Helene Hanff’s entertaining record of twenty years of letters from her New York brownstone to a book shop in post-war London is brought to life in this wonderful production. The artful use of several narrators adds dimension to these informal letters written between 1949 and 1969 after Hanff discovers that the staff of Marks & Co. Booksellers will send her the reading she wants. John Franklyn-Robbins portrays Frank Doell, a proper Englishman who sends Hanff’s first order. Barbara Rosenblat’s New York accent perfectly captures Hanff’s general crankiness and her milieu of ratty sweaters, baggy trousers and coffee cups in her messy apartment/writer’s studio on East 95th St. Through the letters the listener develops a warm affection for Hanff and the staff of Marks & Co. This is a superb production, which the listener doesn’t want to end.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1993
Duration: 2 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In this fascinating coming-of-age portrait, Thomas Black Bull's journey from the child, Bear's Brother, to the fearsome rodeo rider, Killer Tom Black, is painted with compassion and insight. Forced to learn the White Man's ways, Tom reaches adulthood consumed by rage. Read with great vigor by Norman Dietz, the recording bursts with the energy of rodeo circuit and transports the listener to the southwest. The accurate portrayal of Tom's Ute ancestry and way of life, the sorrow and frustration of losing his heritage, and his angry retaliation at the world make this an excellent listening choice for adults and teenagers. It would also be a wonderful addition to high school units on the Native American experience.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 10 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
George S. Irving adopts Patrick McManus's characters with gusto. Sit back and listen to yarn after yarn. Irving relishes each story, whether it's fishing stories, such as "Claw of the Sea-Puss" or "To Filet or Not to Filet," or the escapades with McManus's wary but vulnerable neighbors. Irving has the jocular chuckle down pat, and the low comedy satire comes off without a hitch. Listeners can imagine Irving tipping back a chair at the country store swapping lies with cronies and entertaining any comers with these hilarious tales. His repertoire of more than eight collections of McManus stories encourages this kind of ownership!
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: DH Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
