Acclaimed novelist Miriam Toews narrates her haunting and, at times, funny memoir, which explores why she writes. In a conversational tone, Toews recounts mundane memories while unpacking her profound grief at losing both her father and sister to death by suicide. Through her writing and narration, Toews injects witty quips to break up the tragic subject matter, delivering her hallmark balance of weightiness and levity. Her nonlinear narrative--a blend of stream of consciousness and literary quotes, lines from correspondence, and personal anecdotes--results in an intimate and distinctive listening experience. Longtime fans and newcomers alike will find this candid meditation on loss and the healing power of storytelling a short but moving auditory journey.
Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2025
Duration: 3 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9798897568147
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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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