It’s difficult to imagine a better narrator for this collection of letters from the "Dear Sugar" advice column than Sugar herself. Cheryl Strayed's delivery is as unaffected as the home truths she dispenses online to her "Sweet Peas." Their letters, ranging from humorous to heartbreaking, are unique in detail, yet each contains a nugget of common human experience or emotion. The author’s beautifully crafted answers are thorough and thoughtful. The fact that much of her counsel springs from reflection on her own life strengthens the feeling of intimacy. The audio version offers the advantage of conveying her warmth and caring even more effectively than print. Listeners looking for the unusual will find many tiny, beautiful things to enjoy in this offering.
Pub Date: July 10, 2012
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780449808269
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An impassioned and inspiring manifesto on telling good stories.
In an unadorned but sincere and appealing performance, Barnett’s enthusiasm for children’s literature comes through loud and clear. The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature makes a convincing case for the importance of children’s literature as an art form, and the importance of recognizing kids as creative, imaginative, discerning readers in their own right. As anyone who has read or listened to Barnett’s books for children knows, he’s funny, and that humor adds to the listening experience, especially when he shares personal stories or interrupts himself to deliver frequent footnotes. A couple of small changes from the print book make the production specific to audiobook listeners.
An impassioned and inspiring manifesto on telling good stories.Pub Date: May 5, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668657096
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: May 4, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2026
Perceptive and thoughtful, this journey becomes both a search for old friends and a moving act of self-discovery.
McCarthy entices listeners with this charming blend of travel writing and an exploration of aging and male friendship. On a sprawling road trip across America to reconnect with five friends who shaped his life, McCarthy encounters people who deepen his contemplation of how friendships evolve over time, especially for men. McCarthy is an easygoing storyteller and his congenial narration matches his writing style. His engaging voice, playful and warm, captures the rich personalities of the people he meets as well as the character of the iconic and obscure places he passes along the way.
Perceptive and thoughtful, this journey becomes both a search for old friends and a moving act of self-discovery.Pub Date: March 24, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 2 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668653906
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: April 13, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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