When Don Snyder's mother, Peggy, died shortly after his birth, Snyder's father rarely spoke of her. Later, as his father is dying, Snyder reaches back into the past to meet the mother he never knew. Brian Keeler reads Snyder's discoveries about his parents with great sensitivity and an overall melancholy tone that matches this sad story. Keeler expertly captures the author's sorrow at never having known or properly mourned his mother's untimely death, indignation toward his father and grandparents for not having prevented her demise, and anger at Peggy's doctor for refusing to accept any responsibility. Keeler's somber reading meshes well with Snyder's investigation into the end of his mother's life and the beginning of his own. The story itself is anything but upbeat, but Keeler's performance makes it a compelling listen.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2001
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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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