In this imaginative story, young Dr. Jakob Sammelsohn is distracted from his amorous adventures when he encounters famed psychologist Sigmund Freud in fin-de-siècle Vienna. Replete with innuendo, discussions of psychoanalysis, and "Freudian slips," Skibell's historical fiction provides a window on Freud's world—his obsessions, patients, admirers, destructive habits, and vanities—and his profound influence. The early Esperanto movement and Jewish spiritualism also make appearances. Jeff Woodman consistently presents the youthful and confused Sammelsohn, whose naïve voice is balanced by the haughty tones of Freud and his colleagues. Woodman excels at dramatizing the tension between Sammelsohn's penchant for scientific rationalism and his exposure to experimental mysticism. A hilarious scene ensues when we hear conversations with Sammelsohn's father, who speaks only in biblical quotes, even for the most mundane utterances.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2010
Duration: 22 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781615735310
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Dara Rosenberg returns to narrate Meltzer's latest heartwarming novel, a second-chance romance peppered with magical realism. To the shock of workaholic television producer Evelyn, her ex-husband, David, has been hired as on-set physician for her musical production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. As the frantically paced shooting unfolds, Evelyn is in a minor accident but declines medical care. She's then visited by eight "heartbreaks," or spectres, who show her moments in her past with David. Rosenberg skillfully portrays David's steadfast personality and concern for his ex-wife, as well as Evelyn's gradual recognition of her need to reorganize her priorities. This slow-burn romance will warm the hearts of listeners, who will also delight in its holiday theme.
Pub Date: Oct. 21, 2025
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781488236075
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrator Rebecca Lowman imbues Kate Riley's parabolic prose with verve and urgency. This ambitious debut unearths universalities of feminine curiosity from within the walls of a strict insular community. Ruth--a relentlessly inquisitive, slightly brainwashed member of a Christian communist cult in rural Michigan--is irresistible. While not overtly rebellious, she is mischievous. Her thoughts and various events within the community construct an effectively plotless but intellectually seductive mosaic of language, which Lowman parses with methodical precision. Her sharp delivery meets the clever and quick-witted social commentary head-on, charging forward throughout the decades of Ruth's small, hilarious, human experiences as she follows her intuition with a hound's tenacity. This novel chronicles a divine, fullhearted struggle toward a happy, meaningful life.
Pub Date: Aug. 19, 2025
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593951880
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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