Poet, novelist, activist, mother, mentor, embodiment of Canadian literature--the list of Atwood's achievements is remarkable. The two-time Booker Prize winner and doyenne of speculative fiction (the international phenomenon THE HANDMAID'S TALE) has many incarnations. She is also that rarity among writers: an excellent narrator. Now in her 80s, she has a tone with a hint of gravel, she reads with her characteristic deadpan wit, and her Canadian accent adds to her delivery. Her backstory is revealing. The daughter of an entomologist, she was nicknamed "Peggy Nature" as a child. Educated at the University of Toronto and at Harvard, she's mostly lived in Toronto and remains the avatar of Canadian lit. Atwood's travels; publishing anecdotes; and experiences with her partner, novelist Graeme Gibson, enrich this memoir.
Pub Date: Nov. 4, 2025
Duration: 25 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217166718
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
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