Kotaro Watanabe, who recently narrated a collection of Murakami short stories, returns with the famed author's essays about his life as a writer. Watanabe's unembellished delivery clearly conveys the essays' informational tidbits; for example, Murakami produces 10 pages at a sitting, he doesn't know other writers, and he always travels outside Japan to write his novels. Watanabe's straightforward approach is suited to Murakami's usual unadorned writing. However, the author changed his writing style in these essays, wanting them to sound like informal conversations. Sadly, the rhythm and tonal variation of an imaginary chat are missing from Watanabe's smooth, almost flat narration. The material is presented, but the author's voice is absent.
Pub Date: Nov. 8, 2022
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781524721831
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Inspiring collections of Angelou reading her poetry. These selections showcase Angelou's smooth, lyrical voice and her warm vitality. Her innate rhythm celebrates her verse and offers the poems to listeners as they should be remembered. Occasionally Angelou comments between the selections, and occasionally she interjects a resonant laugh.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: N/A
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Listeners will be caught up in this cat-and-mouse game between a leading Russian capitalist and young Stalin.
Author and narrator Brunt builds unexpected suspense in this lively biography of Emanuel Nobel, Alfred Nobel’s forgotten nephew, who built and owned Russia’s oil industry prior to 1917. Brunt casts Emanuel Nobel’s story against the hapless final reign of the Romanovs and the tumult of war, revolution, and the Bolshevik coup that replaced it. Rising in the new government was a former oil worker and labor agitator with a particular hatred of Emmanuel Nobel—Josef Stalin. Nobel maneuvers to stay on Russian ground but outside Communist territory, and to keep control of Russia’s oil while resisting the Bolsheviks’ invitation to come to Moscow.
Listeners will be caught up in this cat-and-mouse game between a leading Russian capitalist and young Stalin.Pub Date: May 19, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 55 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668117088
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: April 28, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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