Narrator Sachi Lovatt's measured, almost detached, tone suits author Elizabeth Miki Brina's candid memoir of her challenges with racial identity. Brina, the daughter of a war bride from Okinawa and an American veteran of the Vietnam War, shares her intimate and emotional story. Lovatt's calm tone and relaxed pace help listeners settle into the narrative's complexities as she conveys incidents of intergenerational trauma, promiscuity, alcohol abuse, racial prejudice, and difficult parent/adult child relationships. Lovatt's facility with Japanese words and her thoughtful presentations of Brina, her Japanese-born mother, and her American-born father add authenticity and nuance. Lovatt's impressive narration helps listeners connect with Brina's pain and root for her as she navigates her challenging family landscape and finds her place in the world.
Pub Date: Feb. 23, 2021
Duration: 7 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593348925
Publisher: Random House Audio
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
