Biography & Memoir To Category List

DREAMS IN A TIME OF WAR A Childhood Memoir

Ngugi wa'Thiong'o, Read by Hakeem Kae-Kazim • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Audible, Inc. • Digital Download

Hakeem Kae-Kazim performs this childhood memoir with a silky voice that draws listeners into its account of life in Kenya under British rule. Born in 1938, wa’Thiong’o weaves together stories of his own life with tales of Kenya from the 1890s to the mid-1950s, when his story ends with the Mau Mau revolt and his entrance into high school. Each vignette is read steadily, easily, seamlessly in Kae-Kazim’s magical bass tones. Life in rural Kenya in an extended polygamous family is told from a child’s viewpoint in the words of a gifted, mature storyteller. Kae-Kazim’s mellifluous voice tells of a boy who marvels at the world around him. The most moving scene recounts wa’ Thiong’o’s first donning of British shorts and shirt on his first day of school. Musical-sounding words deliver reminiscences that wind back and forth in time, with the telling ending all too soon. M.B.K. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

HOMAGE TO CATALONIA

George Orwell, Read by Jeremy Northam • Unabridged • MAY 2012

CSA Word • Trade Ed.

In 1937, Orwell joined the anti-Fascist militia in Barcelona during Spain’s civil war. A near fatal battlefield bullet, and then finding himself on the wrong side of the factional fighting, forced him back to England, where he expeditiously penned this memoir. Narrator Jeremy Northam delivers the natural pauses in the spare reporting as Orwell recounts the hardship on the front lines. Orwell also critiques the wartime machinations of Stalin and takes the British press to task for reporting from afar. Through Northam we can hear Orwell’s frustration and incredulity with the press’s inaccurate and unabashedly biased reporting. We also hear the voice, experiences, and seeds of inspiration that would later bring forth the classics ANIMAL FARM and 1984. F.T. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

HOUSE OF STONE A Memoir of Home, Family, and a Lost Middle East

Anthony Shadid, Read by Neil Shah • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Blackstone Audiobooks • Trade Ed.

Blackstone Audiobooks • Library Ed.

This book is the late author’s paean to his family’s home in Lebanon, built by his great grandfather. It is a heartfelt story that Shadid uses to tell of the physical reconstruction of the house and the metaphysical rebirth of Lebanon and the larger Middle East. Along the way, he recounts his family’s history and describes the Lebanese culture that has been lost since the civil war of the 1970s. Narrator Neil Shah has a deep, nasal-tinged voice that meshes beautifully with the author’s lyrical words. He uses a subtle approach, reading with purpose and force but never overpowering the story. Shah also flawlessly pronounces the Lebanese names and places, lending credibility and authenticity to his effort. It’s a marvelous book complemented by a first-rate narration. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

MY CROSS TO BEAR

Gregg Allman, Read by Will Patton • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Harper Audio • Digital Download

Musician Gregg Allman—of the Allman Brothers—is a gruff-voiced growler whose personal story conjures the spirit of the blues. From the Southern roots the brothers tapped in their highly influential music to the tragic death of brother Duane, his brief marriage to Cher, and his struggles with drug addiction and recent health problems, Gregg Allman’s life is rife with symbolism of the soul-selling variety. Will Patton gets Allman’s sultry drawl down, and it’s as sticky as a hot Georgia night. With its plaintive rasp, filled with honesty, Patton’s portrayal brings Allman to life, making this more than a music bio. It’s a travelogue bursting at the seams with poignant details about fame, success, and redemption. J.S.H. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

WHY BE HAPPY WHEN YOU COULD BE NORMAL?

Jeanette Winterson, Read by Jeanette Winterson • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Brilliance Audio • Trade Ed.

Brilliance Audio • Library Ed.

Winterson has told bits of her own story through her novels, such as ORANGES ARE NOT THE ONLY FRUIT. Here she tells it straight on as a memoir that shows how her relationship with her parents, particularly her adopted mother, has shaped her. She narrates with raw but controlled emotion that puts her squarely in the midst of the events but leaves her still able to observe them with a degree of detachment. Her recounting of some of her mother’s favorite expressions, such as “ask not for whom the bell tolls,” are delivered in a tone of depressive conviction that contrasts with the overall tone of resilience and hope that is found in Winterson’s examination of her life. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine









Business & Finance To Category List

INSIDE APPLE How America's Most Admired—And Secretive—Company Really Works

Adam Lashinksy, Read by Adam Lashinsky • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Hachette Audio • Trade Ed.

As both author and narrator, Adam Lashinsky smoothly transfers facts, figures, and quotes from his book into the microphone. But don’t let the casual tone of his presentation fool you—the content is serious as he uncovers the secrets of one of America's most interesting companies. With his vocal inflections, Lashinsky brings insights to sarcasm, humor, and details buried in the text that could easily be overlooked by a reader. Even with his pleasant and informal tenor, a strong journalistic tone comes across that leaves little doubt about the thoroughness of his research for this book. P.S.F. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

SECRETS OF SUCCESSFUL SELF-EMPLOYMENT Moving from Paycheck Thinking to Profit Thinking

Paul Edwards, Sarah Edwards, Read by Paul Edwards, Sarah Edwards • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Nightingale Conant • Library Ed.

This 1995 program lacks advice on the latest Web-based tools available for marketing and communication, but it’s a timeless and thorough lesson on how to give up the security of working for someone else and succeed in a sole-proprietor business. Trading narrating duties frequently, the authors are sincere, professional-sounding teachers who communicate concisely and with reasonable enthusiasm. They explain how to handle a huge number of challenges common to self-employed people and are especially astute when talking about the psychological shifts required when working outside of the steady paycheck and structure of a W-2 job. The high-energy introductory music and frequently alternating speakers will sound busy and dated to some listeners, but these production features don’t keep the authors’ guidance from shining in this outstanding audio. T.W. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine









Children To Category List

THE CASE OF THE GYPSY GOOD-BYE

Nancy Springer , Read by Katherine Kellgren • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Recorded Books • Library Ed.

Master storyteller Katherine Kellgren does not disappoint; neither does this fifth Enola Holmes mystery. Enola, who is almost 15, sets herself to finding a missing lady, the Duquessa Blanchefleur, who disappeared in London’s Underground. All the while, Enola must avoid her famous brother, Sherlock, and their older brother, Mycroft, if she is to retain her independence. From the booming voice of a scavenger in the Underground to the simpering tones of a lady-in-waiting, Kellgren’s smorgasbord of effusive characterizations are as well done as they are entertaining. She keeps pace with the novel’s quick wit yet precisely delivers the story’s sumptuous vocabulary. A.M.P. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

WONDER

R.J. Palacio, Read by Diane Steele, Nick Podehl, Kate Rudd • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Brilliance Audio • Trade Ed.

Brilliance Audio • Library Ed.

August has severe facial abnormalities. Until now he’s had too many health issues to go to school. He’s unsure about starting fifth grade because people have always recoiled at the sight of him. Diane Steele’s sweet, raspy characterization echoes his strength and vulnerability. WONDER is told from six points of view, starting and ending with August’s own. Several chapters in the middle are from the perspectives of his sister and friends. Kate Rudd and Nick Podehl narrate these chapters adroitly. On the other hand, multiple narrators means multiple characterizations of each character. In dialogue the narrators each give the same cast of characters different accents and attitudes. It’s slightly disorienting. Regardless, WONDER is an incredible story. A.M.P. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine









Classics To Category List

THE KREUTZER SONATA

Leo Tolstoy, Read by Simon Prebble • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Blackstone Audiobooks • Library Ed.

Simon Prebble must summon all of his formidable talents as a narrator to convey the tangled logic and morbid self-loathing of Pozdnyshev, the main character in Leo Tolstoy’s 1890 novella. A chance encounter with a stranger aboard a train prompts Pozdnyshev to recount the convoluted history of his marriage while revealing much about the nature of marriage among the landed gentry of his time. Prebble succeeds admirably at presenting Pozdnyshev as both an astute social critic and an overprivileged and slightly unhinged egomaniac who misinterprets everything he sees. Is his wife a long suffering victim or a calculating adulteress? Is he the manipulator or the manipulated? Are his actions justified? Prebble’s finely tuned interpretation leaves the answers up to us. L.X. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine









Contemporary Culture To Category List

ENGINES OF CHANGE A History of the American Dream in Fifteen Cars

Paul Ingrassia, Read by Sean Runnette • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Tantor Media • Trade Ed.

The Ford Model T, Chevrolet Corvette, VW Beetle, Ford F-150, Chrysler minivan, and Toyota Prius are among 15 models that the author says marked important changes in the way Americans relate to their cars. With chapters that build slowly and offer fascinating insider quotes, the author describes the design, engineering, and marketing approaches that made each car successful, as well as the ego clashes and company politics behind that success. This is not a groundbreaking history of American culture over the past 100 years, but car enthusiasts will love the stories and broader context. Smooth-sounding Sean Runnette connects with these narratives in an authentic, low-key way. He’s so easy to hear that the occasional phrasing misstep is always forgiven. But with this kind of material, some listeners will wish for a performance that adds more juice to the production. T.W. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

TURING'S CATHEDRAL The Origins of the Digital Universe

George Dyson, Read by Arthur Morey • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Random House Audio • Trade Ed.

Books on Tape • Library Ed.

It takes a long time to get to Alan Turing's 1936 paper "On Computable Numbers." Even George Washington fits into George Dyson's time line to the digital era. The many stops along the way include DNA research, the founding of Princeton's Math Department, and the development of the hydrogen bomb. Further details include a love story set against a WWII backdrop and action at the gaming tables. For the most part, Arthur Morey's narration maintains listener interest as all the threads are tied together. While Morey’s reading occasionally creates excitement, it is capable in a low-key way that doesn't draw attention to itself. While it might not cross over for a general audience, listeners interested in the digital revolution will find the journey fascinating. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

WHEN I WAS A CHILD I READ BOOKS Essays

Marilynne Robinson, Read by Marilynne Robinson • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Macmillan Audio • Digital Download

Robinson's essays demand one’s undivided attention as they illuminate profoundly relevant global issues, and the political, social, environmental, and religious climate in America today. Robinson's insights, bolstered by treatises on Christianity, pinpoint how humanity arrived at this point and the likely effect of today’s climate on future generations. Read by the author, the collection articulates her intensity and sincerity. The purposeful force of her inspiring narration encourages the listener to compare his or her own depths of experience to hers. In the title essay, Robinson describes an Idaho childhood in which her youthful coming-of-age expectations mirrored the myth of the American West. Any devoted reader will identify with her
lifelong love of books, the craft of writing, and the creative spirit. With its elegant prose, this book once again affirms Robinson’s well-deserved status as a Pulitzer Prize winner. A.W. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine









Fantasy To Category List

THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE A Dark Tower Novel

Stephen King, Read by Stephen King • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Simon & Schuster Audio • Trade Ed.

Recorded Books • Library Ed.

Stephen King knows how to write great prose. With his in-depth descriptions, the listener sees, feels, and tastes every detail he describes. However, the Dark Tower series is exceptionally robust, and the print version may be a better choice for keeping up with this story. King reads his own work with confidence and does a thorough job with the characters’ accents. However, his vocal timbre is not a good match for the protagonist, Roland Deschain. While King does a commendable job navigating the listener through some important and interesting details in this adventure, sometimes reading a book in print works better than having it read aloud—even when the narrator is the author. P.S.F. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine









Fiction To Category List

THE BOOK OF MADNESS AND CURES

Regina O'Melveny, Read by Katherine Kellgren • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Hachette Audio • Trade Ed.

AudioGO • Library Ed.

In sixteenth-century Venice, Gabriella Mondini’s beloved but unstable father, a doctor, has gone traveling and disappeared. In spite of piteous complaints from her self-centered mother, Gabriella, who is her father’s confidante and colleague in medicine, sets off across Europe and North Africa to find him. Traveling as a woman in those times was not for sissies, and O’Melveny has done her homework thoroughly, bringing to life the sights and smells, pleasures and terrors that accompany Gabriella on her quest. Her single-mindedness borders on the obsessive, not as attractive a trait as filial devotion, but O’Melveny’s writing is persuasive, and Katherine Kellgren’s very beautiful and artful narration, which weaves a tapestry of voices, male and female, in all the accents of the continent, makes this a book of marvels. B.G. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

CALICO JOE

John Grisham, Read by Erik Singer • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Random House Audio • Trade Ed.

Books on Tape • Library Ed.

Paul Tracy, a fan grown up, tells the tale—fact and fiction woven seamlessly by Grisham—of phenom Joe Castle, who mesmerizes baseball fans for a brief time in the 1970s. Tracy watches Calico Joe burst into the majors to captivate fans. Erik Singer makes the most of the story’s few characters. He doesn’t miss a pitch, so to speak—all vocal tones, from Southern lilts to snarling disgust, sound fully credible. He especially excels with the characters of a boy and his father. In sum, Singer’s narration more than distinguishes the characters—it gives them identities, like players on a team. M.B. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

DEAD EUROPE

Christos Tsolkas, Read by Humphrey Bower • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Bolinda Audio • Library Ed.

Isaac is an avant-garde Australian-born photographer, the son of Greek immigrants, whose search for his heritage culminates in a roller-coaster ride that changes his life forever. Aussie narrator Humphrey Bower manages to make a potentially difficult performance sound effortless as Isaac befriends Jews, Christians, Communists, and ex-Nazis who are all suffering from the traumas of WWII and the civil war in Europe that followed. As Bower reports on the extreme behavior of Holocaust survivors, he diligently introduces us to male and female characters and their varied dialects and reveals their seedy and disturbing actions, raw sexual encounters, and unsteady journeys from Athens to Prague to Australia. Clearly, this is not a light listen but a composite of human nature at its worst and its best. Bower is generous with the emotional details, never hesitating to illuminate the effects of suffering on the human psyche. B.J.P. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

THE DEATH OF SWEET MISTER

Daniel Woodrell, Read by Nicholas Tecosky • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Hachette Audio • Digital Download

AudioGO • Library Ed.

If Huck Finn had been raised by his father, he might have turned out something like Morris “Shug” Akers, the narrator and protagonist of Daniel Woodrell's 2001 novel. Shug gets a fine voicing from Nicholas Tecosky; his detached and retrospective tone is that of a man—or perhaps a boy—who is looking back at his horrible and truncated childhood without illusions or regret. Shug has power over nothing except his emotions and the tractor for mowing the “bone orchard” where his mother, who calls him “Sweet Mister,” is the nominal caretaker. They both live in fear of his father, a petty criminal. Tecosky’s cool narration becomes downright chilling as Shug learns what he’s willing to do—and what he’s willing to give up—for love. D.M.H. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

ELIZABETH STREET

Laurie Fabiano, Read by Angela Dawe • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Brilliance Audio • Trade Ed.

Brilliance Audio • Library Ed.

Laura Fabiano’s heroine—and she really is one—is Giovanna Costa, a midwife from a tiny fishing village on the Straits of Messina. In Italy or on Elizabeth Street in New York’s Little Italy, where Giovanna arrives as a bereft young widow to discover how her adored husband was killed, midwives are believed to traffic in the supernatural. I’m not sure that Angela Dawe isn’t doing the same, so amazingly supple and effective is her performance of a huge range of characters in this gripping story of immigrant America. Dawe’s voice is lovely, and she can do anything with it—compress it, gravel it, raise or lower the pitch, be 3 years old or 80. A rich, artful story with a performance to match. B.G. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

THE GOOD FATHER

Noah Hawley, Read by Bruce Turk, Arthur Morey, Ryan Gesell • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Books on Tape • Trade Ed.

There may be no more difficult task for a parent than recognizing when a child has become unstable. Yet that is the challenge Dr. Paul Allen faces in THE GOOD FATHER, Hawley’s psychological novel about a physician’s efforts to understand his son, who is suspected of shooting a presidential candidate. The story, told from the points of view of both father and son, is interesting but seems unfocused at key moments. Because the plot stalls unexpectedly, narrators Bruce Turk, Arthur Morey, and Ryan Gesell must come to the rescue. Listeners who enjoy psychology will appreciate the performances, especially that of Morey, who is most effective as Dr. Allen questions his own actions. For those seeking a page-turning thriller, this is not the optimum choice. D.J.S. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

THE HOUSE OF VELVET AND GLASS

Katherine Howe, Read by Heather Corrigan • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Hyperion Books • Trade Ed.

Heather Corrigan’s voice is delicate as a spider’s web luring listeners into an otherwise unremarkable melodrama. Katherine Howe’s paranormal romance weaves the sinking of the TITANIC into the lives of those devastated by the loss of loved ones aboard the ill-fated liner. Sibyl Allston lives with her aloof father and her black-sheep brother in posh Back Bay Boston. After losing her mother and sister to the tragedy three years earlier, Sibyl seeks comfort from spirit-world sources, psychology, opium, and romance. While some of Corrigan’s character voices are exaggerated, her rendition of flashbacks and memories is affecting, and her early-twentieth-century diction is charming. However, even with Corrigan’s appealing narration, the uninspired storytelling may disappoint fans of Howe’s earlier work, THE PHYSICK BOOK OF DELIVERANCE DANE. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

IN THE LAKE OF THE WOODS

Tim O'Brien, Read by L.J. Ganser • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Brilliance Audio • Trade Ed.

Brilliance Audio • Library Ed.

A book punctuated with footnotes, interview snippets, and sprinklings of “evidence” may not seem at first like a good audio candidate. However, L.J. Ganser’s rendition of this novel doesn’t attempt to evade its complexity. When John Wade’s political life implodes after the revelation of his role in Vietnam War atrocities, he and his wife seek solitude in the woods. Kathy’s subsequent disappearance provides the backdrop for a thorough examination of Wade’s life—from his early longing for his father’s love to his obsession with Kathy, from magic tricks to massacres. Ganser seldom misses a beat, even with frequent refrains and unusual authorial choices. The novel raises more questions than it answers, but the questions are good ones. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

THE MAKING OF A MARCHIONESS

Frances Hodgson Burnett, Read by Lucy Scott • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Persephone Books • Digital Download

Although Emily Fox-Seton, the pivotal character in Burnett’s novel, is naïve and credulous to a fault, Lucy Scott’s narration captures Emily’s good-hearted nature and makes her believable even to 21st-century listeners who might think she’s too good to be true. When the well-born but penniless Emily unexpectedly becomes the Marchioness of Walderhurst after marrying the widowed marquis, what follows is a gentle coming-of-age tale with a gratifying denouement. Scott doesn’t attempt to modernize Emily, nor does she present her as a victim of late-Victorian sexist mores. Her interpretations of the staid marquis, the eccentric Lady Maria, and the unscrupulous Captain Osborn contribute to our enjoyment of this satisfying story of love and sacrifice. L.X. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

A PARTIAL HISTORY OF LOST CAUSES

Jennifer DuBois, Read by Kathe Mazur, Stephen Hoye • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Random House Audio • Trade Ed.

Books on Tape • Library Ed.

Although the premise of LOST CAUSES seems wrought with anguish, both main characters strive to find meaning in their dissolving lives. Kathe Mazur and Stephen Hoye perform splendid counterpoints to each other, using subtle tones of despair tempered by hints of bewildered irony and cautious emotion. In Russia, world chess champion Bezetov becomes embroiled in post-Cold War dissident politics, risking his life as he pits himself against Vladimir Putin and his policies. Decades later, across the world, Irina Ellison confronts Huntington's disease and the limitations ahead, which she knows all too well since her father died of the disease. She seeks out Bezetov in Russia to respond to her father's unanswered question about persevering in the face of a lost cause—a question that is now intensely personal to Irina. Both characters' fates collide in a triumph of courage, wisdom, and compassion. A.W. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

RUNNING THE RIFT

Naomi Benaron, Read by Marcel Davis • Unabridged • MAY 2012

HighBridge Audio • Trade Ed.

HighBridge Audio • Library Ed.

Jean Patrick is a Tutsi being groomed by a Hutu coach to run for Rwanda in the Olympics. His times are good, but his timing is not. In 1994 the Hutu massacre 800,000 Tutsi. Once embraced by the president, our hero finds himself hiding in a banana tree while the Hutu below debate killing him with a grenade. Actor Marcel Davis also has much ground to cover. He must give voice to old men and young women, to the killers and the killed. While Davis does not create auditory identities for each character, it’s always clear who’s shrieking. The moral: Fictional differences between one person and another can justify violence too horrible to believe. Here one melodious voice can speak for us all. B.H.C. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

THE SONG OF NAMES

Norman Lebrecht, Read by Simon Prebble • Unabridged • MAY 2012

HighBridge Audio • Trade Ed.

HighBridge Audio • Library Ed.

Martin Simmonds was awkward and lonely until his parents took in a gifted, young Polish-Jewish violin prodigy, saving him from the Holocaust. Martin was 9, Dovidl was younger, and they were closer than brothers until Dovidl disappeared on the day he was to make his official debut. The superb Simon Prebble tells Martin’s story, beginning 40 years after the disappearance. Hearing an evocative rubato in the playing of a young violinist at the Turbow Music Festival, Martin sets out to find Dovidl. Prebble’s straightforward delivery embodies all the dreams, love, and loss Martin has allowed to overshadow his life. The story moves from present to past and present again, exposing the love, envy, and exploitation that entangle geniuses and their acolytes. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

SUDDENLY, A KNOCK ON THE DOOR Stories

Etgar Keret, Read by Ira Glass, Josh Radnor, Jonathan Safran Foer, Willem Dafoe, Josh Charles, Neal Stephenson, George Saunders, Ben Foster, Mathieu Amalric, Aimee Bender, Miranda July, Ben Marcus, John Sayles, Gary Shteyngart, Stella Schnabel, Nathan Englander, Michael Chabon, et al. • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Macmillan Audio • Digital Download

This is more than a collection of 35 short stories by the talented Israeli author. It’s a meditation on the human condition, full of sharp observations, comic references, and devastatingly honest emotions. Some of the stories are uncomfortably truthful, while others are flights of fantasy. Narrating all of this is a stable of unique voices ranging from the authors Ira Glass, Gary Shteyngart, and Nicole Krauss to the actor Willem Dafoe, television writer and producer Josh Radnor, and others. Some of the narration can be uneven, but Keret’s words redeem any shortfalls. Examples of the talented narrators include Josh Charles, who has a deep, round tone and a gentle manner that perfectly complements the author’s words, and Adam Thirlwell’s British accent, which supports a strong, robust reading about lying. It’s an excellent audio and literary experience. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine









Historical Fiction To Category List

BRING UP THE BODIES

Hilary Mantel, Read by Simon Vance • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Macmillan Audio • Trade Ed.

This second volume in Hilary Mantel’s planned trilogy about Thomas Cromwell, right-hand man to Henry VIII of England, is a perfect marriage of the written and spoken word. As her awards and wide readership attest, Mantel writes wonderfully. She also writes long. Thus, we hail Simon Vance, whose silken tones and expert pacing keep us engaged throughout. In this volume, Henry is disenchanted with Anne Boleyn. While we all learned the outcome in high school history class, Mantel still fascinates with Cromwell’s view of the machinations of king and court. Vance enhances the story with instructive vocal portraits of key players and a listenable tempo that keeps us clear and entranced until the end. A.C.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine









History To Category List

SEASON OF THE WITCH Enchantment, Terror, and Deliverance In the City of Love

David Talbot, Read by Arthur Morey • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Brilliance Audio • Trade Ed.

Brilliance Audio • Library Ed.

Be warned, this audio is very hard to turn off! Talbot tackles the over-the-top history of San Francisco with love and respect, but as he himself says, this is a bloody valentine. Narrator Arthur Morey infuses every juicy detail of murder, corruption, and disaster, along with the world's largest mass suicide, with an eager, almost breathless quality that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats. Yet he swings easily into the giddy lilt of glamour, wealth, and sexual abandon that came with the high times. He handles the down-in-the-depths era of homeless, drug-addicted vets and the killing scythe that was the AIDS epidemic with a quiet sensitivity that portrays the plight of the hopeless without ever losing respect for their humanity. D.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine









Horror To Category List

WE'RE ALIVE A Story of Survival, the Second Season

Kc Wayland, Read by a Full Cast • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Blackstone Audiobooks • Trade Ed.

Blackstone Audiobooks • Library Ed.

Season 2 of the sensational zombie podcast thrusts listeners right into the fire—literally. Clouds of smoke and a horde of furious zombies surround our survivors, and we soon learn that the living humans are even more frightening than the undead. This cleaned-up, commercial-free edit allows for an immersive listening experience. Sound effects come fast and furious, with well-orchestrated action sequences and chilling zombie roars that will haunt listeners’ dreams. Balancing the thrilling sound effects is the vast cast. While some villains sound one-dimensional, the core characters make us care deeply about their trials and tribulations. Move aside, WALKING DEAD—in WE’RE ALIVE, the zombies are in our heads. F.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine









Humor To Category List

I AM A POLE (AND SO CAN YOU!)

Stephen Colbert, Read by Tom Hanks, Stephen Colbert • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Hachette Audio • Trade Ed.

Colbert’s silly not-for-children children’s book tells the tale of a pole that is looking for its one true calling. It tries being everything from a Maypole to a tadpole to a Gallup Poll—to no avail. Tom Hanks narrates the bulk of the pole’s quest with warmth and enthusiasm, but it is the interactions between Stephen Colbert and Hanks in the introduction and closing that really make this a fun listen. Colbert’s mock-bombastic personality gushes from the speakers, and Hanks’s exasperation at the continuous interruptions from the author is priceless. (Note: When asked to do the Spanish-language version, he opts instead to take his Oscars and go home.) A booklet of Paul Hildebrand’s illustrations accompanies the recording, making this a nicely rounded-out production. A.H.A. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine









Mystery & Suspense To Category List

AS THE CROW FLIES

Craig Johnson, Read by George Guidall • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Recorded Books • Library Ed.

Wyoming Sheriff Walt Longmire and his friend Henry Standing Bear watch in horror as a Native American woman falls from a cliff on the Cheyenne Indian Reservation. It’s soon apparent that it was no accident, and Walt is called in to help find the murderer. Narrator George Guidall’s excellent character portrayals make it easy for listeners to overlook a few bumpy scenes as he plays up the intriguing aspects of life on the res’ and the humor sprinkled throughout the story. He’s especially impressive as Henry Standing Bear, whose voice alone makes the listener want to know more about the character. This is a notable example of a superb narrator taking a book to greater heights. M.M.G. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

CAPITOL MURDER

Phillip Margolin, Read by Jonathan Davis • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Harper Audio • Trade Ed.

AudioGO

The latest, and perhaps best, book by Margolin is like having four books in one. Attorney Brad Miller and P.I. Dana Cutler are back to deal with the misdeeds of a U.S. senator, apprehend an escaped serial killer, and prevent a major terrorist attack on the country. There's also a subplot that revolves around the senator's shady background. It's a fast-moving story, and a brief moment of inattention can result in finding oneself lost. Narrator Jonathan Davis keeps things on track. His deep voice maintains listeners’ engagement, and the detailed nuances he gives to multiple characters make this mystery easier to follow. He's especially adroit at portraying the terrorists. A.L.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

DEATH OF AN ARTIST

Kate Wilhelm, Read by Carrington MacDuffie • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Blackstone Audiobooks • Trade Ed.

Blackstone Audiobooks • Library Ed.

Carrington MacDuffie's performance and this story start out in the same fashion—a little slow and stiff—but both warm up apace. Former NYPD detective Tony Mauricio, retired after being badly injured on the job, is new to Silver Bay, Oregon. He quickly befriends a local family composed of Marnie, a widowed shop-owner; Stef, her artist daughter; and Van, her granddaughter, a single mother who is just finishing medical school. When Stef, who steadfastly refuses to sell her artwork, is found dead at the foot of the stairs outside her studio, Marnie and Van turn to Tony to help prove that Stef's grasping husband is the murderer. Once MacDuffie gets going, her narration improves, in part because of her clear, subtle inflections. The listener is soon absorbed in her pleasant rendering of this fine mystery. K.O. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

INNOCENT VICTIMS Two Novellas

Minette Walters, Read by Simon Prebble • Unabridged • MAY 2012

HighBridge Audio • Trade Ed.

HighBridge Audio • Library Ed.

British crime writer Minette Walters offers a diversity of time and place in these novellas. INNOCENT VICTIMS, set in 1920s England, is by far the superior title. Narrator Simon Prebble is his usual excellent self in both stories, but even he cannot save the melodramatic TINDER BOX. In the former work, Norman Thorn’s kindness moves him to court a mentally ill spinster named Elsie, who lures him into an engagement that ultimately leads to his death. The latter work is a more predictable 1990s story of English-Irish conflict, which becomes difficult to buy into when the police rely on a civilian woman and treat her as an insider. However, the title story and audio delivery are so outstanding that it's worth enduring or skipping the weaker mystery. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

KILL SHOT

Vince Flynn, Read by George Guidall • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Simon & Schuster Audio • Trade Ed.

Recorded Books • Library Ed.

George Guidall returns with the signature storytelling style he has created for the majority of Flynn’s Mitch Rapp series. His deep, authentic voice adds weight and complexity this the fast-paced thriller. In this episode, CIA super-agent Rapp is pursing another terrorist, this one associated with the Pan Am 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland. When the assignment goes awry and innocent civilians are harmed, Rapp works to clear his name and identify the mole amid his CIA handlers. Guidall’s skill keeps the listener engaged with the suspense, passion, and violence. He has a strong command of tone and accents as he moves between male and female, American and European characters with ease. Guidall is an excellent way to experience Flynn. K.C.R. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

POWDER BURN

Carl Hiaasen, Bill Montalbano, Read by Robert Ramirez • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Recorded Books • Library Ed.

In a vivid opening sequence, architect Chris Meadows witnesses the hit-and-run death of his ex-girlfriend and her daughter. He also sees the faces of their killers, a carload of drug-connected gangsters. From there, Chris’s life grows ever more complicated, descending into the dangerous Cuban and Colombian drug scene. Robert Ramirez provides a nuanced performance, giving both Hispanic and Anglo characters realistic accents and personalities. Ramirez is chilling as cold-blooded hit man Mono, who is out to kill Chris, and silky as el Jefe, a prominent local banker, possibly Miami’s next mayor. Ramirez keeps things taut and listeners guessing. Written before the hilarious satires that cemented Hiaasen’s reputation, and co-authored with fellow journalist Bill Montalbano, this crime thriller about ‘90s cocaine trafficking in Miami is serious, well plotted, and utterly convincing. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

THE PROFESSIONALS

Owen Laukkanen, Read by Edoardo Ballerini • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Penguin Audio • Digital Download

Recorded Books • Library Ed.

Despite their newly earned college degrees, four friends struggle to find paychecks in a miserable job market. Soon their running joke about turning to crime becomes a reality, and they discover their skills as small-time kidnappers. Narrator Edoardo Ballerini guides listeners through the team’s modest guilt and conservative payoffs so well that listeners may find themselves rooting for the crooks just a bit. Ballerini elevates the tension when the team mistakenly kidnaps a man connected to organized crime. As the team is pursued by the FBI and the Mob, Ballerini depicts both their loyalty and the friction among them. His straightforward delivery showcases the striking plot turns but occasionally renders the dialogue among the team members slightly confusing. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

VULTURE PEAK

John Burdett, Read by Stephen Hogan • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Recorded Books • Library Ed.

Stephen Hogan cleverly narrates this intriguing thriller, which takes place in the bizarre underworld of Bangkok. As Royal Thai Police Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep untangles the mysterious events at the breathtaking ocean view mansion called Vulture Peak, he describes the charms of Thailand and the splendors of Buddhism with serenity and a touch of sarcasm. Hogan employs disdainful yet articulate patience as Jitpleecheep explains Eastern perspectives to the Western listener. The detective’s eccentric intelligence becomes increasingly evident as he explores the twisted black market for human organs. Hogan adds a touch of admiration when voicing Jitpleecheep’s description of the stunningly beautiful but astonishingly self-indulgent Chinese twins who are at the center of the body-parts industry. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine









Philosophy & Religion To Category List

HOW DO YOU KILL 11 MILLION PEOPLE? Why the Truth Matters More Than You Think

Andy Andrews, Read by Andy Andrews • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Oasis Audio • Trade Ed.

Oasis Audio • Library Ed.

Andrews reads his 28-minute essay in clear and concise tones. Focusing on truth and honesty, Andrews asks first how the world could stand by while the Nazis killed Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, and more before and during WWII. In word and performance he stresses the importance of standing up for truth and honesty in interpersonal relations, in government, in politics, and in business. Andrews’s discussion of truth and honesty is followed by an 18-minute interview about “The Path” and the philosophy of morality and leadership. Proclaiming himself neither Democrat nor Republican, Andrews puts forth provocative questions that challenge listeners to consider the importance of the truth in the administration of government and business and, indeed, their involvement in the future of this nation. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

RESOLVING EVERYDAY CONFLICT

Ken Sande, Kevin Johnson, Read by Maurice England • Unabridged • MAY 2012

ChristianAudio • Trade Ed.

The down-home voice of narrator Maurice England is a suitable match for the down-home writing style of authors Ken Sande and Kevin Johnson. Their book is written as a self-help book for Christians who are interested in working through conflicts at home, in the workplace, and wherever else they come up. England reads in a simple and easy-to-follow style that keeps the listener’s interest. The authors use principles gleaned from scripture to lay out the premise that conflict originates from sin and is fundamentally a spiritual problem. Each chapter begins with a real-life illustration and then moves to a suggestion for approaching an everyday conflict. S.K.G. 2012 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine









Young Adult To Category List

CLOCKWORK PRINCE The Infernal Devices

Cassandra Clare, Read by Ed Westwick, Heather Lind • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Simon & Schuster Audio • Trade Ed.

Recorded Books • Library Ed.

In this second book in the prequel trilogy to The Mortal Instruments series, a plot against the Shadowhunters of Victorian England threatens Tessa Gray's safety while living among them. Although the use of two narrators feels unnecessary and the seemingly arbitrary changing of narrators can be distracting at times, Heather Lind's slow and melodic delivery is well suited for Tessa as she struggles to learn her true identity and understand her feelings for both broody Will and sensitive Jem. However, her portrayal of two of the female Shadowhunters, Charlotte and Jessamine, is rather shrill. There’s a gruffness to Ed Westwick's voice that lends itself to the suspenseful mood of the novel. Overall, a fine choice for fans of Cassandra Clare. M.D. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

LOCKED IN TIME

Lois Duncan, Read by Jaselyn Blanchard • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Hachette Audio • Digital Download

AudioGO • Library Ed.

After the death of her mother, Nore Robbins is shocked to learn she’ll be spending the summer in Louisiana with her father and his new family. Narrator Jaselyn Blanchard's portrayal of 17-year-old Nore transforms from one of youthful innocence to one of anxious suspicion as Nore discovers that life on the bayou is more than she bargained for and her seemingly innocuous stepfamily is anything but. Adding a nice touch of foreshadowing, Blanchard gives the syrupy sweet Southern drawl of Nore's stepmother just a hint of the sinister. Keeping pace with the novel's mounting tension, Blanchard's speech becomes more urgent as Nore struggles to save both herself and her father before time runs out. M.D. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

PERFECT

Ellen Hopkins, Read by Aya Cash, Heather Lind, Aaron Tveit, Tristan Wilds • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Simon & Schuster Audio • Trade Ed.

Recorded Books • Library Ed.

Hopkins, who is known for writing novels in free verse that tackle tough issues like drug use and homelessness, explores the struggle for perfection and the damage it can do. Four actors introduce the characters with the ennui of typical teens describing how their lives fail to meet parental or societal expectations. As the story unfolds, each narrator bares the soul of his or her character; none falls short of excellent in doing so. Since this is a spoken performance, minor distinctions in delivery, such as odd pacing at line breaks, indicate the print is in free verse. Only Tristan Wilds, as Andre, consistently stresses the title of each poem. Usually with an ensemble cast, one voice falls short but not this time. The title says it all. M.M.O. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

STAY WITH ME

Paul Griffin, Read by Mark Zeisler, Annie Henk • Unabridged • MAY 2012

Recorded Books • Library Ed.

Annie Henk portrays Céce, an ambitious college-bound inner city student. Henk gives Céce a believable spark and conveys her conflicting emotions as, against her better judgment, she falls for Mack, a high school dropout who’s done jail time. Narrator Mark Zeisler portrays Mack, conveying his kindness as well as his instability. Listeners will be as swept up with Céce and Mack as they are with each other, and when things begin to fall apart, it feels both inevitable and heart-wrenching. Griffin’s strength is that he makes his characters, even minor ones, multidimensional, and Henk and Zeisler support that strength by creating distinct and rich voices. The story of opposites attracting is a common one, but this take is fresh and affecting. A.F. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine