The stories of Joyce Carol Oates plumb the cracks and crevices of the American psyche with a shining scalpel. This audiobook, read by three talented and empathetic narrators, mirrors the emotionally wrenching tales of unthinkable violence that permeate Oates's universe. Two stories, written as letters, are most affecting. First, "Dear Joyce Carol Oates" spotlights narrator Arthur Morey as he lets frustration and anger rise in his voice as a "fan" of the author reacts to her inattention to his queries. And finally, "Dear Husband" is read by Renée Raudman, who affects a flat tone in her voice as a wife—reminiscent of Andrea Yates—tries to explain how it's not her mate's fault that she's decided to murder their children.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2009
Duration: 14 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The best ghost stories are meant to be read aloud. Here, the author and eight top-flight voice talents deliver the tense, devastating, chilling, and often brutal tones expressed in these 21 contemporary horror tales. Soneela Nankani nonchalantly tells of beaten corpses in "Ffuns." The terror in Lynette Freeman's voice when an old boyfriend keeps reappearing in "He Used to Scare Me by Accident" is nothing less than unsettling. The building dread in André Santana's reactions to the grotesque imagery in "I Caught a Ghost in My Eye" will floor listeners. And Dion Graham's easy homespun delivery in "Dead Bastard Revival Services" presents religious worship gone horribly wrong. Turn out the lights, listen closely, and try not to scream.
Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798228364882
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Angco is a fitting narrator to capture the duality of agency and vulnerability, ambition and absurdity.
Rende's collection of 11 stories centers on the complexity and absurdity of fame, relationships, and the image we seek to adopt for ourselves and project to the world. The audiobook is by turns refreshingly unvarnished and ridiculous. Narrator Rachel Angco's youthful voice belies a sardonic, dry wit. She emotes where appropriate but delivers the farcical situations in a straightforward confessional manner, making the humor resonate. Threaded throughout the stories is famous actor Arlo Banks and his life, work, and alleged sexual predilections, fodder for the paparazzi. Other stories focus on young women and their friendships, relationships, work in the film industry, and struggles to achieve their goals.
Angco is a fitting narrator to capture the duality of agency and vulnerability, ambition and absurdity.Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026
Duration: 7 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781639735884
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Feb. 10, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
