In this brief and admiring biography of James Joyce, Edna O'Brien paints his life with a broad brush, devoting most of her attention to his writing. Both the author and narrator Donada Peters handle the language of Joyce's major works, especially ULYSSES, exceptionally well. While Joyce's famous stream of consciousness narrative gets the attention it merits, his love of the lyrical, ironic, and whimsical is the true delight of the book and of Peters's narration. While Joyce wrote mostly in Trieste, Rome, and Paris, the subject of his writing was always the Dublin of his youth. Peters is unusually good at using inflection and maintaining an appropriate pace. When she describes Joyce's life in Trieste, for example, the listener is in Trieste. When she reads from his work, wherever it was written, the listener is always in Dublin. Perfect for Joyce novices and devotees alike.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2000
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Karen Chilton's fluid alto is a good fit for this biography of Thomas Jefferson. The authors are more or less successful in their attempt to present the third president in the context of his times. What we are presented with is a very human being--possessing great intellect, filled with flaws and contradictions, and still immensely fascinating nearly three centuries after his birth. Chilton's pacing and inflection are never off. She narrates with a calm demeanor, competently affecting various accents for quotes and ably giving subtle expression to the narrative. It all adds up to an enjoyable listening experience.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2016
Duration: 14 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781501909993
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This rags-to-riches memoir recounts the business life of Sam Wyly as he made his way from IBM salesman in the early 1960s to the owner of Sterling Software and Michael's stores, as well as a chain of restaurants, among other companies. Along the way, Wyly tells of his investment strategies, his business partners, his successes, and his failures. Phil Gigante reads this business story with a steady voice that lulls listeners instead of exciting them. In addition to the occasional odd pronunciation, Gigante's voice is barely modulated, and he fails to engage emotionally. Nonetheless, this title offers an interesting view of how to invest in your business, making it grow while weathering an ever-changing economy.
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2008
Duration: 9 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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