Comic horror of the highest order, Nobelist Grass’s first novel and first masterpiece was made into an Oscar-winning film and now appears as an equally meritorious audiobook. It is the sardonic reminiscence of Oskar, an institutionalized midget whose tin drum and piercing scream of protest can shake mountains. Narrator Guidall has outdone himself with this title. It isn’t that he has obviously studied the book thoroughly before entering the studio--he always does his homework--nor that he has hit the right tone and has cleverly made his voice sound small--nor even that he gets all the sly, obscure (for Americans) social and political jokes about Germany in the first half of the twentieth century. It’s all those things--plus he has astutely picked up the thematic threads and images and manifested them without clubbing the listener over the head with them. The palpable richness of Guidall’s delivery is immensely entertaining.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2001
Duration: 25 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Reader Michael Prichard delivers a convincing rendition of Archie Goodwin, the burly right hand of the portly Nero Wolfe, world-renowned gourmand and detective. Prichard preserves the 1970s setting and 1950s origins of the story, bringing listeners a well-paced narration of murder and politics--a combination of elements that usually guarantees an exciting listen. This audio entertainment is as well formed and fragrant as one of Wolfe's hothouse orchids (the stout sleuth cultivates them by the hundreds in his town house greenhouse) as Goodwin walks us through an explosive murder investigation and political wheeling and dealing in a tough yet intelligent read.
Pub Date: Jan. 15, 2006
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Partners
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This collection of eight short stories contains gentle tales of fantasy and magic--not the magic of wizards and wands, but of wishing mats and enormous cats and gifts brought by the winds. In a lovely English accent, Lizza Aiken quietly narrates these stories in which magic and good fortune often come to those who deserve it. Although her pitch changes little, she registers a range of emotions--from the sadness of a girl whose necklace of raindrops has been stolen to the joy of a child who moves from a hard life and a ramshackle trailer to a happy home amid the clouds. A NECKLACE OF RAINDROPS would make a soothing choice for a family car trip after a long day.
Ages 6+Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2016
Duration: 1 hr, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781101915721
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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