Perhaps a history of the violence-prone Vikings, including many surprising, even shocking, details, calls for a vigorous, intense narration, but Samuel Roukin sometimes overdoes it, sounding overwrought, even angry. Fortunately, his narration is thoughtfully expressive even at the pitch he's chosen. He matches sound and sense with intelligence, even sensitivity--he could be the author reading. And he does, eventually, sometimes, vary the dynamics. His pronunciation of Old Norse seems convincing, but some other foreign words--names of people and places--less so. While he could have toned the energy down a notch, his deep voice, British accent, good pacing, understanding of the text, and congenial manner win the listener over, making the program solidly informative and consistently interesting.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2020
Duration: 17 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781501936067
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Carol Matthau epitomizes a glamour and lifestyle not associated with the 1990's. Here is a life of privilege, tragedy and worry about what friends would think of her new frock or lover. Matthau possesses a voice and delivery that simply could not be improved on. In her coy whisper, she tells compelling stories involving everyone from William Saroyan (husband #1) and Truman Capote to Carson McCullers, Gloria Vanderbilt, and Walter Matthau (husband #2). This excellent audio presentation will leave you wanting to read the entire book to discover what juicy tidbits were left out.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: The Publishing Mills
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A perfect marriage of text and delivery.
Women are routinely missing from American history texts. This audiobook seeks to remedy that. Journalist O’Donnell’s TV-honed voice carries the stories in compelling fashion. Dozens of overlooked heroines are profiled, such as Elizabeth Freeman, an enslaved woman who filed a lawsuit to obtain her freedom, or Emily Warren Roebling, an engineer who saved the Brooklyn Bridge when her husband fell ill. The writing style is straightforward and narrative-based, making it easy for listeners to follow. O’Donnell varies her tone to suit the material, reflecting intensity, disbelief, humor, and admiration. The sketches are generally short, making this a perfect audiobook for people with short windows of opportunity for listening.
A perfect marriage of text and delivery.Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 37 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217176236
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: today
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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