The hero of Elie Wiesel's A MAD DESIRE TO DANCE survived the horrors of WWII but is unable to live in peacetime. The novel is an intense journey into the mind of a miserable man who has suffered overwhelming personal loss and who is trapped by his fear of life itself. Narrator Mark Bramhall becomes Doriel, who moves the book along by talking, thinking, and philosophizing. His is a circular logic that ultimately leaves him powerless and fearful. Bramhall's timbre, inflection, and tone reveal the sadness of Doriel's soul and his desperate hope as he reaches out to a psychologist. He silently begs for her help even as he frustrates her. Kirsten Potter skillfully portrays the doctor’s calm encouragement of her patient—as much as she mentally screams in frustration.
Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2009
Duration: 10 hrs
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Guite’s performance makes his poetry accessible.
Author Guite recites his epic ballad, the first of four installments in his retelling of the Arthurian legends. Starting in the 12th century, the Celtic tales of Arthur were recast with explicitly Christian interpretations. Continuing this tradition, Guite’s Galahad is portrayed as the most perfect knight, the embodiment of virginal purity facing potential downfall from the temptation posed by beautiful women. Only with God’s help will he succeed in his quest. Guite narrates at a leisurely pace, his gravelly voice rising and falling with the passion and intensity of the story. An informative author’s note details Guite’s reasons for undertaking this project.
Guite’s performance makes his poetry accessible.Pub Date: April 20, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 54 mins
DD ISBN: 9798895641408
Publisher: Oasis Audio
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2026
Mean girl tactics combine with the messy feeling of truly being seen.
Carly Larson, Sarah Beth Pfeifer, Austenne Gray, and Elise Taff perform this satirical novel about Christian influencers, megachurches, and the secrets we keep to stay in our communities. Pastor Kyle and his picture-perfect wife, Cassidy, have announced a fundraising gala. A group of influencers called the Moral Mavens begin spreading the word and quickly find that their personal drama, and the hypocrisy of their church leaders, might be a bigger draw than the event itself. Each narrator’s performance perfectly balances the faux bubbly sweetness of the influencers while capturing the destructive nature of false perfection.
Mean girl tactics combine with the messy feeling of truly being seen.Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 2 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668654026
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: June 2, 2026
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