This audiobook is proof positive that Jackson's best-known story, "The Lottery," is just the tip of the iceberg with regard to her talent. Placing her in the American gothic tradition, alongside Hawthorne and Poe, is high praise indeed. Narrator Bernadette Dunne has just the voice to capture the biography's tenor and subject, and she does a marvelous job creating an interesting audio experience. Dunne's voice is deep, slightly raspy, and serious enough to support the author's view that Jackson is an important literary voice that deserves to be heard. She also keeps the audiobook moving, using her range and excellent pacing to maintain our interest throughout this essential critical appraisal. Dunne stays away from character voices, relying on her measured tone and clear diction.
Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2016
Duration: 19 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781504739061
Publisher: Blackstone 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
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