Machelle Williams is a steady narrator who provides a solid performance of this diverse short story collection. She shifts smoothly between the mostly female characters living in Florida, each of whom is struggling with her own losses. With a melodic intonation Williams presents the deepest dilemmas of mothers, daughters, and other women. From miscarriage to a parent's death, Williams helps listeners make sense of the big issues at play. She maintains a steady pace as we navigate the thoughts of many generations in the same family. Listeners who are looking for a brief, engaging title will find one here.
Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2021
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781696603331
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
All four narrators bring a smart edge to these stories.
Nunez's collection of short stories featuring thoughtful protagonists is well paired with a cast of four talented narrators: Hillary Huber, Rebecca Lowman, Catherine Ho, and Gabra Zackman. The stories are witty, smart, and somewhat cynical. Standout stories include “Philosophers,” drolly narrated by Huber, in which the protagonist remembers a Vietnam-era boyfriend; “Greensleeves,” in which a woman relates her thoughts to her therapist, with narrator Lowman employing an intriguing cadence and rhythm; “The Balloon,” in which the lead character remembers a lover, with narrator Zackman sounding mature, direct, and rational; and “The Naked Juror,” read by Ho, about a woman who wants to be a juror.
All four narrators bring a smart edge to these stories.Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Duration: 6 hrs, 12 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217336777
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: July 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2026
All four narrators are fitting choices for this collection.
Ozeki's thought-provoking 10-story collection features protagonists at various stages of life. Ozeki capably narrates the majority of her own stories at a relaxed pace, with varying tonal touches, from placid to biting, tailored to the content of each story. Rounding out the cast are a youthful-sounding Akie Kotabe as the child of a Yale faculty member in “The Anthropologist's Kid”; Jeff Ebner, pleasant in “Immortal,” about a patient who eats plastic; and George Newbern, thoughtful in one of the best stories of the collection, “Where Ambition Goes To Die,” about a couple's ambitious past selves. “The Problem of the Body,” about a grandmother/author who catfishes on a dating app on behalf of her granddaughter, is another standout.
All four narrators are fitting choices for this collection.Pub Date: June 2, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 48 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217338719
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: June 22, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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