Bronson Pinchot does an outstanding job of presenting Karl Marlantes’s memoir of war, trauma, and recovery. Marlantes tells the harrowing story of his time in Vietnam and how it affected him for three decades after. His story is directed to fellow combat veterans, their families, and those who make policy about them—but it’s of interest to everyone. Refreshingly, Rhodes Scholar Marlantes doesn’t present himself as a faceless everyman but employs the full range of his considerable intelligence. Pinchot deftly follows as Marlantes shifts from well-told battle stories to policy analysis, then to Jungian archetypes, and back again. His tone is sometimes matter-of-fact and sometimes passionate (almost shouting) in marvelous synchrony with the author's words.
Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2011
Duration: 8 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781455114146
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A brilliant piece of work that proves love can survive war.
Journalists are trained to look for and deliver facts, and Irish reporter Hayden did that, but she also did something more: She looked for love amid war. Narrator Aoife McMahon, with her delightful Irish accent, brings us the stories Hayden found while reporting the news. She explores war's impact on people and their relationships. She tells stories of the courageous soldier in Ukraine who confesses discomfort during his home visits and queer people in Ghana, where their love could have deadly consequences. From battle-scarred countries the world over, including Uganda, Iraq, and Rwanda, McMahon relates these stories with a beautiful dignity. They reveal terror and horror but also unexpected love, compassion, and survival.
A brilliant piece of work that proves love can survive war.Pub Date: June 16, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 41 mins
DD ISBN: 9781797198644
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: July 21, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2026
Addis delivers a satisfying performance that will keep listeners engaged in this commendable history.
Matt Addis narrates Bayliss’ detailed but straightforward history of Sparta, from prehistory to the destruction of the Spartan hegemony in the 360s B.C.E., both ably and amiably. His resonant voice is likeable, if sometimes scratchy. And his manner is so thoroughly friendly that the program seems like history as narrated by a kindly uncle—but an astute one. His understanding and interpretation of the text are precise, and his tones and emphases are correct and helpful. Addis’ pacing is slightly slow, with notable pauses between text blocks, but given the complicated interurban politics of the ancient Greek city-states, moderate pacing is helpful rather than distracting.
Addis delivers a satisfying performance that will keep listeners engaged in this commendable history.Pub Date: May 19, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 27 mins
DD ISBN: 9798899749254
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: June 30, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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