This gentle story of human connection thrives under narrator Emily Rankin's care. May Attaway, a gardener at a university, is awarded an unprecedented month's leave for helping a professor win a poetry award. She cultivated the poem's subject: a yew tree. May had moved home to help care for her ailing mother, who soon died tragically--details are unclear at first. Ever since, May has found her solitary life empty. Her solution, with Emily Post as her etiquette guide, is to use her leave to reconnect with friends. One of Rankin's contributions to the audio's success is how she highlights May's occasional lack of self-awareness. Small but significant decisions in voicing May's dialogue provide clues that a reader might miss on the printed page.
Pub Date: May 14, 2019
Duration: 6 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781984888860
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Nankani's style highlights the novel’s focus on family bonds, generational expectations, and the slow work of...
Soneela Nankani gives humorous voice to this family drama about a mother-in-law convalescing with her soon-to-be ex-son-in-law. Malti is dependent on Nathan for a week while her daughter, Kavya, is studying in India. Nankani dramatizes the old grievances, shared memories, and difficult conversations that Malti and Nathan share. She gives each character a distinct emotional presence through thoughtful pacing and subtle vocal variation. Nankani conveys Malti’s pride, wit, and vulnerability with warmth, while Nathan’s uncertainty and quiet reflection emerge through her measured delivery. She guides the unfolding realizations with natural conversational rhythm, allowing for moments of humor, tension, and reconciliation.
Nankani's style highlights the novel’s focus on family bonds, generational expectations, and the slow work of rebuilding trust.Pub Date: July 7, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217342907
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2026
Listening to Footman is like curling up with a green tea and a welcome missive.
Hanako Footman's calm voice, perfect Japanese pronunciation, and English accent are ideal for narrating this Japanese bestseller. Hatoko inherits the Tsubaki Stationery Store from her strict grandmother, who raised her and taught her the family trade of calligraphy and scribing—writing important letters for people. Like a haiku, the book brims with nature and surprises. Divided into seasons, the story is further segmented by vignettes featuring letters that customers request. Footman’s slow pace and contemplative tone reinforce Hatoko's characterization as a thoughtful assessor of people. She adopts a buoyant tone for Hatoko’s close friend, highlighting their different personalities. For customers, Footman subtly conveys character without caricature.
Listening to Footman is like curling up with a green tea and a welcome missive.Pub Date: July 7, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 11 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217338368
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: June 23, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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