Griffin Dunne's narration of his memoir pairs a tender conversational tone with occasional moments of drama that embrace his gifts as a writer and actor, as well as the cast of vivid characters he portrays. Dunne augments his rich material with intonations, pacing, and tension that fully engage. Whether he's telling stories of privileged, Hollywood familiars, political well-knowns, family members, or famed relatives like writers John Gregory Dunne and Joan Didion, each vignette commands attention for its narrative worth, rather than the celebrity mentions. Whether he writes of his sister's murder and the trial that followed or his own sexual awakening, Dunne transitions from one scenario to the next, stitching stories into a powerful arc that compels from beginning to end. Dunne's acting chops, writing instincts, and raconteur heritage are always evident.
Pub Date: June 11, 2024
Duration: 12 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593864432
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 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
Listeners will get to know a charming woman, and to share her love for poetry.
Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn is not only a marvelous actor, she is also a lover of poetry and a graceful and engaging writer. At 93, her voice is not as strong as it was, but she still knows how to use it to tell a story and interpret a poem. In this anthology she uses a selection of her favorite poems—some familiar, some from skilled but little-known poets—to trace the growth of her poetic taste, her relationship with the art, and her spiritual development. Her readings of Mary Oliver, Rumi, Poe, and more are as good as her comments, meaningful and instructive.
Listeners will get to know a charming woman, and to share her love for poetry.Pub Date: April 28, 2026
Duration: 5 hrs, 9 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063387706
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: May 26, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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