In this compendium of essays and conversations, Maggie Nelson reflects on the art and artists who have shaped, inspired, and changed her. Senn Annis's narration is a mixed bag. Her rhythmic cadence is sometimes a bit stilted. She uses the same inflection for most sentences, and it gives her performance a feeling of recitation, rather than liveliness. She's at her best when she's able to sink into a story Nelson tells--whether it's about her family, a book she loves, or her own writing. At those times she lets the natural rhythms of conversation take over. The far-ranging essays themselves illuminate Nelson's curiosity, dedication to complexity, and knowledge of theory, philosophy, and literature. The conversations between Nelson and various other writers, poets, and critics are a highlight.
Pub Date: April 16, 2024
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781696614290
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Inspiring collections of Angelou reading her poetry. These selections showcase Angelou's smooth, lyrical voice and her warm vitality. Her innate rhythm celebrates her verse and offers the poems to listeners as they should be remembered. Occasionally Angelou comments between the selections, and occasionally she interjects a resonant laugh.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: N/A
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
The historical context of a great painting deepens its artistic meaning.
Pink and Blue is one of Renoir's most beloved portraits; it features two young girls from a wealthy French family with beautiful futures promised to them. The failure of that promise is the theme of Ostler's history, built on the rise of antisemitism over the course of the girls' lives. Money and social prominence proved to be insufficient protection. Ostler's research is exhaustive, and the details sometimes overwhelm her narrative. Lucy Scott's otherwise strong narration is marred by mispronunciations of some Jewish names and occasional Hebrew words. Some biographical sketches of Renoir and his bigotry fill out the audiobook.
The historical context of a great painting deepens its artistic meaning.Pub Date: July 14, 2026
Duration: 13 hrs, 29 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668170489
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 20, 2026
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