Carol Monda's precise performance keeps the listener from figuring out too soon that this is a satire--a very weird satire. She sounds so serious, so professional, even as the story gets more and more absurd, that some listeners may not believe this nonsense is anything more than a fever dream. She keep the listener interested, but in the cold light of day, this is sleazy, bad porn. The overly detailed descriptions of female genitalia and masturbation are the opposite of erotic. Heroine Penny Harrigan, unbelievably, allows herself to become a test subject for a new line of sex toys. The gadgets work so well that millions of women lock themselves away and eventually go crazy and die. Men, for lack of sex, go crazy and attack women. Say it with me-- what??? M.S.
Pub Date: Oct. 21, 2014
Duration: 7 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781470383909
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This highly emotional audiobook won’t leave listeners dry-eyed.
Kirt Graves tenderly narrates this audiobook about the end of the world. Don and Rodney, married for the last 40 years, have one month left to live as a black hole approaches Earth. They hit the road on a desperate trip across the country to fulfill one last promise. Graves easily distinguishes a variety of characters as they grapple with their impending deaths. He shows remarkable emotional versatility in his depictions of hope, desperation, apathy, and acceptance. Graves gives Rodney a low, gruff, and tough voice, while sentimental Don sounds gentler. Graves’ performance is leisurely paced, letting listeners linger in the stories of the people Don and Rodney meet along their journey.
This highly emotional audiobook won’t leave listeners dry-eyed.Pub Date: April 28, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 25 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250435606
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: today
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2026
Wilson’s spirited and heartfelt performance makes this beautifully told story a must-listen.
English actress Lydia Wilson’s lively delivery of Spufford’s genre-blending adventure adds much to the captivating tale. Iris, a high-spirited young woman, chafes at the limits of life as a stockbrokerage secretary in 1939 London. On a whim, she hooks up one night with Geoffrey, a sincere young engineer. Soon, they find themselves battling time-traveling fascists who seek to change history. Wilson’s attractive, clear voice and sensitive pacing add nuance to Spufford’s evocative portrayal of life in wartime London. During conversations, Wilson’s mix of tonal shifts and a realistic tempo make one feel deliciously like an eavesdropper. While Wilson’s male characters don’t always have deeper voices, that is a quibble, as individual personalities shine through.
Wilson’s spirited and heartfelt performance makes this beautifully told story a must-listen.Pub Date: March 10, 2026
Duration: 15 hrs, 29 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668151099
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: today
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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