Elegant, witty, unconventional--these adjectives describe Porter's imcomparable lyrics and the man himself. Songs like "Night and Day" and "You're the Top" are probably better known than the shows they came from or the Indiana native who wrote them. Long married, Porter was, nonetheless, homosexual and, for the last 27 years of his life, crippled by a riding accident. The text focuses on Porter's lyrics at the expense of musical analysis; Edwardson enlivens a flat narration with spoken excerpts of lyrics that make the most of Porter's timing, rhyming and meaning. Edwardson's voice is pleasant and wears well, which is a good thing given the length of this tape. Those interested in how shows and hit tunes get put together will enjoy the hours spent with this most sophisticated of songwriters.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1999
Duration: 18 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
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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