Narrator Helen Lloyd's voice often sounds remarkably calm as she narrates Deb Brandon's recollections of medical emergencies and sensory overloads. That calm accentuates the moments of sheer panic that Brandon experienced in her recovery from brain hemorrhages and multiple surgeries. Brandon, a Carnegie Mellon University math professor, shares the frustrations of relearning simple tasks and getting back into her life. She shows both the process of recovery and the horror of her periodic mental shutdowns, sometimes in a stream-of-consciousness style. Lloyd captures both elements adeptly, bringing listeners into Brandon's mind and recovery. The result is an intense listening experience.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2018
Duration: 9 hrs
Publisher: She Writes Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
James Michener tells the real stories behind the man and his books. The recording is read with skill and consistency although the reader does little to enhance the robust, larger-than-life incidents related in the book. Due to the first-person narrative format, there is no opportunity for the narrator to change his voice. This makes some chapters monotonous as they go on and on in the typical Michener style. The listener may also become confused because the stories are not told chronologically. This is not a great choice for the audio format, but Michener fans may stick with it to the end.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In a quest for a sense of inner contentment and self-worth, Gloria Steinem brings the reader on a journey of investigation and discovery. Steinem reads the text herself in a straightforward and friendly, but not intimate, presentation which is so easy to listen to it invites repetition--thus ensuring the painless relearning of the lessons of the book. It's difficult to tell from the reading that this audiobook is abridged; each section can stand alone. Nonetheless, the listener wished the book were unabridged. Steinem left me wanting to learn more.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Dove Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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