by Alex Kershaw ; read by Richard Poe ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 4, 2008
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Kershaw details the journey of the U.S.S. TANG submarine across the Pacific during WWII and its crew's ultimate capture and torture by the Japanese. Narrator Richard Poe delivers a powerful reading that makes the TANG and its crew the central focus of the listener's attention. Poe makes each character as real and honest as the last; the crew members are stern, commanding, and terrified. With strong resolve and steady pacing, Poe lets the story unfold in a matter-of-fact tone that brings a sense of authenticity and drama that propels the listener to the heart-wrenching climax. Poe never ceases to impress, commanding the listener’s attention from start to finish.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2008
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by Sally Hayden ; read by Aoife McMahon ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 16, 2026
A brilliant piece of work that proves love can survive war.
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Journalists are trained to look for and deliver facts, and Irish reporter Hayden did that, but she also did something more: She looked for love amid war. Narrator Aoife McMahon, with her delightful Irish accent, brings us the stories Hayden found while reporting the news. She explores war's impact on people and their relationships. She tells stories of the courageous soldier in Ukraine who confesses discomfort during his home visits and queer people in Ghana, where their love could have deadly consequences. From battle-scarred countries the world over, including Uganda, Iraq, and Rwanda, McMahon relates these stories with a beautiful dignity. They reveal terror and horror but also unexpected love, compassion, and survival.
A brilliant piece of work that proves love can survive war.Pub Date: June 16, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 41 mins
DD ISBN: 9781797198644
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2026
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by Andrew Bayliss ; read by Matt Addis ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 19, 2026
Addis delivers a satisfying performance that will keep listeners engaged in this commendable history.
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Matt Addis narrates Bayliss’ detailed but straightforward history of Sparta, from prehistory to the destruction of the Spartan hegemony in the 360s B.C.E., both ably and amiably. His resonant voice is likeable, if sometimes scratchy. And his manner is so thoroughly friendly that the program seems like history as narrated by a kindly uncle—but an astute one. His understanding and interpretation of the text are precise, and his tones and emphases are correct and helpful. Addis’ pacing is slightly slow, with notable pauses between text blocks, but given the complicated interurban politics of the ancient Greek city-states, moderate pacing is helpful rather than distracting.
Addis delivers a satisfying performance that will keep listeners engaged in this commendable history.Pub Date: May 19, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 27 mins
DD ISBN: 9798899749254
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: June 30, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
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