All the elements of the author's oeuvre are present in this new novel: children killed in a tragic accident that their parents view as their own fault; prep school send-ups; a sexual relationship that many would consider inappropriate, if not downright objectionable--all illuminated by the thin light of loss. Nothing is missing but one of Irving's trademark bears. George Guidall's tone perfectly captures the bittersweet fairy-tale quality of Irving's work; Guidall clearly understands that Irving's fictional world is well outside the realm of realism. Especially noteworthy is his portrayal of the passage of time; the characters in this novel age 37 years. Child and adolescent turn middle-aged, adults grow old--in each older character Guidall gives us echoes of the younger character we remember. It's as if Guidall's strong and assured portrayal of these characters gives us aural snapshots for our memory's scrapbook. In this way, we truly come to feel as if we know them.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1998
Duration: 24 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This audiobook is initially daunting. Sixteen hours long and constructed of subtle—at times, even confusing—shifts in point of view, it may feel overwhelming in the first hour. But sticking with George Newbern’s narration and Gilbert’s prose yields great rewards. Newbern’s performance is funny, thoughtful, heartrending, and utterly engrossing. When the famous, now aging, author A.N. Dyer calls his distant sons to his side, Newbern is provided ample characters to animate, and he does so with perfect pacing and what seems like an innate understanding of the novel. He creates a rhythm that makes the changing perspectives easy to follow and Gilbert’s details accessible. & SONS is a perfect example of how a skilled narrator can make a good book even better.
Pub Date: July 23, 2013
Duration: 16 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780385359566
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Following multiple lives over six decades, this is a story of cultural shifts, the effects of racial prejudice, and family secrets. Joy Osmanski's narration is engaged and easy to listen to. There are times when her narration is uneven and character accents are inconsistent, but she moves the story along at an excellent pace. Will Damron capably narrates a few descriptive paragraphs at the beginning to set the scene. During the '50s, as bombs are explode in Nevada's deserts to entertain Las Vegas tourists, four sets of characters experience the destruction caused by prejudice and social upheaval in their lives. The author skillfully integrates the lives of vivid and realistic characters, bringing them to a satisfying and surprising denouement in the final chapters.
Pub Date: May 2, 2017
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781508234715
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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