The measured calmness in Michael Maloney’s reading allows the listener to be immersed in de Waal’s memoir. The book tells of the fortunes of the Ephrussis, a wealthy Jewish family of traders whose business dealings spread from Russia across Europe. Now their fortune is diminished, with only their netsuke collection—tiny Japanese ornamental carvings—remaining. De Waal details these objects of fascination and the family’s saga, particularly how their maid, Anna, preserved the netsukes and prevented them from being looted by the Nazis. The story tends to ramble, but Maloney always keeps his focus, using pauses and a lean narrative tone to allow the listener to appreciate these unique carvings and the similarly unique family to which de Waal, a potter and curator of ceramics at the Victoria and Albert Museum, belongs.
Pub Date: June 1, 2011
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781427215703
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
If Lawson can do it, perhaps that means her listeners can, too.
With good-humored narration, Lawson reminds listeners that sometimes, even when everything feels like it's falling apart, the best thing you can do for yourself is bedazzle the deer head you've been storing in your garage. With contagious conviviality, Lawson provides this solution—alongside other, perhaps more relatable, ones—to help her audience break their cycles of depression, anxiety, and/or endless scrolling. Lawson's laughter bubbles out as she speaks. Her fear is made palpable with every. Emphasized. Word. Her cheery voice quavers with a lifetime of self-imposed nervousness. Yet she narrates (and writes) on. Lawson uses open-hearted honesty to work toward the best version of herself.
If Lawson can do it, perhaps that means her listeners can, too.Pub Date: March 31, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 18 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217281992
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: April 11, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
Listeners will be inspired to let nothing as mundane as money stand in the way of pursuing one’s artistic talent.
Adam Verner’s breezy narration keeps this unusual take on the lives of artists moving at a brisk pace. His resonant voice and matter-of-fact style encourage listeners to engage with a varied group of creative people, including painters, writers, poets, filmmakers, and musicians from across history, who persisted against all odds. Such well-known personages as Cézanne, Kafka, Hayden, Van Gogh, and Godard found financial support in many ways, ranging from inheritance, allowance from a relative, day jobs and odd jobs, teaching, rich patrons, government grants, and even theft. Incongruous as it may seem, day jobs and unrelated life experiences may actually provide inspiration for the creative spirit.
Listeners will be inspired to let nothing as mundane as money stand in the way of pursuing one’s artistic talent.Pub Date: March 31, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 24 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250432490
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: tomorrow
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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