Cherrie Moraga's gravelly voice and impeccable pronunciation aptly convey the harsh lives of her family of origin, especially her Mexican mother and Anglo father. She convincingly compares her own life as a lesbian woman with her mother, Elvira's, experiences as a poor, uneducated Hispanic woman. The well-rendered poetic text and spirited descriptions create an authentic atmosphere. Listeners will learn that Elvira was hired as a child to pick cotton and worked as a cigarette girl in 1920s Tijuana. Moraga shares details of her own life as a poet, playwright, and feminist and discusses her relationships with her son and loving girlfriend, but Elvira's influence is always center stage. It's particularly painful to hear Moraga help Elvira cope with her severe dementia. Audio helps listeners stay on track during frequent changes of time and place.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2019
Duration: 7 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Tantor Media
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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