The author and the narrator are husband and wife--he is 90; she 80. He is an esteemed writer and editor; she is an accomplished actor. This is only Gottlieb's second audiobook, but Maria Tucci's distinctive voice can be heard in several ensembles and in her walking tours of Italian cities. On Greta Garbo their views don't entirely coincide. Tucci's tone is more irreverent, and she is more keen on the comedy of the legendary beauty who spent her life hiding from her public. As a star biography, this is simply one of the best, most entertaining, most insightful. Tucci wins the listener over early, and her in-character renderings of the firsthand reminiscences of Garbo that end the audiobook--in particular, one by actor Tallulah Bankhead--are pure delight.
Pub Date: Dec. 7, 2021
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593553916
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Panettiere’s performance captures her memoir’s honesty, vulnerability, and emotional intensity.
In her signature slightly husky voice, Panettiere narrates her journey from child actor in more than 50 commercials to fame on Heroes and Nashville and to life as a mother, domestic abuse survivor, recovered addict, and grieving sister. Her voice wavers when recalling loss, and she sounds small when she describes auditioning at age 5 under the guidance of her demanding mother, herself a former actor. Panettiere warmly reflects on the gifts acting gave her, from working with revered stars to filming abroad and her advocacy for animal welfare. She makes a shark encounter sound thrilling, and she uses a playful accent for her Ukrainian ex-fiancé, professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko, relaying his fights with fast-paced excitement.
Panettiere’s performance captures her memoir’s honesty, vulnerability, and emotional intensity.Pub Date: May 19, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 47 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668655627
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: yesterday
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
An essential listen for Sondheim enthusiasts.
For those who know Sondheim best as the lyricist of Broadway giants such as Gypsy and West Side Story, this extremely well-researched, rather concise audiobook will enlighten and inform. Author Okrent’s boundless enthusiasm is clear in his performance as he discusses Sondheim’s personal and professional journey. Sondheim, who passed in 2021, was an intensely private man, but fans of Company, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, and more of Sondheim's work will appreciate that Okrent was able to mine previously unexamined archives and other resources.
An essential listen for Sondheim enthusiasts.Pub Date: May 16, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 21 mins
DD ISBN: 9798228745124
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: April 28, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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