The narration of these essays, revised speeches, reviews, and ephemera begins with Rushdie himself, who perhaps wanted his own voice--British inflected and cultured--to tell the stories of the "wonder books" of his Bombay youth that influenced his "fabulist" fiction. His finely honed narration style allows him to move smoothly from wit to wisdom. British actor Raj Ghatak then takes over in a magisterial tone, giving a thoughtful performance and capturing Rushdie's varied preoccupations and passions: literature, art, friends, and a rich helping of literary soul mates, such as Harold Pinter, Philip Roth, and Samuel Beckett. He writes movingly about his experience with the COVID-19 virus. This collection, written between 2003 and 2020, reveals a keen observer and an eloquent writer.
Pub Date: May 25, 2021
Duration: 13 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593394205
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Inspiring collections of Angelou reading her poetry. These selections showcase Angelou's smooth, lyrical voice and her warm vitality. Her innate rhythm celebrates her verse and offers the poems to listeners as they should be remembered. Occasionally Angelou comments between the selections, and occasionally she interjects a resonant laugh.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: N/A
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
An impassioned and inspiring manifesto on telling good stories.
In an unadorned but sincere and appealing performance, Barnett’s enthusiasm for children’s literature comes through loud and clear. The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature makes a convincing case for the importance of children’s literature as an art form, and the importance of recognizing kids as creative, imaginative, discerning readers in their own right. As anyone who has read or listened to Barnett’s books for children knows, he’s funny, and that humor adds to the listening experience, especially when he shares personal stories or interrupts himself to deliver frequent footnotes. A couple of small changes from the print book make the production specific to audiobook listeners.
An impassioned and inspiring manifesto on telling good stories.Pub Date: May 5, 2026
Duration: 2 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668657096
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: May 4, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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