Narrator Carrington MacDuffie elevates this production to a fun and motivating listen. Melody Warnick decides she is going to fall in love with her new town, Blacksburg, Virginia, after a transient lifestyle. She conducts experiments to make herself feel more connected, but the strategies all feel a bit obvious: shop locally, join a community supported agriculture group, practice random acts of kindness, volunteer, donate, hike, invite the neighbors for a potluck. With enthusiasm, authenticity, and sheer likability, MacDuffie brings to life the delight of handing out muffins on Good Neighbor Day and wearing cat ears in the town parade, as well as sensitively expressing the impact of the 2007 mass shooting at Virginia Tech on residents of Blacksburg (which occurred before Warnick moved there). You'll finish listening and then start thinking about what you can do for your community.
Pub Date: June 21, 2016
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781504744775
Publisher: Blackstone 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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