This audiobook tells the story of how Hemingway got the idea for his breakthrough novel--and created the literary persona that would define him for the rest of his life. Narrator Jonathan Davis's deep, authoritative voice fits the material well. In 1925, Hemingway and his compadres found their way to Spain to see the running of the bulls. The bacchanal that followed formed the basis of the novel, and the rest is history. Davis reads a bit too slowly, seeming lethargic rather than lively. He also needs to vary his tone more and commit more thoroughly to the character voices he creates. However, Hemingway was seen as the ultimate man's man, and Davis's timbre supports that proposition.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2016
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781501913419
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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
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