Friday, February 27, 2009
MY NAME IS RED by Orhan Pamuk, read by John Lee
Turkish novelist Pamuk takes listeners to a pivotal time in late-sixteenth-century Turkey. Rich in language and philosophy, history and romance, this mystery is told in the voices of people, animals, and objects. Lee's solid performance makes this work a splendid fit for audio.
Listen now. Time 2:38
Download an excerpt as an mp3 file. Size: 1.6 MBSoundReview support comes from Harper Audio,
Scholastic Audio, Hachette Audio, and Full Cast Audio.
Comment here: Thursday, February 26, 2009
GREAT EXPECTATIONS by Charles Dickens, read by Simon Vance
This familiar classic follows the orphan Pip and his unfolding life—his aspirations to become a gentleman and how fate has other plans for him. Simon Vance delivers a full cast of voices that enliven the dozens of characters. This is what makes listening to Dickens so much fun. Listen now. Time 2:57 Download an excerpt as an mp3 file. Size: 1.7 MBSoundReview support comes from Harper Audio,
Scholastic Audio, Hachette Audio, and Full Cast Audio.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
THE HERETIC'S DAUGHTER by Kathleen Kent, read by Mare Winningham
The story is set in seventeenth-century Salem, Massachusetts, and 9-year-old Sarah's mother, Martha Carrier, is accused of witchcraft. The author is a tenth-generation descendent of Carrier, who was hanged as a witch in 1692. Kent has a clear vision for time and place, and that's equaled by Winningham's narration. She's particularly good with Sarah's time in prison, clearly projecting the fear, anger, and repulsion of the young girl. Listen now. Time 2:43 Download an excerpt as an mp3 file. Size: 1.6 MBSoundReview support comes from Harper Audio,
Scholastic Audio, Hachette Audio, and Full Cast Audio.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
THE LAST THEOREM by Arthur C. Clarke and Frederick Pohl, read by Mark Bramhall
The last book written by science fiction master Clarke takes place in Sri Lanka, where the author spent his last years. A young man discovers the mathematical proof of Fermat's famous number theory just before the earth is taken over by space aliens. Narrator Bramhall pronounces the tongue-twisting Indian names and places well, making them sound lyrical and wonderful. Listen now. Time 2:54 Download anexcerpt as an mp3 file. Size: 1.7 MBSoundReview support comes from Harper Audio,
Scholastic Audio, Hachette Audio, and Full Cast Audio.
Monday, February 23, 2009
GREAT CLASSIC STORIES, VOLUME 2: 20 Unabridged Classics by various authors and read by various narrators
This is a riveting collection of truly great stories. From Daudet to Fitzgerald, and Dickens to Poe, these stories are paired beautifully with some great narrators. We hear from Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, and Robin Bailey, among many others. The collection is poignant, fun, exciting, and dark, and each is a gem. Listen now. Time 3:13 Download an excerpt as an mp3 file. Size: 3.7 MBSoundReview support comes from Harper Audio,
Scholastic Audio, Hachette Audio, and Full Cast Audio.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
EXIT MUSIC by Ian Rankin, read by Tom Cotcher
In Rankin's newest Edinburgh mystery, a visiting Russian poet is beaten to death just two weeks before Scottish Detective Inspector John Rebus is supposed to retire. If this turns out to be the last Rebus novel, he certainly goes out in style. Narrator Cotcher has spot-on Scottish accents and believable, distinct voices that keep the plots and subplots moving at just the right pace. Listen now. Time 2:58 Download an excerpt as an mp3 file. Size: 3.5 MBSoundReview support comes from Harper Audio,
Scholastic Audio, Hachette Audio, and Full Cast Audio.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO by Alexandre Dumas, read by John Lee
Merchant sailor Edmund Dantès is framed by his mates on his return home and imprisoned for 14 years. His acts of revenge form the majority of Dumas's story. Narrator Lee imbues this classic with exactly the right balance of solemnity and compassion. Listen now. Time 2:22 Download an excerpt as an mp3 file. Size: 1.4 MBSoundReview support comes from Harper Audio,
Scholastic Audio, Hachette Audio, and Full Cast Audio.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
THE IRON DUKE by L. Ron Hubbard, performed by Michael Yurchak and a Full Cast
An original score, realistic sound effects, and a talented cast enhance a pulp fiction adventure in the Stories for the Golden Age series. Set in 1930s Europe, Blacky Lee, an American arms dealer, is in trouble with both the Nazis and the Communists. Listen now. Time 3:01 Download an excerpt as an mp3 file. Size: 1.8 MBSoundReview support comes from Harper Audio,
Scholastic Audio, Hachette Audio, and Full Cast Audio.
Friday, February 13, 2009
SWINDLE by Gordon Korman, read by Jonathan Todd Ross
This author has mapped out the terrain of "boy fiction," and narrator Ross draws out the cliffhangers, double crosses, and humor. Perfect for family listening.
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VANITY FAIR by William Makepeace Thackeray, read by Wanda McCaddon
Golden Voice narrator McCaddon ignites Thackeray's classic with her apt rendition of the characters' wit, gentle sarcasm, irony, and naïveté. Follow the fortunes of two nineteenth-century heroines in their dizzying attempts to shape their own destinies.
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SoundReview support comes from Harper Audio, Scholastic Audio, Hachette Audio, and Full Cast Audio.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
THE SNOWBALL by Alice Schroeder, read by Kirsten Potter
Schroeder's biography of Warren Buffet is a loving portrait of a complex man. Handling both corporate takeovers and family relationships with ease, Potter's narration is engaging throughout.
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Tuesday, February 10, 2009
OUT STEALING HORSES by Per Petterson, Anne Born [Trans.], read by Richard Poe
From an isolated corner of Norway, and old man looks back on the last year of his boyhood. Richard Poe gives one of those performances that disappear, leaving the listener absorbed in the story.
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Monday, February 09, 2009
THE LAUGHTER OF DEAD KINGS by Elizabeth Peters, read by Barbara Rosenblat
A little intrigue, a little Egyptology, a dash of romance, Vicki Bliss leavens it with a touch of humor. Narrator Rosenblat embodies all of Vicki's wit and spunk.
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SoundReview support comes from Harper Audio, Scholastic Audio, Hachette Audio, and Full Cast Audio.
Friday, February 06, 2009
ON THE ORIGINS OF SPECIES by Charles Darwin, read by Richard Dawkins
Darwin's theories have sparked debates between science and religion that still persist today. In an easy-access format for listeners, narrator Dawkins delivers an intelligent abridgment of what the great scientist proposed.
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Thursday, February 05, 2009
A MOST WANTED MAN by John le Carré, read by Roger Rees
In this newest of le Carré's morality tales disguised as an espionage novel, author and narrator make a mesmerizing pair. Grab your earphones and listen to a great performance.
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Wednesday, February 04, 2009
THE MALTESE FALCON by Dashiell Hammett, read by Michael Madsen, Sandra Oh, Edward Herrmann, and a Full Cast
An NEA Big Read Selection, this sexy, darkly comic, brooding classic helped define the noir genre. Fine narrative talents and a great production combine to create a taut, well-paced audio experience.
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Tuesday, February 03, 2009
THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER by Mark Twain, read by Grover Gardner.
Revisit this classic as narrator Gardner slips inside the humor and drama of the prose, casting a spell that brings alive Twain's timeless insights and vivid 19th-century setting.
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Monday, February 02, 2009
THE HOUR I FIRST BELIEVED by Wally Lamb, read by George Guidall
Lamb's long-awaited novel goes off in many directions—the aftermath of the Columbine tragedy, women's rights, prison reform, faith, and chaos theory. Guidall's performance makes for spellbinding listening.
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Support for AudioFile's podcasts comes from Harper Audio, Hachette Audio, Full Cast Audio, Scholastic Audio, and Simon & Schuster Audio.
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