by Yaroslav Trofimov ; read by David Furr ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 9, 2024
This long and personal account of the Ukrainian-Russian War is narrated ably by David Furr. Trofimov's family has lived in Kiev/Kyiv for many generations, and he is a Ukrainian patriot who has spent much time at the front, interviewing numerous individuals to compile the story of the Ukrainian people's struggle in this horrific war. The current war between eastern Slavs, or between Slavs in general, is nothing new. While this is a well-written account, one should be careful in using only current accounts for a big-picture view of events. Trofimov's work ends just before Ukraine's disastrous Kherson counteroffensive in the summer of 2023. Furr is energetic and has a somewhat gravelly but winsome baritone, which goes well with this text.
Pub Date: Jan. 9, 2024
Duration: 12 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593829967
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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by Loubna Mrie ; read by Loubna Mrie ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 24, 2026
Mrie delivers her memoir with the same courage, grace, and resilience that define her story.
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Mrie performs her memoir of growing up in Syria. As a little girl, she was taught to remain loyal to Hafez al-Assad and his regime. When the pro-democracy uprisings of the Arab Spring arrive in Syria, she attends a protest, and what she sees there makes her realize that everything her government had been telling her was a lie. Mrie’s voice conveys her passion as she describes joining the resistance and becoming a photojournalist. But as time passes, she loses friends and family members to violence, and her voice quavers as she recalls the emotional devastation of each death in vivid detail.
Mrie delivers her memoir with the same courage, grace, and resilience that define her story.Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2026
Duration: 15 hrs, 21 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217281749
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 22, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2026
by Omar El Akkad ; read by Omar El Akkad ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 25, 2025
In this searing indictment of U.S. imperialism, journalist Omar El Akkad exposes the rot at the heart of American liberalism and the ugly truth that undergirds American democracy: It's predicated on the subjugation of marginalized people around the globe. El Akkad focuses on the genocide in Gaza but also draws on his career as a journalist in the post 9/11 years and his experiences as an Arab immigrant in the U.S. and Canada. His prose is clear sighted and unflinching; his narration is fiery and direct. His voice is sometimes steely but softens when he's speaking about the people and communities he loves. El Akkad implicates all of us and asks us to take courageous action. There is incredible power in hearing this book read aloud.
Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2025
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217074075
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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