Writers are readers first. So whom do they read? What did they read as children? Which writers influence them today? What do they read for entertainment? These are some of the questions that librarian Nancy Pearl and playwright Jeff Schwager pose to 22 current writers, including T.C. Boyle, Louise Erdrich, Laurie Frankel, and Richard Ford. The questions elicit a mix of thoughtful, informative, fun answers. Sadly, they make for a mixed audio experience, largely because the interviews have been re-created by Pearl and Schwager with five authors reading their own words and the rest being read by narrators. The pace can be choppy, and what should sound "live" does not. Despite the confusing production, the content is fascinating. Listen with note-taking pen in hand.
Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2020
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780063034754
Publisher: Harper Audio
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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