Narrator Amy Landon's candid performance allows the women of Machado's short story collection to speak for themselves. Landon skillfully balances humor, sorrow, and a myriad of other emotions as she draws out the complexities of these women's physical and emotional lives. "The Husband Stitch," reminiscent in some ways of Alvin Schwartz's retelling of "The Green Ribbon," includes read-aloud directives, though Landon doesn't demonstrate them. Landon strikes the right blend of fear and anger as women struggle to hold onto themselves during an epidemic afflicting women in "Real Women Have Bodies." In "Inventory," Landon's reflective tone mirrors the protagonist's attitude as she recounts people she knew before and after a disease ravages the populace. Fantastical and horrific elements woven throughout these contemporary tales ensure they'll leave an indelible mark on listeners.
Pub Date: 2017
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781681686899
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Multiple award winner Card is one of the greatest practitioners of science fiction; here he delivers a history fantasy of the Wabash Valley circa 1800, a world of hexes and folk magic. This is the first book about Alvin Maker, the seventh son of a seventh son, who has remarkable psychic powers. Card is a very good narrator, expressive and well paced. One can hear the excitement of an author as he brings his own well described characters to life. There is one momentary technical glitch, the only slip up in an exemplary presentation. Highly recommended for fiction collections everywhere.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 7 hrs
Publisher: The Literate Ear
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Asimov's sweeping tale of the disintegration and fall of the Galactic Empire has never been more relevant or poignant. In the third book of the original trilogy, Dan Lazar handles the material adequately. He uses his limited range of voices nicely, if sometimes amusingly--he sometimes sounds like a foreigner attempting to mimic American accents. Varying pitch and pacing make for a lively narration, and his reading of a precocious young woman, who is ultimately an important figure, is delightful. Technical and editorial problems plague the title. Hearing Lazar repeatedly mispronounce a word that the text itself explains how to pronounce is very frustrating. Intermittent fade-outs on one channel; inconsistencies when switching sides; and low, rumbling background noise mar the sound quality.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 8 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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