Author and narrator Paul Auster is an esteemed novelist in his own right, and this exhaustive, and somewhat exhausting, biography of writer Stephen Crane demonstrates a deep empathy for Crane's writing--and for his brief, hardscrabble life. But does that life, which ended at age 28, really need 800 pages in print and 35+ hours of audio to recount? That--each listener must decide. For this one, the temptation to reach for the fast-forward button was often undeniable. Auster's voice is pleasing, a bit rough around the edges but sustained by his authority as author and critic. Crane's life is a subject of considerable interest, and Auster gives it the exacting, penetrating, deeply felt examination it deserves. But half as much would have been more than enough.
Pub Date: Oct. 26, 2021
Duration: 35 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250823762
Publisher: Macmillan 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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
