THE (OTHER) YOU Stories

In this story collection, prolific author Joyce Carol Oates explores "might-have-beens" among a variety of characters. Kate Reading provides a strong and steady narration, as usual, boldly putting forth Oates's direct syntax and a no-nonsense style. Narrator Malcolm Hillgartner has a more formal voice that keeps listeners at arm's length with its chilly tone. Both narrators are well-matched performers for Oates's tales of loss, disappointment, and regret. Whether the story follows one woman's examination of the life she could have had or revisits an older man's heartbreak, the audiobook is clear-eyed and methodical in its approach. Listeners are left to react with their own emotions. Reading and Hillgartner present the stories with a neutral clarity that suits Oates's work. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2021]