Rebecca Jenkins's performance hits all the marks in terms of comprehensible phrasing, clear and steady voice quality, and emotional congruence. Her reading of this sprawling exposé is serious and without melodrama, but it does not express the gravitas that an alarmist message like this needs. The author supports her viewpoints with vivid anecdotes and selected study findings. She's been lambasted for what is seen as her global criticism of hospital practices, her romanticizing of home births, and her dramatic accounts of how physicians pressure women to have procedures babies don't need. Her impassioned broadside speaks a lot of truth about irresponsible profiteers and professional resistance to change. But in spite of Jenkins's balanced reading, the book loses credibility when the writing is more sensational and adversarial than persuasive.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2013
Duration: 13 hrs
Publisher: Post Hypnotic Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Perceptive and thoughtful, this journey becomes both a search for old friends and a moving act of self-discovery.
McCarthy entices listeners with this charming blend of travel writing and an exploration of aging and male friendship. On a sprawling road trip across America to reconnect with five friends who shaped his life, McCarthy encounters people who deepen his contemplation of how friendships evolve over time, especially for men. McCarthy is an easygoing storyteller and his congenial narration matches his writing style. His engaging voice, playful and warm, captures the rich personalities of the people he meets as well as the character of the iconic and obscure places he passes along the way.
Perceptive and thoughtful, this journey becomes both a search for old friends and a moving act of self-discovery.Pub Date: March 24, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 2 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668653906
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: April 16, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
A gentle listening experience celebrating friendship, shared lives, and connection.
Jessica Lee and Sofia Jin narrate this audiobook as a compelling two-voice performance that highlights emotional intimacy and balance. The memoir follows two Korean women who choose to live together and to reflect on their friendship and shared lives in alternating essays. Lee and Jin perform their perspectives with clarity, giving each chapter a distinct rhythm while maintaining cohesion across the narrative. Their warm, conversational delivery allows listeners to experience humor and vulnerability in equal measure. Subtle vocal shifts convey affection, tension, and reflection without exaggeration, enhancing authenticity. Lee and Jin’s beautifully matched narration makes the evolving partnership feel immediate, sincere, and deeply personal.
A gentle listening experience celebrating friendship, shared lives, and connection.Pub Date: Jan. 20, 2026
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780063473409
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: March 17, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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