Before traditional American Black music was sanitized, condensed, and recorded for white listeners, it was as raunchy and X-rated as anything in today's gangsta rap, according to this lively history by a prolific music journalist. Elijah Wald's meticulous research is roughly organized around the early-twentieth-century barroom musician Jelly Roll Morton and is performed here with exceptional talent and verve by L.A. narrator Mela Lee. She's great fun to hear--full of expressive energy that resonates with the storyline but never distracts from the author's writing and keen sensibilities. Her appreciation of early Black music and its cultural context matches that of the author, whose writing is full of respect for those musicians and their roles in the history of American pop music.
Pub Date: April 2, 2024
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668637555
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Shalhoub’s tone is thoughtful, expressive, and enjoyable right to the last recipe.
In a smooth and natural-sounding voice, actor Shalhoub invites listeners to the table to hear the story of his family’s annual reunions, which have taken place for decades during summers in Door County, Wisconsin. Brought up by Lebanese American parents as one of 10 children in Green Bay, Shalhoub reflects on his father’s survival of wartime hunger and the smells of bratwurst and stuffed grape leaves he grew up with in his mother’s kitchen. His daughter, Josie Adams, helps him fill this memoir with delicious recipes, lifelong remembrances, and the logistics of how dozens of relatives descend on one piece of property each year to enjoy countless card games and zany talent shows.
Shalhoub’s tone is thoughtful, expressive, and enjoyable right to the last recipe.Pub Date: Oct. 27, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 52 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668194560
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Nov. 11, 2026
An entertaining memoir by a true all-American of popular culture.
Bradshaw's football career ended in the 1980s, and these days he's probably most widely known for his ubiquitous cultural presence in movies, commercials, and reality television. Bradshaw takes a long and detailed look back at his consequential life decisions. He's a gifted narrator and storyteller, the kind of guy who can instantly build rapport with his audience. It's no surprise this audiobook is entertaining and occasionally moving. As Bradshaw reflects on the characters he's played over the years, essentially simple variations of himself, his voice reflects a self-effacing humility. Bradshaw has been able to build his extended second career with this warm approachability.
An entertaining memoir by a true all-American of popular culture.Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 51 mins
DD ISBN: 9781400260294
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 22, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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