Comedy and pathos prevail throughout Udall’s novel about hapless Golden Richards, who has four wives, 28 children, a failing construction business, and a melancholy as deep as Utah’s valleys. It’s impressive enough that David Baker easily slips from companionable raconteur to bearer of tragic tales. But most arresting of all is when he deadens his voices to become the merciless, omniscient narrator that Udall occasionally uses to observe Golden's unhappy clan. Devoid of all the warmth normally in Baker’s voice, the transformation is truly frightening and sinister. That voice itself underscores what is the most salient characteristic of poor Golden and his brood: vulnerablility. M.O. 2011 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: July 9, 2010
Duration: 23 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Lakin delivers a layered performance of each complex character, adding depth and insight to this original coming-of-age tale.
In this captivating debut novel, Christine Lakin introduces a domineering mother, her four brilliant daughters, and her compliant husband. The unusual Cross family lives on the grounds of Mercy Hill, a mental hospital run by their mother. The sisters, JJ, Caro, Mimi, and Denise, and their mother, Lisa, sacrifice much to keep the hospital viable. The story is told by the youngest, Denise; she’s young and inexperienced, and the accuracy of her observations may feel unreliable. Lakin’s narration, especially authentic in family scenes, offers portraits of each sister, carefully allowing them varying degrees of awareness.
Lakin delivers a layered performance of each complex character, adding depth and insight to this original coming-of-age tale.Pub Date: May 5, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 18 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217290215
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2026
With a performance that’s warm, thoughtful, and filled with understanding, Scholey makes this sentimental journey...
Annabel Scholey’s narration fully embodies the many characters in this heart-wrenching look at a family dealing with the unthinkable. Fifteen-year-old Jesse has terminal leukemia. Jesse’s family is falling apart trying to deal with the news. The Inspire a Wish Foundation sends virtual-reality game designer Alex to try to fulfill Jesse’s wish for an interactive video of her life to leave behind for her family. Scholey’s serious but upbeat delivery keeps the poignant story from becoming maudlin. She skillfully conveys Alex’s uncertainty about the project, Jesse’s excitement, her mother’s sensible encouragement, and her father’s animosity toward Alex, and she portrays the patients and gentle, caring staff of the pediatric cancer ward.
With a performance that’s warm, thoughtful, and filled with understanding, Scholey makes this sentimental journey worthwhile.Pub Date: May 5, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 44 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063497245
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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