Polite and even fearful in the presence of his white "betters," Bigger Thomas also hates them with a passion not even he can fully fathom. When he says "Yes, Sir" and "No, Sir," narrator Peter Francis James gets the menace in there behind the stilted manners. James has a gorgeous voice, a voice to fill a room with, and plays some characters with dash and conviction. Unfortunately, he reads the all-knowing narrator with less modulation, reminding us that the book is half novel and half political manifesto. Still, this is memorable presentation of a landmark in American literature. Bigger Thomas thinks and then does the unthinkable. He was invented in 1940. Now he has a voice.
Pub Date: April 29, 2008
Duration: 17 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: Harper Audio/ Caedmon
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In this fascinating coming-of-age portrait, Thomas Black Bull's journey from the child, Bear's Brother, to the fearsome rodeo rider, Killer Tom Black, is painted with compassion and insight. Forced to learn the White Man's ways, Tom reaches adulthood consumed by rage. Read with great vigor by Norman Dietz, the recording bursts with the energy of rodeo circuit and transports the listener to the southwest. The accurate portrayal of Tom's Ute ancestry and way of life, the sorrow and frustration of losing his heritage, and his angry retaliation at the world make this an excellent listening choice for adults and teenagers. It would also be a wonderful addition to high school units on the Native American experience.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 10 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
George S. Irving adopts Patrick McManus's characters with gusto. Sit back and listen to yarn after yarn. Irving relishes each story, whether it's fishing stories, such as "Claw of the Sea-Puss" or "To Filet or Not to Filet," or the escapades with McManus's wary but vulnerable neighbors. Irving has the jocular chuckle down pat, and the low comedy satire comes off without a hitch. Listeners can imagine Irving tipping back a chair at the country store swapping lies with cronies and entertaining any comers with these hilarious tales. His repertoire of more than eight collections of McManus stories encourages this kind of ownership!
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: DH Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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