Women's Voices

Narrator Adenrele Ojo is a familiar, poetic voice for a heavy topic: Black women’s unique experiences with racism and sexism, and their role in standing with Black men and white women in the fight against these oppressions. This classic book doesn’t feel dated, though the buzzword “intersectionality” is never uttered. The audiobook is a primer on the study of Black women in... Read More

Narrator Janina Edwards helps listeners trace the history of a small cotton bag and its journey through the difficult lives of the Black women who carried it. Starting with an enslaved woman, the bag was stitched and filled with items of love, before being passed on through future generations. Now housed in the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the simple... Read More

The third edition of activist Angela Davis's memoir, published nearly a half-century after it originally appeared, comes to listeners with the author's own measured yet confident narration. While she sounds her age--nearly 80--Davis continues to speak clearly and formally. When it was first published, when she was 28, this work offered a political perspective on her experiences... Read More

The gentle rasp in author Paula Stone Williams's voice speaks of how much she has used it as a minister, church leader, counselor, and singer. Her vocal control, specifically her alterations in pacing, intonation, and emphasis, reveals her remarkable intellectual curiosity and allegiance to honesty as she shares skillful observations of social relations in American culture. At... Read More

Rosie Perez convincingly narrates this memoir by Ronnie Spector, lead singer of the Ronettes, a complicated woman who was socially naïve, emotionally fearless, and prone to melodrama. Perez and Spector are spiritual kin--showbiz outliers with distinctive voices, street cred, and all-in performing styles. Much of the audiobook is devoted to her producer/husband Phil Spector, who... Read More

Abby Stein narrates her engrossing memoir of growing up in the insular Ultra-Orthodox Hassidic Jewish community in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Stein’s Yiddish accent connects listeners more deeply with her upbringing in a large family strongly bound by rabbinic traditions. The author’s openhearted account of struggling with heightened expectations to perform as a male while coming... Read More

Author Isha Sesay narrates her experience of reporting on the return of the Chibok schoolgirls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram, the extremist group in Nigeria. Genuine passion infuses her delivery--she turns this audiobook into a feminist speech of sorts. She shares her personal experiences with relatives who grew up in Nigeria who encountered circumstances similar to those of... Read More

Spoken-word poet Jasmine Mans narrates her poetry collection. This audiobook serves as a call to oneself and a return to one's truth. Mans speaks openly and honestly about race, womanhood, sexuality, and family. She begins with a list poem about her hair. Her words are thick and intentionally punctuated. She is clear, strong, and purposeful in both content and tone. Although... Read More

Narrators Amin El Gamal and Lameece Issaq work together to bring to life the many stories in this collection, which is a classic of feminist Moroccan literature. Through a wide cast of characters--from mothers and rebellious daughters to a man with a severe illness--listeners are treated to a wide swath of issues facing Moroccan society. El Gamal maximizes the dramatic dialogue... Read More

Narrator Emily Woo Zeller's performance starts stoically but keeps listeners engaged as this novel progresses to a gently powerful conclusion. Zeller portrays Natsu, a woman seeking her purpose, including whether to have children. Her sister, Makiko, plans to get breast implants. Jeena Yi, delivering the voice of Makiko's daughter, Midoriko, perfectly captures the spirit of a... Read More

Xe Sands is a steady, consistent voice for this feminist volume on rethinking spiritual tales across a variety of cultures. She captures the confident, assertive tone of the project overall, which encourages listeners to reconsider the masculine slant of history and historical records. From Eve to the contemporary woman, we are in safe hands as Sands navigates the academic and... Read More

Gabrielle de Cuir narrates this feminist work, originally published in 1910 and long out of print. After receiving her first kiss from a man known for his wild ways, a young woman falls deeply in love with a man everyone in her life deems unsuitable. After moving to Colorado, she discovers that the man she loves has syphilis and gonorrhea, and she believes that marrying him... Read More

Narrators Priya Ayyar and Nikki Massoud accentuate the differences in the status of two women. In an Egyptian fantasy society, women are fighting for suffrage and control over their lives. Ayyar introduces the listener to Nehal, the daughter of a family that knows privilege. Ayyar's portrayal captures Nehal's haughty persona; she is aggressive and ambitious with little thought... Read More

Geena Davis narrates her hilarious memoir about growing up as a polite young lady who eventually challenged the entertainment industry. An icon of feminist film roles, Davis retraces her steps in finding her voice as an artist. Fans of her acting will find much to admire in these self-revelatory chapters. Her narration style is warm, close, and intimate. The overall feeling is... Read More

Entertainment icon Eartha Kitt's biological daughter, Kitt Shapiro, offers a stirring and nuanced memoir of both her mother and herself-- their lives were so very intertwined. Narrator Karen Chilton's performance is a showstopper, at once superb, stunning, evocative, and moving. While Eartha Kitt was a mix of Black, Cherokee, and white ethnicity, her daughter's father was... Read More

With the passing of Mother Rosa Parks, it's important that we Americans never forget that for every Martin Luther King, Jr., there were hundreds of ordinary people who lived quietly within, but boldly worked to overthrow the segregated South. This mother-daughter duo have penned a riveting account of the Civil Rights struggle of the 1960s and 1970s. Within a format that has... Read More

Marcella Cox brings Shirley Chisholm's words to life with a passion that might leave listeners thinking they are hearing the first Black Congresswoman herself speaking from a podium. A year after her failed bid for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination, Chisholm analyzed its successes and failures, and her dissection holds up well. Her discussion of abortion, crime, and... Read More

Deborah Frances-White and Adjoa Andoh work together to narrate this set of ruminations about contemporary womanhood and its many dilemmas. Frances-White has an upper-crust British accent that gives the questions she's asking an added layer of importance. As she reads at a quick but measured pace, listeners are pulled along by her brisk no-nonsense approach to a seemingly... Read More

Mary Jane Wells wrote and performed this play, now an audiobook, based on the life of Danna Davis, U.S. soldier, veteran, and survivor of military sexual trauma during the Iraq War. It’s a difficult story of a lesbian before “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Wells vocally becomes this ten-year veteran with vibrant and graphic, disturbing accounts of battles and other military... Read More

Annabelle Hirsch's feminist look at history through 101 idiosyncratic objects is given a captivating performance by the author and 100 narrators. The choice of performers, including actors, authors, and commentators, is as clever as the short essays about the objects. We have an anecdote about a healed femur from 30,000 BCE, narrated by Gillian Anderson; a fifth-century BCE... Read More

Weruche Opia’s self-confident narration sings with a heady mix of feminine power and vulnerability. Nigerian-British college sophomore Kiki Banjo hopes her radio show, “Brown Sugar,” will secure her a prestigious internship. Opia builds an elegant, charismatic persona for Kiki, who doles out feminist relationship advice to her fellow Afro-Caribbean students in a snappy,... Read More

Taylor interviews some original members of the Combahee River Collective, one of the first Black feminist groups that emerged from the Civil Rights movement. The interviewees include Alicia Garza, co-founder of Black Lives Matter. Narrator Lisa Reneé Pitts creates distinct voices for each of the interviewees that align well with their personalities. While the editorial choices... Read More

Newly announced poet laureate Ada Limón delivers her own marvelous poetry very well indeed. Nearly all of the poems involve, in one way or another, the relationship between humans and the natural world through images, ideas, or acute observation. Like many fine poets, Limón takes her own life and experiences and works them toward a resolution that can be healing for herself and... Read More

Enigmatic Italian author Elena Ferrante offers glimpses of her journey as a writer, exploring literature and the process of writing. Narrator Hillary Huber's sumptuous voice brings out the poignancy of the four thought-provoking essays, which are rich with Ferrante's insights and stories about the writers who have made a significant contribution to her life and our world. Huber... Read More

Listening to award-winning author Zadie Smith read her collection of six personal essays about life in the year 2020 is such a transcendent experience that when done, I started again from the beginning. That voice--London-born, smooth, warm, well modulated with a hint of gravel and exquisite articulation. The pace--quick but not too fast. Her "here's the thing" attitude. Her... Read More

Narrator Adjoa Andoh's versatile voice is the perfect match for this novel based on the life of Caribbean tycoon Dorothy "Doll" Kirwan Thomas. Born into slavery on Montserrat in the mid-1700s, Doll is determined to purchase freedom for herself and her family. Andoh's portrayals of Doll's parents, lovers, children, and racist antagonists provide a diverse sensory experience for... Read More

This is a lengthy feminist retelling of what happened in Odysseus's kingdom of Ithaca while he was struggling to return home after the fall of Troy. Listeners are introduced to Penelope, wife of the hero, who must rule a kingdom beset with pirates and scores of suitors who long to wed her and claim kingship of this western Greek island. The poised, steady voice of narrator... Read More

Deepti Gupta is a soulful voice for this feminist memoir about migration, food, and staying true to one's choices. As narrator, she is a believable stand-in for the author, who reveals her struggles, and those of her extended family, as they undergo many major life transitions. Gupta dramatically expresses Ghosh's disorientation at her new life in America, annoyance with... Read More

Narrator Jackie Sanders favors a neutral, informative delivery as she reads this story of sexism in science. Sanders's approach is similar to author Rita Cowell's strategy when dealing with her obstructionist male colleagues--stay calm and avoid channeling melodramatics or anger. Not surprisingly, there is plenty to get angry about--from the denial of Colwell's research... Read More

It used to be frowned upon for women to exercise, sweat, or build muscle--it was thought unbecoming and even dangerous. Danielle Friedman introduces us to a parade of fascinating trailblazers who championed women's running and bodybuilding, created Jazzercise and Barre, and invented the sports bra and leotards. Her writing is exuberant and humorous. Her narration is joyful and... Read More

Narrator Charlotte Wright's assurance, crisp enunciation, and fine sense of nuance give voice to a life lived freely and bravely, within and without social conventions. De Rosnay's empathetic narrative moves through the significant roles du Maurier played in her life: daughter of a celebrated artistic family, fledgling novelist, young bride and mother of three, and author who... Read More

Author/narrator Sandra Cisneros triumphs with this beautiful story about female friendship. Cisneros portrays Corina, who finds letters from long-lost friends that she had when she was a young woman alone in Paris. The three women form a strong bond as poor foreign women navigating life in the glamorous City of Light. This audiobook is a beautiful reflection on the power of... Read More

History consists of events conducted mostly by men and recorded by men. In her clear, uncompromising voice, Philippa Gregory turns the tables, taking listeners through 900 years of abuse and betrayals, yearnings and near-miraculous accomplishments of women. Frequent interjections by Clare Corbett, Tania Rodrigues, Nneka Okoye, James Goode, and Joe Jameson provide voices for the... Read More

This audiobook is an incredible collection of historical examples, case studies, and stories that will make listeners rethink the ways that society supports misogyny and demonizes women. Her accounts comprise what Herman calls "the Misogynist's Handbook." Erin Bennett's narration perfectly matches the passion that fuels the research and calls to action. From Cleopatra to... Read More

Joy Harjo, the first Native American U.S. poet laureate, provides a stunning memoir filled with wisdom and compassion. In her strong, deep voice, Harjo delivers a dreamy, lyrical narration. In calm, appealing tones she shares tales of her Muscogee/Creek ancestors, personal anecdotes and remembrances, her early love of words, the stories and poems told by her beloved mother, and... Read More

Narrator Lisa Flanagan's bright, impassioned tones are perfect for this memoir by Elkins-Tanton, a planetary scientist, professor, and NASA lead investigator. Flanagan's ease with conveying complex scientific terminology and concepts, as well as her consistent and enthusiastic pacing, helps listeners absorb subject matter that may be unfamiliar. Much of this memoir focuses on... Read More

Olympic medalist Caster Semenya engages listeners with this deeply personal memoir of her experiences amid the ongoing debate over fairness in women's sports. Semenya, who was raised a girl and has always identified as female, has naturally high levels of testosterone, which are known as "differences in sex development (DSD)." She's been forced to undergo invasive and... Read More

Julie Teal carefully narrates the story of principal Anna Essinger, a woman of unflinching spirit who was determined to save the children in her school in Nazi Germany. With impeccable English that shifts effortlessly to flawless German, Teal creates a well-paced depiction of “Tante Anna,” whose prescient decision to move her school and students beyond Nazi reach—from... Read More

Julie DiCaro was an especially rare phenomenon--a woman on sports talk radio who was allowed to express an opinion. With palpable and justified anger, DiCaro outlines the underlying sexism of her industry, the harassment she and other female reporters experienced when they dared to report on the sexual misconduct of male athletes, and the evil and anonymous Internet trolls who... Read More

Internationally acclaimed author Isabel Allende describes her lifelong feminism. The audiobook begins with her experiences as a child witnessing her mother's attempts to provide for her three children after being abandoned by Isabel's father. Her story then moves through the feminist movement of the 1960s, her three subsequent marriages, and the effects of feminism on the lives... Read More

Using an understated conversational style, narrator January LaVoy performs journalist Gilliam’s memoir, which covers both the trajectory of her professional life and the story of a country experiencing the turmoil of change. Gilliam’s journey from pastor’s daughter with a narrow future to first black female reporter and columnist for the WASHINGTON POST spanned the Civil Rights... Read More

CNBC Senior Media and Tech Correspondent Julia Boorstin narrates her audiobook about women's leadership in business. Drawing from her interviews as a reporter and extensive research, she shares insights and the stories of more than 60 women leaders. She describes three common characteristics of women who are successful in business: authenticity, humility, and a sense of purpose... Read More

In a memoir almost as graceful as her dancing, author/narrator Misty Copeland delivers an elegant account of how she made history when she became the first Black principal ballerina with the formerly all-white American Ballet Theatre company. Copeland's voice lifts with delight as she speaks of her mentor, Raven Wilkinson (19352018), the first Black woman contracted to dance... Read More

The life of groundbreaking nuclear physicist Lise Meitner (1878-1968) is given voice by narrator Sandy Rustin. Marginalized by sexism, Meitner, an Austrian Jew, struggled to pursue the field she loved, eventually earning her colleagues' respect and a partnership with chemist Otto Hahn in Berlin. Nazi policies stripped her of her position, then forced her to flee. In exile, she... Read More

Elizabeth Wiley's warm voice and audible enthusiasm welcome listeners to the remarkable story of Louise de Kiriline Lawrence, a Swedish aristocrat who became a WWI front-line nurse, then a Canadian wilderness nurse, and finally a pioneering bird-watcher known as Canada's Rachel Carson. Captivating even for those with only a passing interest in birds, Simonds's book is an artful... Read More

Vanessa Moyen's narration is the perfect blend of the heartfelt and the academic in this collection of essays about the feminist possibilities of female monsters. Zimmerman examines some of Greek mythology's most famous female monsters, from Circe to Medusa, and the traits that make them monstrous: greed, hunger, ambition, ugliness. Blending personal stories and a critique of... Read More

With more women than men enrolled in medical school today, it might be hard to imagine a time when females were flatly denied the opportunity to become doctors. This audiobook profiles three pioneering Victorian-era women who helped open the doors to the female medical students who would follow. Jean Ann Douglass offers a first-rate narration of this work. Her tone varies with... Read More

What a fun and thought-provoking narration by Kate Mulgrew! This children's tale is filled with rhymes and lyrical wordplay. "Would she have been Rose if her name had not been Rose?" Mulgrew repeatedly ponders aloud. She engages the listener in an enlightening story about a girl who goes on an adventure of self-discovery. Her depictions of the characters come alive through her... Read More

Vanessa Redgrave's throaty contralto and famous hint of a quaver beautifully serve this brief dramatization of Joan Didion's memoir about the year following her husband's sudden death. Redgrave starred in the stage version, and her intimacy with the material highlights the eloquence of Didion's writing and the agony of the emotions portrayed. Didion was in her 70s when she... Read More