A beautifully written and narrated work.
Brangan narrates her own history of the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland with great empathy. The laundries were in operation all over Ireland from 1922 until 1996—and were in fact locked institutions run by the Catholic Church to ostensibly save “fallen” unwed pregnant women from ruin. In her lovely Irish brogue, Brangan follows several women throughout their experiences in the laundries. Her tone becomes subtly harsher when recounting the stories of those who looked the other way while the Church continued to imprison women and girls in plain sight. The story of the laundries has been told frequently in recent years, but never quite so thoroughly and compassionately.
A beautifully written and narrated work.Pub Date: May 5, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 14 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668121375
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: June 23, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
Narrator David Shih impeccably introduces renowned artist Ai Weiwei, whose outspoken stand on the freedoms denied in China has made him a government target. Here he looks at 100 years of Chinese history through his life and that of his father, Ai Qing, a well-known poet. Shih faultlessly captures Ai Weiwei's first-person story and gracefully recites Ai Qing's magnificent poetry. Both men's imprisonment is powerfully conveyed, along with descriptions of cities, remote villages, and vibrant conversations with famous and ordinary people. Ai Weiwei's activism is more widely covered than his art. His sadness, sarcasm, optimism, and wit, as well as quotes from his young son, are enlivened by Shih's considerable skill. Audio enhances this unflinching look at China and an extraordinary man.
Pub Date: Nov. 2, 2021
Duration: 13 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780399567537
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Charles Mann’s new book about the world transformed by the “Columbian Exchange” lacks the single-minded focus of his popular 1491, in which he endeavored to prove that pre-Columbian America was densely populated and culturally advanced. Still, the new book is full of surprising information. Robertson Dean’s bass voice provides authority even to Mann’s most speculative claims. While some of his regular mispronunciations (for example, “King dynasty” for “Qing dynasty, pronounced "Ching”) can be trying, his performance is consistent and clear. Mann’s focus on ecological change, trade with Asia, and the Indo/African aspects of New World settlement is laudable. If you haven’t thought about the effects of Columbus’s exploration for a decade or two, Mann will rock your world.
Pub Date: Aug. 9, 2011
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780307913777
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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