Sue Jean Kim performs National Book Award-winning (TOKYO UENO STATION) author Yu Miri's new novel. Yu, an author of Korean descent writing in Japanese, fictionalizes her grandfather's experience in the 1930s as one of Korea's top athletes. In the story, he's a candidate for the Olympics, but because of the Japanese occupation, he would have to compete for Japan. Kim perfectly delivers the rhythms of the many large sections of poetic prose. Her performance highlights her incredible range, but with so many characters and voices, listeners may get lost from time to time. Choosing to use one narrator seems like a missed opportunity to feature an ensemble who would have provided more distinction among the many players in this sprawling, vibrant story.
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2023
Duration: 28 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593684085
Publisher: Penguin Audio
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
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