Narrator James Chen enhances the humor and tenderness of this character-driven literary story. Eighteen-year-old Zheng Xue Li, known as Shelley, is sent from China to the U.S. to live with his supposedly rich uncle, Ted. Upon arriving in San Francisco, Shelley discovers that Ted is actually a poor cousin whom he can stay with for only two weeks. Shelley tackles school, work, and housing challenges with unrelenting optimism and faith in the Chinese groove--an unspoken commitment among compatriots to take care of one another. Chen portrays Shelley with a distinct voice, accented by his native Chinese heritage and infused with a satirical tone. Though some subplots are a bit far-fetched, Chen's embodiment of Shelley's buoyancy and naïveté compels listeners to keep rooting for him.
Pub Date: Jan. 24, 2023
Duration: 10 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593683682
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In this fascinating coming-of-age portrait, Thomas Black Bull's journey from the child, Bear's Brother, to the fearsome rodeo rider, Killer Tom Black, is painted with compassion and insight. Forced to learn the White Man's ways, Tom reaches adulthood consumed by rage. Read with great vigor by Norman Dietz, the recording bursts with the energy of rodeo circuit and transports the listener to the southwest. The accurate portrayal of Tom's Ute ancestry and way of life, the sorrow and frustration of losing his heritage, and his angry retaliation at the world make this an excellent listening choice for adults and teenagers. It would also be a wonderful addition to high school units on the Native American experience.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 10 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
George S. Irving adopts Patrick McManus's characters with gusto. Sit back and listen to yarn after yarn. Irving relishes each story, whether it's fishing stories, such as "Claw of the Sea-Puss" or "To Filet or Not to Filet," or the escapades with McManus's wary but vulnerable neighbors. Irving has the jocular chuckle down pat, and the low comedy satire comes off without a hitch. Listeners can imagine Irving tipping back a chair at the country store swapping lies with cronies and entertaining any comers with these hilarious tales. His repertoire of more than eight collections of McManus stories encourages this kind of ownership!
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: DH Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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