The author of THE SHIPPING NEWS and BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN has written a meditation on place—a bend in the North Platte River in Wyoming—and a process—the careful planning and construction of her house. Proulx, a National Book Award winner, also shares a brief history of her early life—and in her own voice, too. Though Joan Allen is billed as the narrator of this production, Proulx reads the first chapter, which recounts some of her history, debunks a cherished family myth, and acknowledges a debt to a garrulous shopkeeper. When the delivery shifts to Allen with the second chapter, one can’t help feeling a sense of loss as the rough edges of the author’s voice give way to the flawless consistency of the professional. The listener must wait until Proulx’s dream house has been constructed before the audiobook finds its footing again when the author herself revels in the beauty and history of her particular corner of the sky.
Pub Date: Jan. 4, 2011
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780743597258
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
James Michener tells the real stories behind the man and his books. The recording is read with skill and consistency although the reader does little to enhance the robust, larger-than-life incidents related in the book. Due to the first-person narrative format, there is no opportunity for the narrator to change his voice. This makes some chapters monotonous as they go on and on in the typical Michener style. The listener may also become confused because the stories are not told chronologically. This is not a great choice for the audio format, but Michener fans may stick with it to the end.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In a quest for a sense of inner contentment and self-worth, Gloria Steinem brings the reader on a journey of investigation and discovery. Steinem reads the text herself in a straightforward and friendly, but not intimate, presentation which is so easy to listen to it invites repetition--thus ensuring the painless relearning of the lessons of the book. It's difficult to tell from the reading that this audiobook is abridged; each section can stand alone. Nonetheless, the listener wished the book were unabridged. Steinem left me wanting to learn more.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Dove Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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