If Huck Finn had been raised by his father, he might have turned out something like Morris “Shug” Akers, the narrator and protagonist of Daniel Woodrell's 2001 novel. Shug gets a fine voicing from Nicholas Tecosky; his detached and retrospective tone is that of a man—or perhaps a boy—who is looking back at his horrible and truncated childhood without illusions or regret. Shug has power over nothing except his emotions and the tractor for mowing the “bone orchard” where his mother, who calls him “Sweet Mister,” is the nominal caretaker. They both live in fear of his father, a petty criminal. Tecosky’s cool narration becomes downright chilling as Shug learns what he’s willing to do—and what he’s willing to give up—for love.
Pub Date: April 24, 2012
Duration: 4 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781611135046
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This audiobook is initially daunting. Sixteen hours long and constructed of subtle—at times, even confusing—shifts in point of view, it may feel overwhelming in the first hour. But sticking with George Newbern’s narration and Gilbert’s prose yields great rewards. Newbern’s performance is funny, thoughtful, heartrending, and utterly engrossing. When the famous, now aging, author A.N. Dyer calls his distant sons to his side, Newbern is provided ample characters to animate, and he does so with perfect pacing and what seems like an innate understanding of the novel. He creates a rhythm that makes the changing perspectives easy to follow and Gilbert’s details accessible. & SONS is a perfect example of how a skilled narrator can make a good book even better.
Pub Date: July 23, 2013
Duration: 16 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780385359566
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Following multiple lives over six decades, this is a story of cultural shifts, the effects of racial prejudice, and family secrets. Joy Osmanski's narration is engaged and easy to listen to. There are times when her narration is uneven and character accents are inconsistent, but she moves the story along at an excellent pace. Will Damron capably narrates a few descriptive paragraphs at the beginning to set the scene. During the '50s, as bombs are explode in Nevada's deserts to entertain Las Vegas tourists, four sets of characters experience the destruction caused by prejudice and social upheaval in their lives. The author skillfully integrates the lives of vivid and realistic characters, bringing them to a satisfying and surprising denouement in the final chapters.
Pub Date: May 2, 2017
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781508234715
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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