Pamela Druckerman, an American expat living in Paris with her British husband, grew curious about the differences between French parenting and American parenting after seeing well-behaved French children seemingly everywhere. She explores the philosophy of French parents and the supports of the French social system, gleaning and distilling many lessons, such as the French focus on firmness, politeness, and reserve. As interesting as the lessons about family dynamics and child rearing are, narrator Abby Craden’s overwrought French accent when voicing French parents and child-care experts is a major distraction. While the accent does differentiate the author’s voice from those of the French people she quotes, it sounds so exaggerated that it diminishes the impact of the ideas presented.
Pub Date: 2012
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780449010884
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A NEW YORK TIMES journalist documents the heart-wrenching choices she and her brother faced in caring for their mother during her last years. The lengthy but compelling narrative describes the relentless apprehension she felt about her mother’s deteriorating health and the frustrations she had with byzantine federal healthcare regulations and the shortcomings of private facilities. The dominant tone in Kate Reading’s flawless performance is resignation and persistence. While keeping the melodrama out of this very personal documentary, she captures the author’s determined efforts to arrange the best care for her mother in the midst of overworked care providers, dwindling financial resources, and her mother’s outspoken unhappiness. With a plethora of wisdom and good advice, this is an eye-opening look at end-of-life challenges and how current institutions are handling them.
Pub Date: 2011
Duration: 15 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Rodrigo Garcia narrates his brief but powerful memoir about the passing of his parents. His father was the literary giant Gabriel García Márquez. His mother, Mercedes Barcha, was also a giant--of their family. Garcia narrates the events of the months leading up to their deaths with tactical precision that can come across as emotionless. However, his reservation allows listeners to focus on the words and feelings of his mother, brother, and the plethora of people who paid tribute to his father. Fans of García Márquez will want to listen, of course, but anyone who has lost a family member will also want to hear this audiobook.
Pub Date: 2021
Duration: 2 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063158344
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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