This meticulous work by the Pulitzer Prize-winning Maraniss examines the Vietnam Era in Southeast Asia and at home. The war portions focus on specific locations, military companies, and individuals, telling their personal stories down to the details of body posture and emotional reactions. The result is vivid, but occasionally over-whelming--a bit of editing would have helped. At home Maraniss focuses on the students at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (Maraniss's alma mater), who worked to prevent Dow Chemical, makers of napalm, from recruiting on campus. L.J. Ganser enters into the spirit of what is essentially a recreation of an entire period, taking care to give equally dramatic voice to individuals on all sides of the issues. Ganser handles period chants, slogans, and foreign vocabulary with equal ease. The only weakness in the narration is an occasional nasal tone, which makes strong emotion seem unintentionally strident.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2004
Duration: 25 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Carol Matthau epitomizes a glamour and lifestyle not associated with the 1990's. Here is a life of privilege, tragedy and worry about what friends would think of her new frock or lover. Matthau possesses a voice and delivery that simply could not be improved on. In her coy whisper, she tells compelling stories involving everyone from William Saroyan (husband #1) and Truman Capote to Carson McCullers, Gloria Vanderbilt, and Walter Matthau (husband #2). This excellent audio presentation will leave you wanting to read the entire book to discover what juicy tidbits were left out.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: The Publishing Mills
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
As America celebrates its semiquincentennial, it’s enlightening to look back at how the country celebrated its...
The Great Centennial Exhibition was designed to celebrate a century of U.S. history and progress and to make a statement that the country was a technological and diplomatic world leader as the globe looked toward the 20th century. Author Bordewich frames his chronicle of the exhibition by focusing on four key figures—President Rutherford B. Hayes; Alexander Graham Bell; railroad magnate Tom Scott, who spearheaded the fair; and sculptor Edmonia Lewis, whose work broke racial and gender barriers. Narrator Sean Patrick Hopkins’ conversational tone perfectly suits the material. He adds a bit of lilt for humorous and ironic passages. His pace makes it easy to follow the material, and the author’s writing style adapts well to audio.
As America celebrates its semiquincentennial, it’s enlightening to look back at how the country celebrated its centennial.Pub Date: June 9, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 12 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217340187
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: June 30, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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