Author Victoria James, the youngest sommelier in the U.S., comes across as an earnest and persuasive narrator who is authoritative without being pretentious. Her pleasant voice and narrative style propel her audiobook forward. She does struggle with the "nt" sounds in words like "important" and in contractions. But hers is a story that needs telling. She provides background on her dysfunctional family and makes a serious indictment of male chauvinism and abuse in the fine dining world. Mainly, her audiobook tells the inside story of her remarkable rise to prominence in New York's high-end eateries. Despite exploitation--from insults to groping to rape--she perseveres and prevails. James is a prodigy: She was a sommelier at 21 and, while still in her twenties, is the beverage director at an award-winning New York restaurant.
Pub Date: March 24, 2020
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062961709
Publisher: Harper 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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