Several chapters into this moving testament to the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, listeners will forget to notice the leaden, occasionally cynical, tone in the author's performance. Her handling of the dialogue sounds lighter, at least when she's not quoting her overly conscientious mother. She knows how to draw listeners into the memorable, sometimes riveting, conversations she recounts. Mothers and daughters, she says, "don't always fit together so neatly," and the deprivation she felt in this regard is clear in her voice. But as the book moves toward its satisfying conclusion, the background noise of her grumpiness is replaced by the calm of hard-earned wisdom. With priceless imagery and insights, this is a must-hear audio for those whose issues with their mothers are still in flux.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2014
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780385392877
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
James Michener tells the real stories behind the man and his books. The recording is read with skill and consistency although the reader does little to enhance the robust, larger-than-life incidents related in the book. Due to the first-person narrative format, there is no opportunity for the narrator to change his voice. This makes some chapters monotonous as they go on and on in the typical Michener style. The listener may also become confused because the stories are not told chronologically. This is not a great choice for the audio format, but Michener fans may stick with it to the end.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In a quest for a sense of inner contentment and self-worth, Gloria Steinem brings the reader on a journey of investigation and discovery. Steinem reads the text herself in a straightforward and friendly, but not intimate, presentation which is so easy to listen to it invites repetition--thus ensuring the painless relearning of the lessons of the book. It's difficult to tell from the reading that this audiobook is abridged; each section can stand alone. Nonetheless, the listener wished the book were unabridged. Steinem left me wanting to learn more.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Dove Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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