One of Shakespeare's four greatest tragedies, OTHELLO has been brought to stage and screen countless times. This recording, part of Arkangel's usually solid series of the Bard's plays, adds little to this history of performances. Don Warrington in the title role is awkwardly un-Moorish, though David Threlfall is more convincing as the villainous Iago - cold and calculating without any exaggerated fiendishness. Some of the minor characters shine also (particularly the Clown, who appears in just two scenes), but the music, often a highlight of Arkangel recordings, is unfortunately cloying and improbable in this production, adding another minor disappointment.
(Graphic fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2005
Duration: 2 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Partners/ Arkangel
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ivan Mok, Quyen Ngo, and a full cast narrate this award-winning 2020 graphic novel. Mok portrays 13-year-old English-speaking Tien, and Ngo portrays his mother, Helen, a Vietnamese refugee. Mok shows Tien's confusion as he crushes on a male classmate. Ngo conveys Helen's despair at losing her own mother and her longing for the past. Mother and son have always bridged language differences and found connection by reading fairy tales together, so it makes perfect sense that these actors' on-target depictions are interwoven with dramatic, beautifully rendered scenes from stories that resemble "The Little Mermaid," "Tattercoats," and others. Throughout, well-cued sound effects aid in setting scenes, while a superb musical score differentiates contemporary and fantasy settings.
(Fiction. 13-17)Pub Date: April 1, 2025
Duration: 1 hr, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217072811
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A full cast, backed by sound effects and music, transform this queer adaptation of Jane Austen's EMMA from the graphic novel to an audiobook. High school senior and Instagram influencer Evan, a leader in his high school's LGBTQ+ student association, sees himself as Cupid and can't resist the opportunity to set up shy and dowdy newcomer Natalia--despite the warnings of his best friend, Davi. Mark Sanderlin's age-appropriate voice projects Evan's emotions. The subplots are helped by the other cast members' ease with portraying their characters. Examples include André Santana's capable depiction of Davi's growing frustration and Shannon Tyo's high-pitched, fast-paced presentation of the chatterbox Anika.
(Graphic fiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2024
Duration: 1 hr, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668644126
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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