S MIDNIGHT CONFESSIONS. . . . . . . 39 RANGER GAMES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Amy Stewart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Christina Moore Ben Blum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Johnathan McClain THE UNQUIET GRAVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Sharyn McCrumb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MONTAIGNE IN BARN BOOTS . . . . . . . . . . . 24 REAL DIRTY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Candace Thaxton, Roger Casey
Michael Perry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Michael Perry Meghan March. . . . . . Read by Elena Wolfe, Sebastian York
VACATIONLAND. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
THE MOTHER OF BLACK HOLLYWOOD. . . . . . 25 RECKLESS DAUGHTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Jenifer Lewis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Jenifer Lewis John Hodgman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by John Hodgman
David Yaffe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Xe Sands
MOVING KINGS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 THE VANDERBEEKERS OF 141ST STREET . . . . . . . 63
RECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Karina Yan Glaser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Robin Miles
Joshua Cohen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Jonathan Davis Dawna Markova, Angie McArthur . . . . Read by Ellen Archer
MOXIE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 WE NEED TO TALK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
RENEGADES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Celeste Headlee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Celeste Headlee
Jennifer Mathieu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Suzy Jackson
Marissa Meyer. . . . . . . Read by Rebecca Soler, Dan Bittner
MRS. OSMOND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 WE’RE GOING TO NEED MORE WINE. . . . . . . . . 25
REST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Gabrielle Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Gabrielle Union
John Banville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Amy Finegan
Alex Soojung-Kim Pang. . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Adam Sims
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS. . . . . . . . 43 THE WESTERN STAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Agatha Christie . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Kenneth Branagh THE RETREAT OF WESTERN LIBERALISM . . . . . . . 45 Craig Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by George Guidall
Edward Luce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Julian Elfer
MY LIFE WITH BOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 WHAT UNITES US. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Pamela Paul. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Eileen Stevens THE RIVER OF CONSCIOUSNESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Dan Rather, Elliot Kirschner . . . . . . . . . Read by Dan Rather
Oliver Sacks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Dan Woren
MY LOVELY WIFE IN THE PSYCH WARD. . . . . 23 WHERE THE PAST BEGINS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Mark Lukach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Josh Bloomberg THE ROOSTER BAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Amy Tan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Amy Tan
John Grisham. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Ari Fliakos
NEVER CAUGHT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 WHIPLASH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Erica Armstrong Dunbar . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Robin Miles ROSIE REVERE, ENGINEER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Joi Ito, Jeff Howe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by James Foster
Andrea Beaty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Rachel L. Jacobs
NEVERMOOR:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . THE WHISPERING ROOM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
THE TRIALS OF MORRIGAN CROW. . . . . . . . . . . 62 RUBY 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Dean Koontz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Elisabeth Rodgers
Jessica Townsend . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Gemma Whelan Tom Lopez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by a Full Cast
THE WHIZ MOB AND THE GRENADINE KID . . . . 63
NORTHANGER ABBEY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 THE RULES OF MAGIC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Colin Meloy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Bronson Pinchot
Jane Austen, Anna Lea [Adapt.]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alice Hoffman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Marin Ireland
. . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Emma Thompson, Douglas Booth, THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS. . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
. . . . Eleanor Tomlinson, Ella Purnell, Jeremy Irvine, Lily Cole SAVAGE COUNTRY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Kenneth Grahame. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Simon Vance
Robert Olmstead. . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Danny Campbell
ORIGIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 THE WISDOM OF FINANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Dan Brown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Paul Michael THE SEA LION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Mihir Desai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Mihir Desai
Cynthia Rylant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Mark Nelson
OUR TURN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Kirstine Stewart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Laurel Lefkow A SECRET HISTORY OF WITCHES. . . . . . . . . . 30 Robert K. Tanenbaum . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Peter Berkrot
Louisa Morgan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Polly Lee
OUT IN THE OPEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 THE X-FILES: STOLEN LIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Jesus Carrasco. . . . . . . . . . . Read by W. Morgan Sheppard THE SECRET OF NIGHTINGALE WOOD. . . . . . 62 Joe Harris, Chris Carter, Dirk Maggs [Adapt.]. . . . . . . . . . .
Lucy Strange. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Lucy Strange . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson,
OUT OF LINE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Barbara Lynch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Christina Delaine SENSE AND SENSIBILITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 . . . . . . . . . Mitch Pileggi, William B. Davis, Tom Braidwood,
Jane Austen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Alison Larkin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dean Haglund, Bruce Harwood
THE PEOPLE VS. ALEX CROSS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
James Patterson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Andre Blake THE SHADOW IN THE GARDEN. . . . . . . . . . . 21 YEAR ONE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
James Atlas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by George Newbern Nora Roberts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Julia Whelan
A PERFECT SPY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
John le Carre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SMILE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 ZAPPED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
. . . Read by Michael Maloney, Bill Paterson, Julian Rhind-Tutt Roddy Doyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Roddy Doyle Bob Berman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read by Peter Ganim

eds
hundr
For more reviews, visit [Link]
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February/March 2018 n 67
 Audiobooks and Literacy

Invitations to Connect through Storytelling

By Francisca Goldsmith
An ancient art practiced many ries of character depth, historical or both fiction and nonfiction, print and
times a day in homes and most regional pronunciations, and which audio. Think about the last time you
workplaces is that of the storyteller. passages are most urgent for the lis- read (with your eyes) an absorbing
Teachers guide students into lessons tener to understand and take note of. piece of writing in silence. Was the
in lab sciences and mathematics, as silence internal as well? Probably not,
well as social studies and, of course, because reading fine writing switches
language arts, by setting them on a
Being a competent story- our awareness of language into a gear
track of discovery by asking questions teller comes naturally to setting that evokes an inner voice,
that illuminate an underlying story: some people. However, however subliminal or unrefined that
What happens when these two liq- to become a truly compelling may be. By adding the component
uids are combined? What might be of a professional voice, that of the
revealed when you multiply the two
one can take some audiobook narrator, our awareness
sides of this shape? What proved to be coaching and modeling. of vocabulary and prosody aspects of
the tipping point in Alabama’s elec- the written text is given a full head of
tion of a Democrat to the U.S. Senate? Anyone and everyone who wants steam. We no longer lose our way in
How long did it take John Boyne to to become a better storyteller in their the weeds of uncertainty about how a
write the first draft of The Boy in the lives can find support in the audio- word sounds or how the clauses of a
Striped Pajamas? (In case you didn’t book medium. That doesn’t mean that sentence fit together to maintain the
know, two and a half days). anyone and everyone can become an writer’s meaning.
Librarians also use abbreviated sto- audiobook narrator; that’s not the lit- Whether you are a librarian, a
rytelling when they share a potential eracy goal here. Instead, the goal is to teacher, a student, an office supervisor,
book, movie, or other media choice become more aware of and attentive a therapist, or a caregiver, storytelling is
with someone seeking satisfying to the ways narrators use their sto- most likely part of your everyday com-
advice. And, of course, business exec- rytelling skills to illuminate text and munications. The same is true in our
utives, publicity agents, advertising connect with an audience. Whether social lives. Gathered around a dinner
creatives, and salespeople employ sto- the story you have to tell is about table, chatting in a break room, meet-
rytelling to move a product or service. fractions, a medical diagnosis, or fire ing for coffee, we humans naturally
Being a competent storyteller comes suppression techniques, you have this connect through stories. So why not
naturally to some people. However, goal, too: You want to make yourself get a bit better at telling them?
to become a truly compelling one can heard, understood, and appreciated by
take some coaching and modeling. your audience.
And who better to learn from than Of course, artful word choice and Fortunately, we have
audiobook narrators? They are experts semantics matter a lot for a story to an abundance of audiobook
in this field, deploying pacing, tone, be both convincing and compelling. narrations that model the
and timbre to convey the words, but That’s why we love well-crafted sto-
also to impart the underlying sto- ries bound up in books of all kinds,
fine art and popular practice
of storytelling.
Fortunately, we have an abundance
of audiobook narrations that model
the fine art and popular practice of
storytelling. And by drawing on these
resources, not only can we better
appreciate the storytellers, but we gain
the potential for improving our own
communication skill sets. Some well-
told stories opposite can get you started
on the path to proficient storytelling of
your own. Adults are invited to use any
of the books listed for youth as potential
models themselves, and to recommend
them to their target audience.
68 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 @AudioFileMag

Audiobooks that Model Storytelling

COME HOME WITH ME TO LISTENING FOR THE
BUTTON END: Stories of Hope & CRACK OF DAWN
Laughter, Vol. 1 Donald Davis, read by Donald Davis
Bruce Allen, read by Bruce Allen Four stories evoke four different moods
Allen’s performance techniques include while this expert storyteller seems to speak
humor and poignancy as careful season- casually and without regard for plot—until
ings for his stories about boyhood in a listeners are reeled in for the ultimate
working-class immigrant community. Great meaning of the whole. Great listening and
listening and modeling for ages 8 through modeling for ages 8 through adult.
adult. August House Audio Program
Bruce Allen Audio Program Trade Ed.: DD
Trade Ed.: DD
THE STORYTELLER’S SECRET
REMEMBRANCES: Stories of Carmine Gallo, read by Carmine Gallo
Hospice and Home Care: Vol. 1 Both an analysis and a demonstration of
Bruce Allen, read by Bruce Allen powerful storytelling, this audiobook offers
As a volunteer in hospice care, Allen inspiration and practical tools to those
told stories to soothe and comfort elderly who want to improve their speaking and
patients, and patients told him stories of idea-communicating skills. Great listening
their earlier years in return. This collection and modeling for older teens and adults.
demonstrates the importance of stories in Macmillan Audio Unabridged
caregiving, and the ways storytelling can Trade Ed.: CD, DD
be an exchange between relative strang-
ers, and offers support to those new to VACATIONLAND
how storytelling works. Great listening and John Hodgman, read by John Hodgman
modeling for ages 14 through adult.
Moving his essays off the page and giving
Bruce Allen Audio Program his expert oral presentation of them,
Trade Ed.: DD
Hodgman adds a dose of sardonic humor
to his narration as he explores middle-age
ONE WHOLE AND PERFECT DAY malaise. With expert timing and pacing,
Judith Clarke, read by Gretal Montgomery this gifted storyteller has made wise and
The author is a master of interconnected careful choices in the performance as well
stories that unfold into a complete and as the material. Great listening and model-
intricate narrative. Characters from a ing for adults. (See review, page 24.)
nursing home, a teenaged girl frustrated Penguin Audio Unabridged
by her so-far lack of romance, and racism Trade Ed.: DD
in Australia inform the story arcs and the Books on Tape
overall narrative, delivered through the Library Ed.: DD
carefully chosen tones and pacing of the
narrator. Great listening and modeling for THE OPPOSITE OF EVERYONE
ages 12 through 18. Joshilyn Jackson, read by the author
Brilliance Audio Unabridged In the performance of her own character-rich
Trade Ed.: CD, MP3, DD novel, the author clarifies how spoken lan-
Library Ed.: CD, MP3, DD guage can invigorate an already lively text.
Beyond creating voices, she alters pace
FRIENDS COME BACK and tone to draw in the listening audience.
Donald Davis, read by Donald Davis Great listening and modeling for adults.
A pair of stories, each covering a lengthy Harper Audio Unabridged
period of time, rather than a single episode Trade Ed.: CD, DD
in a life, allow listeners to appreciate how
the storyteller communicates the details with TOUCH MAGIC . . . PASS IT ON
well-chosen pacing. Great listening and Janet Yolen, read by Milbre Burch
modeling for ages 12 through adult. Fantasy author Yolen’s short stories receive
August House Audio Program voice and judicious pacing from a master
Trade Ed.: DD storyteller. Great listening and modeling
for ages 8 through 12.
Weston Woods Studios; available from Kind Crone
Productions Audio Program
Trade Ed.: DD

February/March 2018 n 69
 Advertiser Directory Sources

Company Ad Page Service

ALISON LARKIN PRESENTS 11 publisher
Publishers
[Link] Reviews of more than 100 audiobooks appear in
BEACON PRESS 14 publisher
[Link] the magazine, and an additional 200+ appear on
BOLINDA AUDIO 1 P publisher the AudioFile Web site
[Link]
BOOKTRACK 4 publisher ([Link]fi[Link]).
[Link]
BRILLIANCE AUDIO Inside Front Cover P publisher To contact the publishers directly, use the Web sites
[Link]
and/or numbers that follow. For consumers, your
DREAMSCAPE 16 P publisher
[Link] best bet is to contact your local source of audio-
GRAYMALKIN MEDIA, LLC 15 publisher
[Link] books and request titles through them.
GRIVANTE PRESS 13 publisher
grivante@[Link] Alison Larkin Presents/ [Link];
HARPER AUDIO Back Cover P publisher Audible, Inc./ 973-837-2711/ [Link];
[Link]
IDEAL AUDIOBOOKS 12 publisher BBC Digital Audio/ [Link];
[Link]
Beacon Press Audio/ [Link]; Blackstone
JEWEL AUDIOBOOKS 13 publisher
[Link] Audio/ 800-729-2665/ [Link];
L.A. THEATRE WORKS 17 P publisher
[Link]/catalog Bolinda Audio/ 800-235-2019/ [Link];
LAURA MATSON HAHN 15 publisher Books on Tape/ 800-541-5525 (lib)/
[Link]
LISA WADLER 14 publisher 800-626-3333 (cons)/ [Link];
lwadler@[Link] • 847-529-7298
Brilliance Audio/ 800-648-2312/
MACMILLAN AUDIO 16 P publisher
[Link] [Link]; Chelsea Green Publishing
NAXOS AUDIOBOOKS 2 P publisher
[Link]
Company/ [Link]; Dreamscape/
OASIS AUDIO 17 P publisher 877-98-DREAM/ [Link];
[Link]
GraphicAudio/ 800-670-5220/
OVERDRIVE Inside Back Cover distributor
[Link] [Link]; Hachette Audio/
PATRICIA M. JACKSON 15 publisher
patriciamjackson@[Link] 800-759-0190/ [Link];
POST HYPNOTIC PRESS INC. 11, 12, 13, 15 publisher Harlequin Audio/ [Link]/shop/brand/
[Link]
RENEA MASON 11 publisher [Link]; Harper Audio/
[Link] • Renea@[Link]
800-331-3761/ [Link]; Haymarket
SORDELET INK 13 publisher
[Link] Books/ [Link]; HighBridge Audio/
T.E. WINTER & SONS 12 publisher
[Link] 800-755-8532/ [Link]; ISIS Audio
TWIN MOON PRESS 14 publisher Books/ 800-955-9659/ [Link];
Anna Lowe, author@[Link]
TWO WORDS PUBLISHING 14 publisher L.A. Theatre Works/ [Link]; Listening Library/
cbutcher@[Link]
800-541-5525/ [Link]; Live Oak
WILDER BOOKS 12 publisher
[Link] Media/ 800-788-1121/ [Link];
WILL DAMRON 11 publisher
jwdamron@[Link] Macmillan Audio/ 800-221-7945/
Connect [Link]; Naxos AudioBooks/
Web Site Exclusives directly to
[Link]; Novel Audio/
P Premier Publishers— publisher
Web & social [Link]; Oasis Audio/ [Link];
a handy way to view reviews, media sites
author interviews, and new Odyssean Studios/ [Link]; Penguin
releases from a selected
Random House Audio Publishing/
publisher. Check out the P
Premier Publishers above at 800-733-3000/ [Link];
[Link]/ Recorded Books/ 800-638-1304/ r
reviews
[Link]; Scholastic Audiobooks/
Advertiser Hot Links 800-243-5020/ [Link]; Simon & Schuster
In the digital edition Audio/ 800-223-2336/ [Link];
of the magazine, follow Click
hot links to new titles, Tantor Media/ 877-782-6867/ [Link]; Ukemi
through to
sound samples, and special publishers’ Productions/ [Link];
offers and services for listeners. new titles and
special offers ZBS Foundation/ [Link].

70 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
Reviewers Continued

K.S.B. K.W. M.F. M.M.G. M.P.P. S.E.G. S.C.A. V.C. W.A.G.

K.M.P. Katie Polley, Librarian, MN M.P.P. Michele P. Penn, Audiophile, NJ S.B. 

Stephanie Baker, Audiophile, MA
K.S.B. Kate Budries, Librarian, NC M.R. Mohana Rajakumar, Qatar S.C.A. Susan C. Awe, Librarian, NM
K.S.M. Kate S. McDonald, University, Qatar S.E.G. Sara E. Grimm, Librarian, IL
Educator, CT M.S. Michael Sangiacomo, S.G. Sharon Grover,
K.W. Kathryn Weiss, Plain Dealer, OH Retired Librarian, WI
Audiophile, MN N.E.M. Nancy E. McCarty, S.G.B. Susan G. Baird, Librarian, IL
L.B.F. Leslie B. Fine, Educator, NY Educator, PA S.J.H. S.J. Henschel, Editor, NY
L.E. Lance Eaton, Writer, MA N.M. Natalie Marshall, S.P.C. Stephen Cummings,
L.M.A. Lee M. Arly, Audiophile, AK Librarian, GA Audiophile, IA
L.T. Lisa Taylor, Librarian, FL R.C.G. Richard C. Gotshall, S.W. Susie Wilde, Writer, NC
M.B.K. Miriam B. Kahn, Librarian, OH Retired Journalist, IN T.D. Terry Delaney, Editor, MO
M.D. Maria Dietrich, Librarian, WI R.I.G. Robert I. Grundfest, T.E.C. Traci Currie, Educator, MI
M.F. Maya Fleischmann, Educator, NJ T.W. Thomas Walken, Writer, NC
Writer, VA R.O. Randy O’Brien, Educator, TN V.C. Veronica Crisler, Writer, TN
M.M.G. Michelle Goggins, R.W.S. Richard W. Stim, W.A.G. William A. Giwertz,
Audiophile, MT Producer, CA Educator, CA

helping good listeners find the best titles

[Link]

February/March 2018 n 71
 Listening With . . .

Angela Adams
Designer,
Portland, Maine
“I’ve been listening to audiobooks ever
since I started painting consistently,
so I’d say for the last 30 years or more,”
designer Angela Adams tells us. “And the
studio is really where I listen the most.”
Angela is a fan of Philip Pullman’s His Dark
Materials series (“the Lyra books,” as she
calls them), as well as the Harry Potter
series. “I definitely like sci-fi, and Jules Verne
is also a big favorite—I’ve listened to pretty
much everything I can.” Including Journey to
the Center of the Earth, which she listened
to while she was designing her “Cave Fantasy”
collection of handmade modern area rugs.
“What I like about Verne and Pullman is
that they’re so imaginative and visual that
it’s super inspiring.”—Jennifer M. Dowell

“The studio is really

where I listen the most.”
Photo by Kevin Brusie

72 n AudioFile/[Link]fi[Link]
 Meet Libby.
The one-tap reading app
from your library

Listen to thousands of audiobooks anytime, anywhere for free.

A fresh and easy way to borrow and read from your library. Download Libby today!

powered by
 The Latest and Greatest From

An oral history of the Book 4 in #1 NYT bestselling Read by Gary Vaynerchuk (Audie Book 2 in the new series A gritty and gorgeous debut
Women’s March, read by the author Susan Mallery’s finalist, The Thank You Economy) from the #1 bestselling performed by Christian Barillas
organizers and activists Mischief Bay series author of Warriors

“Modern noir at its best.” Thrilling conclusion to Gena Book 4 in NYT bestselling author An original audiobook musical A novel-in-verse written
—Library Journal (starred review) Showalter’s Everlife trilogy Lisa Kleypas’s Ravenels series read by Jim Dale and full cast and performed by an
award-winning slam poet

A children’s classic… now The book that inspired the Audie Award–winning Robin A thrilling new novel from Motivation read by
available in Spanish! graduation speech that has been Miles narrates Rosa Parks’s USA Today bestselling author Scott Hamilton
seen by over 100 million online memoir Colleen Coble

Rachel Hollis narrates her More about the friendship Dana K. White’s newest book The exciting conclusion to Terri NYT bestselling author Bob Goff
hilarious and poignant new within the NYT bestseller on how to beat the “battle Blackstock’s If I Run series narrates this uplifting title
audiobook Same Kind of Different as Me against stuff”

Listen to interviews with your favorite authors at [Link]

Want more?! & excerpts from all our audiobooks at [Link]/HarperAudio_US