Author/narrator Matt Haig's nuanced exploration of comfort is a cozy escape for the listener. With his pleasing Nottinghamshire accent, Haig narrates well-crafted short pieces on perseverance, forgiveness, philosophy, selfhood, and more. To hear this author read his words is to understand how much he believes in and encourages others to actively hope: "Nothing is stronger than a small hope that doesn't give up," he repeats so decisively that the listener starts to believe it's true. Haig knows about hope; his ongoing journey with depression and anxiety, eloquently expressed here, leads him daily to a deeper appreciation of comforting concepts, people, words, and places. Comfort and hope are the offspring of discomfort and despair, Haig says, coaxing the listener to lean into this delicious irony.
Pub Date: July 6, 2021
Duration: 3 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593413623
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Listeners are in good hands with Grosland’s expert performance.
Em Grosland performs this in-depth look at the multifaceted nature of grief. Author smith has loved many cats in their life, and after each loss, they have had to grapple with grief in different ways. Each chapter uses the story of a different cat as a springboard into a discussion of the complexities of grief and the many ways it shows up in our lives. Grosland narrates with a clear, direct tone, understanding when to be more expressive and when to let the text speak for itself. This strategy allows them to highlight moments of emotional weight without overwhelming the listener with the subject matter.
Listeners are in good hands with Grosland’s expert performance.Pub Date: July 28, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063446038
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: July 28, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2026
Feiler’s heartfelt performance emphasizes his message that rituals are key to forging community.
Feiler is interested in how we use rituals to connect with others in an age in which fewer people than ever are baptized, get married, or are eventually buried. He casts a wide net: filing down teeth for coming-of-age ceremonies, divorce parties, placenta burials, gender reveals, and more. Feiler isn’t a professional narrator, but his authenticity and gentle humor are clearly apparent in his voice, which lends the whole endeavor the feeling of a memoir. That seems appropriate, given that Feiler travels the world participating in Vegas weddings and Nordic cold plunges and develops his own new rituals with his family to celebrate beating cancer.
Feiler’s heartfelt performance emphasizes his message that rituals are key to forging community.Pub Date: May 19, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 27 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217336692
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: June 30, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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