Wideman's story has multiple narrators, each telling a story set in a different period, and it's not always clear which character is narrating: the black preacher fleeing plague-infested Philadelphia; the South African villagers killing off their cattle to keep Europeans away; or the contemporary young black man trudging up a hill to read the manuscript to his father? The prose is rich and the characters authentic, but the audio form makes the story even harder to follow. Howard Weinberger succeeds in capturing the essence of the characters as he picks up the cadence of their language and dialogue. But asterisks marking sections within chapters (found in the novel) aren't present here, and the shifts can leave the listener adrift among the many tides of this complex work. Perhaps this would be most meaningful after multiple hearings--or after reading the book. It's certainly an important book, but difficult to adapt to audio.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1998
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Escape on a thrilling adventure with Soneela Nankani and Andrew Eiden as they narrate this suspenseful romance. A year has passed since Simi Chopra, her assorted crew, and Jack Danger pulled off a lucrative diamond heist. Now, the Chicago Mafia boss is demanding that the jewels be returned, so Simi gets the team back together. Nankani delivers an expressive performance that emphasizes Simi's conflict between her passion for Jack and the mission. Her distinct character voices keep the listener fully immersed. Eiden's lively tone gives Jack a subtle flair and confidence that make him easy to forgive and to love.
Pub Date: Aug. 20, 2024
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593907467
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This is not a story about guns, but about blue pearls. Gerald Browne takes us to the Pacific Ocean and the world of pearl divers and natural gems and mixes in mystery, intrigue and suspense. Barry Bostwick portrays the characters in one voice, varying his intonation slightly for the Asian personalities. His reading style is very smooth, evidence of preparation and interest in the story. 18mm Blues is abridged well, collecting the important elements of the story. Unobtrusive music indicates the end of each side. Disappear into the mystery of the Far East and one of its most beautiful commodities.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1993
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Audio Renaissance
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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