Michael Seth Starr's book details all of the minutiae of the professional side of comedian Don Rickles, and Johnny Heller uses his best, somewhat nasal, anchorman voice to present it. While we are told that Rickles was very different from the insulting person he portrayed in his sixty-year comedy career, this audio has little, if any, insight into the man behind those jokes. Heller sounds a bit bored in parts, and perhaps he cannot be faulted. The inclusion of the in-depth production credits of such meager efforts as the Frankie Avalon/Annette Funicello 1960s teen beach movies fills pages but provides no revelations, nor does it add to the currently available information. Perhaps this is a petty observation, but Heller should brush up on his Yiddish pronunciation.
Pub Date: Oct. 25, 2022
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781666186208
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In this fascinating coming-of-age portrait, Thomas Black Bull's journey from the child, Bear's Brother, to the fearsome rodeo rider, Killer Tom Black, is painted with compassion and insight. Forced to learn the White Man's ways, Tom reaches adulthood consumed by rage. Read with great vigor by Norman Dietz, the recording bursts with the energy of rodeo circuit and transports the listener to the southwest. The accurate portrayal of Tom's Ute ancestry and way of life, the sorrow and frustration of losing his heritage, and his angry retaliation at the world make this an excellent listening choice for adults and teenagers. It would also be a wonderful addition to high school units on the Native American experience.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 10 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
George S. Irving adopts Patrick McManus's characters with gusto. Sit back and listen to yarn after yarn. Irving relishes each story, whether it's fishing stories, such as "Claw of the Sea-Puss" or "To Filet or Not to Filet," or the escapades with McManus's wary but vulnerable neighbors. Irving has the jocular chuckle down pat, and the low comedy satire comes off without a hitch. Listeners can imagine Irving tipping back a chair at the country store swapping lies with cronies and entertaining any comers with these hilarious tales. His repertoire of more than eight collections of McManus stories encourages this kind of ownership!
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: DH Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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