TV writer/producer Gary Janetti is a fine traveling companion. His vocal style may remind listeners of David Sedaris, but his opinions and wit are his own. He takes the listener on a grand tour of his favorite places and packs this audiobook with observations on such topics as the decline of fashion on airplanes, along with tips on how to shut off unwanted conversation and how to pack for only three days. Want informed and glitzy recommendations for Rome (the Hotel de Russi), or for NYC (eat at Balthazar)? An entertaining storyteller, Janetti pitches an idea to Maggie Smith (a no), falls in love on Mykonos (an everlasting yes), and lovingly recounts a family cruise that includes his then-93-year-old dad, who stays in a cabin beneath the foghorn. Worth your time.
Pub Date: July 9, 2024
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063329775
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Panettiere’s performance captures her memoir’s honesty, vulnerability, and emotional intensity.
In her signature slightly husky voice, Panettiere narrates her journey from child actor in more than 50 commercials to fame on Heroes and Nashville and to life as a mother, domestic abuse survivor, recovered addict, and grieving sister. Her voice wavers when recalling loss, and she sounds small when she describes auditioning at age 5 under the guidance of her demanding mother, herself a former actor. Panettiere warmly reflects on the gifts acting gave her, from working with revered stars to filming abroad and her advocacy for animal welfare. She makes a shark encounter sound thrilling, and she uses a playful accent for her Ukrainian ex-fiancé, professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko, relaying his fights with fast-paced excitement.
Panettiere’s performance captures her memoir’s honesty, vulnerability, and emotional intensity.Pub Date: May 19, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 47 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668655627
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: June 23, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
An essential listen for Sondheim enthusiasts.
For those who know Sondheim best as the lyricist of Broadway giants such as Gypsy and West Side Story, this extremely well-researched, rather concise audiobook will enlighten and inform. Author Okrent’s boundless enthusiasm is clear in his performance as he discusses Sondheim’s personal and professional journey. Sondheim, who passed in 2021, was an intensely private man, but fans of Company, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, and more of Sondheim's work will appreciate that Okrent was able to mine previously unexamined archives and other resources.
An essential listen for Sondheim enthusiasts.Pub Date: May 16, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 21 mins
DD ISBN: 9798228745124
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: April 28, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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