Dana Wing Lau creates a youthful voice for 12-year-old Lily, who must help her parents save their Chinese school while also competing in a local film competition. Lily has a lot to balance with her friend groups and school obligations. She also struggles with coming in second to her archnemesis, Max, who always seems to be one step ahead of her. Lau adds drama and passion to... Read More
Alison McKenna and Gary Furlong bring all the angst of an enemies-to-lovers story to this retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" inspired by Irish folklore. In this version, the beast is trapped inside the body of a shape-shifting beauty named Rozlyn due to a curse spanning three centuries. When the charismatic Jamie comes to win her heart, Rozlyn suspects more is afoot. And she's... Read More
AudioFile Golden Voice Simon Vance navigates former double agent/journalist John Russell through his eighth adventure. It's the bad old days of the 1950s. The Cold War is heating up, Russia and the U.S. are at loggerheads in postwar Berlin, McCarthy's witch hunt is in full swing in America, and espionage is rampant. Russell's partner, successful TV actress Effi Koenen, is to be... Read More
Dr. Joy Buolamwini carefully narrates this hybrid memoir detailing her groundbreaking research on AI software discrimination. Labeling the phenomenon she uncovered as "the coded gaze," she explains how predominantly white male computer programmers have subconsciously established bias in algorithmic decision making. As an activist, Buolamwini warns that some systems claim they... Read More
Gary Hoffman masterfully narrates this historical thriller based on a true crime in Leesburg, Virginia, in 1872. Emily Lloyd, a young widow considered odd even by her friends, is charged with murdering her four children, her husband, and her aunt. In a town full of jealous wives and mysterious neighbors, everyone is already convinced of Mrs. Lloyd's guilt--except Powell... Read More
Rory Barnett portrays "The Vicar," also known as Terry Nolan, an undercover MI5 operative whose cover has been blown. Barnett adds all the narrative fuel required for this action-packed story, which unfolds a deadly serious operation designed to prevent loss of life in England's largest cities. With gusto, Barnett captures the danger and impromptu violence between Nolan and all... Read More
Will Watt expertly performs the second in the Spires series. A re-release of a previously published book, this audiobook includes additional stories and background materials featuring Edwin; his ex, Marius; and their new loves. As a flood hits his Oxford neighborhood, Edwin meets Adam, the ginger civil engineer who is trying to lessen the impending damage on the community.... Read More
The author describes how the lives of 22 historical figures inspired her in ways that promoted personal freedom, emotional growth, and spirituality in the Christian tradition. Narrator Siiri Scott's melodic voice and enthusiasm work well to convey the author's humanitarian message and these well-crafted profiles. Her grasp of Karen Wright Marsh's values and arresting... Read More
Middle-grade listeners who know narrator Ramón de Ocampo as Wimpy Kid Greg Heffley will be stunned by his display of versatility in this horror tale set in rainy New Rotterdam, a vortex of supernatural weirdness. When newcomer Emrys and two friends find a book with an eye that blinks and that talks, they're ushered into a fight against forces of evil. De Ocampo carries... Read More
This audiobook reveals that Orange is among the most insightful novelists writing today and a poet of pain. Among this segmented novel's stellar performances, Charley Flyte's reading of Victoria Bear Shield's dramatic monologue to her unborn daughter is a tour de force--a haunting performance with an expressive tone and intimate voice. Alma Cuervo portrays Jacquie Red Feather... Read More
January LaVoy and Michael Crouch perform this historical novel with a supernatural twist. LaVoy delivers the perspective of Laura, a nurse who has recently returned from a WWI battlefield to her home in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Crouch narrates the viewpoint of Laura's brother, Freddie, a young soldier who has gone missing in the cold, wet trenches of Belgium. LaVoy conveys all of... Read More
Edoardo Ballerini returns to add immediacy and authority to the latest Lincoln Rhyme audiobook, which once again features his helper, Thom Reston; his partner, Amelia Sachs; and, of course, his old nemesis, the Watchmaker. When a crane falls off the roof of a skyscraper and a group threatens more mayhem to come, the city goes on alert. It soon becomes apparent that the... Read More
Actor Lili Taylor brings a wry warmth to her narration of Campbell's latest, set in Michigan's Great Massasauga Swamp, where a family contends with secrets and intergenerational trauma. Taylor portrays imperious Hermine Zook, who is raising her 11-year-old granddaughter, Dorothy, nicknamed Donkey, on a secluded island in the middle of the swamp. When tragedy strikes, Donkey's... Read More
A.A. Milne called THE WAY OF ALL FLESH the second-best novel in the English language, but it remains one of the least known. In this audio version David Timson brings out all of its wit and charm, although some knowledge of Victorian Britain may be necessary to appreciate the extent of its satire. Among the five generations of the Pontifex family, there are a fair number of... Read More
Dion Graham narrates a dark and complex contemporary fantasy in which so-called monsters leave the shadows to share the human world. The monsters have allies who hope to push through legislation to protect them, but a malevolent cult is attempting to incite an apocalyptic war against them. Graham maintains a patient yet engaging cadence in a slightly gravelly voice that grabs... Read More
Five remarkable narrators create an unforgettable portrait of the Warsaw Ghetto during WWII. Brad Griffith provides the main narration as Adam Paskow, a language and literature teacher who lost his beloved wife, Kasia. After being relocated to the Warsaw Ghetto, he is recruited by the real-life Oneg Shabbat to document the histories of the Jews there. Jesse Vilinsky, Sharon... Read More
Sophia Thakur narrates her collection of poems exploring aspects of womanhood, joined by Nalini Thakur for some individual pieces. Author Thakur's voice is whispery, slow, insistent--demanding listeners' attention. They should give it, for each poem stands on its own, offering occasional internal rhymes and often startling figurative language. They provide glimpses of hearts... Read More
Xe Sands pulls listeners into this thought-provoking story about family, grief, aging, and connection. Rachel Calloway, a divorced, childless, 50-something environmental journalist from Washington, DC, returns home to Maine following her mother's death. With vivid descriptions and well-developed characters, listeners find themselves witnesses to Rachel's journey as she revisits... Read More
Inspired by a true event--the 1911 murder of muckraking writer David Graham Phillips--this well-researched mystery casts author Edith Wharton as a reluctant detective probing the death and life of a man she abhorred. Kitty Hendrix performs in a low-register breathy voice that emphasizes Wharton's mix of high-society manners and fierce determination. Her moderate pace allows... Read More
Narrator Avi Roque conveys all the creeping horror of this sequel to WHAT MOVES THE DEAD. Alex Easton, a retired soldier, travels to their family's hunting lodge in their damp and unwelcoming home country, Gallacia. Alex discovers the lodge cold and empty and learns that the caretaker has died under mysterious circumstances. The villagers are wary of Alex, and the lodge and... Read More
Every one of performer Billy Dee Williams's well-lived 86 years can be heard in this candid memoir. Williams's somewhat tired vocal demeanor sharply contrasts with his cool and crisp delivery of the fascinating events of his life, beginning with his childhood appearance in a Broadway show. He has a tinge of a New York City accent. And--make no mistake--his frequent odd pauses... Read More
Bird lovers should flock to this fascinating audiobook. David Allen Sibley's field guides for bird identification are the worthy successors to Roger Tory Peterson's classic guides and are indispensable for birders. Here, Sibley has thoughtfully adapted his beautifully illustrated print version of WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A BIRD. Sibley's son, Evan Sibley, narrates with aplomb,... Read More
Ana Osorio's narration has hints of Spanish accents, which reflect the Argentinian-Bolivian background of 19-year-old Inez Olivera. Osorio stresses Inez's emotions--her longing for adventure and for her parents, who spend six months a year in Cairo. Their deaths propel headstrong Inez's journey to Egypt, where Osorio gently describes the lavishness of its nineteenth-century... Read More
Jennifer Jewell does a fine job narrating her own work, a fascinating and sometimes frightening examination of the complex world of seeds. It is personal, political, and technical as it dives into the work of seeds, the threats they face, and the politics and economics that surround them. Jewell hosts a National Public Radio program and podcast, so she is no stranger to the art... Read More
Karissa Vacker and Hillary Huber deliver excellent performances in this gripping audiobook. The story, set in the Adirondacks, evokes themes of empowerment, personal growth, and discovery as it depicts emotional insights and decades-spanning intrigue. Vacker voices failed screenwriter Rowan, who discovers a mysterious handbook that may have something to do with a woman who went... Read More
Emily Spowage performs this sizzling contemporary romance with a light touch. Gruff former professional football star Alfie is urged by his agent to write his memoir. Curvy, cheerful Mabel applies to be his ghostwriter. When the two are seen together, they're mistaken for a couple. To hide the real nature of their relationship, they pretend to be dating. Spowage brings out the... Read More
Because Kenan Thompson has been featured in movies and TV shows for the past 30 years, including a long stint on "Saturday Night Live," many people feel they know him--but this audiobook, written and narrated by the actor, shows a personal side. Thompson compares his childhood to how he's raising his two young daughters. He shares his experiences as a Black actor and notes that... Read More
Janine Granda narrates this thriller about a woman and her lover who are on the run from a violent mob family. Melissa and Jake are struggling to keep one step ahead of Lucky Wilson, an assassin with a wealth of emotional problems and a mandate to bring Melissa back to her ex-boyfriend, the mob boss. A bizarre mix of assassins and mob associates await around every corner.... Read More
Tiffany Morgan narrates this novel set during the Civil War in rural North Carolina. Fifteen-year-old Henry McBride steals off to enlist, and his mother, Joetta, sends his father, Ennis, off to bring him home. Joetta's refusal to support either side makes her a target in her community, especially after she performs a daring act of kindness. Morgan's measured cadence brings the... Read More
Narrator Lee Osorio soothes listeners with a warm and gentle approach to Buddhist teacher Haemin Sunim's guide to overcoming life's struggles. Using a welcoming and intellectual-sounding tone, Osorio supports Sunim's relatability, understanding of challenges, and belief that difficulties should be seen as opportunities. The author's Buddhist mindset of strength and dignity... Read More
Narrator Eunice Wong captures the beauty and pain of this magical coming-of-age story set on a Canadian island. Listeners meet 11-year-old Ava, who has been sent to her grandparents while her mother experiences a difficult pregnancy. Wong's sweet, sensitive Ava is worried despite her loving grandparents and the gorgeous setting of the island, replete with deer, birds, and water... Read More
Megan Tusing and Samantha Desz provide a captivating dual performance with confidence, especially when the narration is deliberately unreliable. Kat Bird awakes from a coma, coming face-to-face with her twin sister, Jude. Her memory a blank, Kat must piece together the story of their lives, with Jude's guidance. Secrets come to the surface as Kat puts the pieces of their shared... Read More
Narrator Harry Lloyd's affable narration echoes physicist Carlo Rovelli's casual writing style. Their conversational approach to the concept of white holes allows a variety of listeners to engage with complex physics regardless of how much knowledge they start with. Simply put, white holes cannot be entered but allow information to escape; they are the opposite of black holes,... Read More
"It's hard to live in someone's blind spot." This refrain is part of Funder's uniquely crafted audiobook about the life of Eileen O'Shaughnessy, George Orwell's wife. Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood is a capable narrator with a bright tone and considerable skill with voices and accents. The audiobook takes on many roles--O'Shaughnessy biography, author's memoir, and social... Read More
Narrators Angus King, Katy Townsend, and Tavia Gilbert excel at telling this powerful story. In 1878 Scotland, Samuel saves Hailey's brother, sparking a secret romance despite their class differences. When Hailey's father's financial downfall forces her family to emigrate to Seattle, Samuel sets off to find her. Against the backdrop of Washington Territory, their story... Read More
Natalie Naudus narrates a romance loosely inspired by the 1938 movie BRINGING UP BABY. Zoey Fong's life is guided by The Plan--that is, until she meets Davy Hsieh and he upends almost every aspect of it. Naudus's portrayal of Zoey highlights her focus and goal-oriented mindset, while her portrayal of Davy captures his easygoing nature. Both Zoey and Davy suffer from anxiety,... Read More
Multitalented Imani Jade Powers narrates this panoramic coming-of-age novel about a Parisian teen named Delphine. The story, told in the first person, transports listeners from war-torn Paris to Harlem, to Havana just prior to Castro, and then back to France. Delphine is not a particularly likable heroine, but her drive captures one's imagination. She is obsessed with meeting... Read More
Amy Scanlon and Liz Pearce create a compelling listening experience as they perform the alternating points of view of witch sisters Kaija and Minna. Their journeys diverge when Kaija leaves their woodland home for the Norwegian seaside community of their childhood and Minna, seething with hatred for the villagers who burned their mother, remains behind. The townspeople come... Read More
Gail Shalan narrates this fantastical novel set during WWI. It focuses on Petra, a witch who is hidden from the world until she is sought out to join a special group called upon to fight against evil. Shalan's voice is full of feeling. Her deliberate intonation and quick pace create anticipation and a sense of adventure. Beyond the fighting against monsters and other ghostly... Read More
Irish-born Tim Gerard Reynolds provides a pleasant brogue for this high-fantasy story of a simple peasant who was once one of the most powerful wizards in the world--a destroyer of armies and kings. Now in self-exile, the man would rather bask in the love of his adoring son and wonderfully eccentric extended family. In a realm meticulously populated with trolls, elves, dragons,... Read More
Even with the large number of Chinese and Russian place and character names, listeners will be rewarded by Catherine Ho's performance of this fascinating historical novel. Sun "Yomei" Weishi (1921-1968), adoptive daughter of Zhou Enlai, is selected to leave China to study acting in Moscow. Ho delivers Yomei's vivid accounts of political upheaval, harsh conditions, and her... Read More
The sure touch of Golden Voice narrator Julia Whelan transforms Kristen Hannah's absorbing novel about Vietnam War combat nurses into an addictive listen. An intimate portrait and a sprawling account of a searing time, the story focuses on 20-year-old Frances McGrath, who, in 1965, impetuously chooses the Army Nurse Corps over cotillions and marriage. Whelan brings believable... Read More
Narrator Catherine Ho portrays three Shanghai friends who represent the struggles and limitations women face in contemporary Chinese society. Jane has always been told she's ugly and is stuck in a marriage to the one person who proposed to her, hardworking Rina is overlooked for promotions due to sexism and wants to freeze her eggs, and people-pleaser Lulu feels obligated to... Read More
Alison Campbell poignantly presents a rural English community whose disparate residents are fighting attempts by developers to close their social housing. Listeners join curmudgeonly Matilda, 90 years old, and Connie, age 29, who is fleeing a violent boyfriend. When hoarder Matilda collapses while feeding her menagerie of goats, cats, and chickens, Connie, who has been... Read More
It's always informative, at the least, to hear a poet's own readings of his work--even if those are not always the most evocative or entertaining renditions. Michael Ondaatje's poetry is quite fine; an earlier collection won the Governor General's Literary Award (Canada). But his performance of these works, alas, does not do them justice. The poems return again and again to... Read More
Eve Schaub chronicles her family's ambitious undertaking to eliminate household waste for a year, which was made even more difficult by the Covid pandemic. Hillary Huber's tone of bemused humor matches the author's witty rendition of the many sacrifices her family made on their improbable journey to zero waste. The family sought out alternatives to many common products and... Read More
André Santana's impressive narration deals with one family's contemporary problems. Cecily, a college instructor, is currently under investigation for sexual misconduct with a student. Her manic mother, Dorothy, is trying to get her life on track with the assistance of a self-help guru by opening a spiritual retreat in Woodstock, New York. And her Uncle Tom is so obsessed with... Read More
Greta Jung performs these science-fiction stories from National Book Award finalists Bora Chung and translator Anton Hur. In one story, an elevator falls in love with one of the residents in its building. In another story, a robot tries to survive in a postapocalyptic world in which humans are nearly extinct. Jung narrates the audiobook with deep understanding of the characters... Read More
Jasmin Savoy Brown's pleasant, dynamic voice captures the climate-razed Earth and the few people selected for survival as part of the Inside Project. Women's rights advocate Jacqueline Mellinder directs its Manhattan location, allowing only women inside in order to eradicate masculinity. Ava is one of those women; her voice is growing steadily dreamier as she lets go of her... Read More
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