Allyson Ryan narrates this memoir, a meditation on Glynnis MacNicol's 40th year and what it means to arrive at that age single and childless. While reflecting on the recent loss of her mother, MacNicol realizes that no traditional roadmap suggests where she should go next. Initially, Ryan's voicing of MacNicol's thoughts may strike listeners as a little too breezy during some sad moments, a little too sarcastic during moments of vulnerability--but she finds her footing. Ryan is adept at capturing additional voices in dialogue, including the author's Parkinson's-agitated mother and her close friend, Rachel. Moving back and forth in time, MacNicol's meditations offer candid glimpses of the challenging but rewarding life she chooses.
Pub Date: July 10, 2018
Duration: 9 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781508260004
Publisher: Simon & Schuster 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
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