Pasha Ebrahimi does an outstanding job narrating this deeply felt memoir of the author and former Syrian political prisoner Jamal Saeed. Ebrahimi's baritone pitch flexibly captures Saeed as both a boy and as the patriarch of his family. Listeners will need to be aware that this title includes graphic descriptions of violence endured by Saeed during his imprisonment for speaking out against the al-Assad regimes. Ebrahimi compellingly conveys both the mundane details of Saeed's upbringing in a small village and his family's dramatic escape from the Syrian secret police. For those seeking understanding of the development of modern Syria, this is a well-performed title with plenty of insights.
Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2023
Duration: 16 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781778520808
Publisher: ECW Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This wide-ranging collection of Bourdain's work is a mixed success.
Legendary chef and world traveler Bourdain was an aspiring creative long before his rise to fame. This collection spans his works from as early as high school to his later writings, with which listeners will be more familiar. Editor Kimberly Witherspoon sets the tone with her introduction. Dion Graham, David Colacci, Kaleo Griffith, and Chris Patton round out the cast, along with archival recordings of Bourdain himself. Reading his own work, Bourdain is indubitably the standout, bringing to life his trademark approach to food and travel. The rest of the collection is uneven both in content and in narration; some early pieces, both fiction and nonfiction, are unpolished in their writing and overemoted in their narration.
This wide-ranging collection of Bourdain's work is a mixed success.Pub Date: June 30, 2026
Duration: 13 hrs, 26 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062863980
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 18, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2026
A splendid narration of an engrossing story of the search for, and discovery of, a lost treasure.
Vikas Adam’s strong baritone is a good match for this well-told account of one man’s obsession with finding a lost Spanish galleon filled with treasure. In 1708, the San José sank in combat with the British off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia. Roger Dooley, whose own story is quite fascinating, sought the wreck of this ship over nearly four decades and then, in 2015, finally found it at a depth of nearly 2,000 feet. Lawsuits regarding who gets to keep the fortune are still ongoing. Adam narrates with great confidence and with excellent expression throughout. His pacing is perfect, and he ably reads Spanish.
A splendid narration of an engrossing story of the search for, and discovery of, a lost treasure.Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2026
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217165810
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: April 21, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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