George Guidall has so many stunningly good performances to his credit that it seems foolhardy to distinguish one above the rest, but his embodiment of the difficult, all-too-human Albert Schmidt is remarkable. Schmidt has been told so often that he’s an anti-Semite that he sort of accepts that it’s true—or that maybe it used to be true. He’s a snob. He makes terrible mistakes when confused or hurt; he’s randy for a septuagenarian to a degree that recalls Updike’s Rabbit Angstrom. Yet in Begley’s sensitive writing and Guidall’s astute and empathetic portrayal, what comes through is Schmidt’s humanity, how hard he tries, and how often he succeeds at being gallant, generous, and loving. This is an outstanding production of a luminous novel.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2012
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Dara Rosenberg returns to narrate Meltzer's latest heartwarming novel, a second-chance romance peppered with magical realism. To the shock of workaholic television producer Evelyn, her ex-husband, David, has been hired as on-set physician for her musical production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. As the frantically paced shooting unfolds, Evelyn is in a minor accident but declines medical care. She's then visited by eight "heartbreaks," or spectres, who show her moments in her past with David. Rosenberg skillfully portrays David's steadfast personality and concern for his ex-wife, as well as Evelyn's gradual recognition of her need to reorganize her priorities. This slow-burn romance will warm the hearts of listeners, who will also delight in its holiday theme.
Pub Date: Oct. 21, 2025
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781488236075
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrator Rebecca Lowman imbues Kate Riley's parabolic prose with verve and urgency. This ambitious debut unearths universalities of feminine curiosity from within the walls of a strict insular community. Ruth--a relentlessly inquisitive, slightly brainwashed member of a Christian communist cult in rural Michigan--is irresistible. While not overtly rebellious, she is mischievous. Her thoughts and various events within the community construct an effectively plotless but intellectually seductive mosaic of language, which Lowman parses with methodical precision. Her sharp delivery meets the clever and quick-witted social commentary head-on, charging forward throughout the decades of Ruth's small, hilarious, human experiences as she follows her intuition with a hound's tenacity. This novel chronicles a divine, fullhearted struggle toward a happy, meaningful life.
Pub Date: Aug. 19, 2025
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593951880
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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