Performing this sophisticated, often poetic, writing about his personal journey through the "fertile tableau and morass" that was New York City in the 1990s, former VANITY FAIR insider Dana Brown sounds assured and thoughtful--like the charismatic and intellectually savvy Gen-X New Yorker he is. What makes this combination memoir and cultural history so compelling is that the author's sometimes snarky narrating tone and sharp perspectives are balanced by an undercurrent of humility, a gratitude and nostalgia for the improbable life he enjoyed working for the culturally important magazine. His inside stories about the famous and powerful and his riveting accounts of the palace intrigue in the NYC magazine world are spellbinding. A must-hear for fans of publishing culture and people finding their way in a challenging city.
Pub Date: March 22, 2022
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593507223
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Honest, heartfelt recollections make this performance feel like catching up with a close friend on the phone.
The best narrator for O'Connell's unique mixture of humor and drama is, fittingly, O'Connell himself. In his essay collection, O'Connell discusses every facet of his life as a gay man with cerebral palsy, from his former reliance on alcohol and drugs to his struggle finding a sexual partner, experience in an open relationship, his exercise journey, and his Hollywood success. Listeners will find themselves laughing alongside O'Connell as he candidly recalls—with contagious cackles—his time as an addict in denial and his decade-long dry spell. O'Connell's narration is passionate, whether he’s recounting a heartbreaking story of childhood trauma or sharing a laugh-out-loud joke.
Honest, heartfelt recollections make this performance feel like catching up with a close friend on the phone.Pub Date: May 26, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 56 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250457127
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: tomorrow
Panettiere’s performance captures her memoir’s honesty, vulnerability, and emotional intensity.
In her signature slightly husky voice, Panettiere narrates her journey from child actor in more than 50 commercials to fame on Heroes and Nashville and to life as a mother, domestic abuse survivor, recovered addict, and grieving sister. Her voice wavers when recalling loss, and she sounds small when she describes auditioning at age 5 under the guidance of her demanding mother, herself a former actor. Panettiere warmly reflects on the gifts acting gave her, from working with revered stars to filming abroad and her advocacy for animal welfare. She makes a shark encounter sound thrilling, and she uses a playful accent for her Ukrainian ex-fiancé, professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko, relaying his fights with fast-paced excitement.
Panettiere’s performance captures her memoir’s honesty, vulnerability, and emotional intensity.Pub Date: May 19, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 47 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668655627
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: June 23, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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