Audio Reviews: Week of 7/10/2006

by Staff -- Publishers Weekly, 7/10/2006

Fiction

In classic Stephen King tradition, this audiobook reminds the listener that even something as ordinary as a stationary bike can have a devious nature to it. After a tongue thrashing from his doctor, Richard Sifkitz turns his addiction to fatty foods into an addiction to a fantasy world created around his stationary bike, spending hours a day pedaling away. But as his obsession grows, the lines between fantasy and reality dim and he believes someone or something is trailing him on his path. Ron McLarty, who previously recorded King's Salem's Lot and Faithful, delivers this novella with an excellent pace and easy disposition. His controlled reading creates a much tenser atmosphere with surprises and plot twists made more shocking without the advance warnings of a more dramatic reading. The jazzy segues between chapters lightens the tone just enough to make the listener feel uncertain about where King is taking this story. King's writing style is quite agreeable to the audio format, making for an enjoyable although slightly dark tale. This novella was published in the anthology Borderlands 5 (Reviews, Jan. 19, 2004). (June)

A sense of humor is seldom found in today's top thrillers, but bestseller Lashner possesses one in spades and reader Rohan gets the joke. The author's boozing, lecherous, rule-bending Philadelphia lawyer, Victor Carl—the kind of guy who, in his sixth outing, wakes up with a colossal hangover and an unfamiliar woman's name tattooed on his chest—would seem a throwback to the fondly recalled, politically incorrect screwball sleuths of the '30s and '40s. But Carl has more dimension than his pulp ancestors, and Rohan plays the attorney as both intelligent and lighthearted as he simultaneously searches for the mystery woman whose name, Chantal Adair, he now wears, while brokering a deal that will bring an old gangster in from the cold. Rohan is equally resourceful in delivering a well-timed punch line: when the lawyer asks a young woman at a bar to sample his drink, she does and replies, "Tastes like hummingbird vomit." Rohan's easygoing narration takes advantage of every charming and glib aspect of Carl, to whom women react, in his own words, "with an appealing lack of respect." Simultaneous release with the Morrow hardcover (Reviews, Mar. 20). (June)

When an author uses the same characters in more than one novel, the audio performance can be accurately compared. Fenno, a gay man who emigrates from Scotland to New York's Greenwich Village, is for many readers the most endearing character in Julia Glass's first novel, Three Junes, read by John Keating, who captured the cadences and charm of Fenno's native land. O'Hare, in contrast, produces a rather vague accent that could be Irish or Scottish. He also endows the New Mexico governor with a Texas accent, though the heartiness with which O'Hare portrays him is perfect. Despite these flaws, O'Hare has an eloquent, easy-to-listen-to voice that covers the large canvas of Glass's novel handily. He does particularly well with the main couple, Alan and Greenie, and O'Hare's rendition of their four-year-old son, George, is marvelous. It's a shame that the audio is not available unabridged through retail outlets. (Books on Tape, a division of Random House, has a 23-hour unabridged version on audible.com.) While condensation may work well for Campbell's Soup and tomes that are improved by having their windy digressions clipped, Glass's novel was one of the most wonderful reads of the summer and didn't need editing. Simultaneous release with the Pantheon hardcover (Reviews, Feb. 27). (May)

Mantegna applies his considerable talent to this latest Lincoln Rhymes mystery. Deaver's quadriplegic detective, Rhymes and his partner, Det. Amelia Sachs, attempt to stop a sadistic serial killer known as the Watchmaker, so named because he leaves specially constructed clocks at the site of each of his murders. However, as so often happens in Deaver's stories, not everything is even close to what it seems. Mantegna gives a smooth, no frills performance. He keeps the vocal deviations for each character to a minimum, concentrating instead on making their dialogue natural and realistic. His low-key delivery works especially well when describing the point of view of the Watchmaker or when delving into the inner thoughts of the killer's sexually deviant accomplice. The scenes between the two villains as they calmly discuss the fates of their intended victims, both before and after death, are genuinely chilling in their execution. Deaver fans will be pleased to have Rhymes and Sachs back in a new intricate and compelling thriller, with Mantegna once again serving as an excellent narrator. Simultaneous release with the S&S hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 3). (May)

While Baker ably keeps Gallico's potboiler afloat by providing distinct voices for a dozen different character, the audiobook starts taking on water thanks to some turgid and overripe dialogue from the source material that would sink even the best narrator. It turns out that Stirling Silliphant's screenplay for the 1972 disaster movie actually improved the original book by paring down the number of people fighting their way up to the bottom of the luxury liner's hull after a huge tidal wave capsizes the S.S. Poseidon. Fans of the movie might be surprised by some of the other differences, including the rape of one of the characters and the death of someone who survives the film. Baker is oddly cheerful while reading the passages where the tidal wave hits the ship and has a difficult time making former jock Reverend Scott sympathetic. But he's very effective playing the two most memorable couples: the ever-battling Linda and Mike Rogo and the warm and funny Belle and Manny Rosen. Kudos to Harper's helpful track listings on each disk. Simultaneous release with the Penguin reissue. (May)

Award-winning narrator William Dufris gives a virtuoso performance on this enormously entertaining tale of Gustave "Old Red" Amlingmeyer, a Montana cowboy who dreams of being a western Sherlock Holmes. When mysterious murders occur on the ranch where he and his brother are working, Old Red sees his chance and immediately sets out to sniff out the culprit. The story is told in first person by the would-be detective's kid brother, Otto ("Big Red"), and with an authentic western drawl Dufris slips into the role as comfortably as an old pair of cowboy boots, conveying Big Red's amiability and frequent befuddlement as he struggles to keep up with his older brother's "deducifyin' ". Dufris creates believable, distinctive voices for a large and colorful cast—among them the gravel-voiced ranch foreman, a Cockney cowboy, a pompous English duke and his ladylike daughter and a Swedish cook—and does it so well that a listener might well believe he's listening to a full troupe of actors. A truly gifted narrator, memorable characters and a tale full of adventure and humor—what more could an audiobook fan ask for? Simultaneous release with the St. Martin's Minotaur hardcover (Reviews, Nov. 7). (May)

Nixon (Sex and the City) crafts tones and speech patterns for Wasserstein's Upper East Side rich and famous that simultaneously satirize and humanize them. She manages to individualize characters who are, finally, too stereotypic to hold up. Their egotism grows annoying, their race and class attitudes predictable, their divorces and mate swaps dreary. It's difficult to know whether to fault the author or the abridger, though one has no sense of missing sections or passages. All that said, this is Wendy Wasserstein writing. From the double entendre of the title—literary craft vs. fashion and social climbing—we enjoy the irony, humor and moral outrage that move like undertow. Janet Maslin aptly described the book as "chick lit with a chill and a pedigree," and Nixon makes the most of the best of Wasserstein's writing. Wasserstein's plays are superb; her first (and, sadly, only) novel, while entertaining, falls short. With her wicked wit, emotional and sociological insight, and perfect ear for dialogue, she would surely have written many more marvelous plays and, no doubt, some wonderful novels. What a loss! Simultaneous release with the Knopf hardcover (Reviews, Jan. 16). (May)

Rosenblat is a performer of many tempos. When caterer Goldy Schulz trips over a corpse and searches for help, Rosenblat speaks at a heart-pounding pace to draw the listener right into the narrative. After the body is taken care of and the flying flour has settled, Rosenblat slows to chart Goldy's methodical search for the killer. But Rosenblat saves smoother tones for the cooking scenes between Goldy and her police detective husband, Tom. Eating is more enjoyable for Goldy than cooking, so Rosenblat lays on her silkiest tones for the dinner scenes between the couple and their son. It's probably best not to listen to this audio on an empty stomach. Rosenblat has her hands full as she deftly and singlehandedly performs a soap-opera sized cast with aplomb. There are recipes at the end of the last CD, and there are lots of good food preparation tips along the way, so listeners will want to take notes. Simultaneous release with the Morrow hardcover (Reviews, Mar. 6). (May)

The great science fiction writer Philip K. Dick died in 1982, but his fame continues to grow—especially through films based on his work, like Total Recall and Blade Runner. This dark but devilishly entertaining audio—read by the terrific Giamatti (American Splendor, Sideways)—offers Dick fans the complete book just in time to compare it to Richard Linklater's movie adaptation starring Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr. and Winona Ryder. Giamatti is an inspired choice, managing to capture both the touching charm and the irritating obsessiveness of Dick's leading characters in a slightly futuristic version of Los Angeles: a drug addict named Bob and a narcotics cop called Fred—who might just be the same person, especially since they're both addicted to a drug called Substance D, which gradually splits the user's brain into two warring entities. Dick's book is not for the squeamish or those offended by strong language, but he and Giamatti make the degradation and despair of addiction poignant and often hilarious. Simultaneous release with the Vintage paperback movie tie-in. (May)

Veteran audio, TV and film actor McShane brings Brown's latest thriller to life with understated skill—a much-needed element in this churning engine of hard-to-swallow political and military theorizing. Listening to McShane is like sitting in a bar and sharing war stories with a friend; his raspy, deceptively ordinary voice could well belong to one of the U.S. Border Patrol agents who are killed by a Russian terrorist group in the hot zone between America and Mexico, or a member of Task Force TALON—the U.S. paramilitary unit trying to wipe out the terrorists whose leader has linked up with a seriously nasty "coyote"—a vicious smuggler of drugs as well as people. What Brown does best are the sort of nonstop action scenes his fans have come to expect—and McShane knows just how to bring those moments to vivid audio life without going over the top. Simultaneous release with the Morrow hardcover (Reviews, Mar. 27). (May)

These days most novels are performed, not narrated. The skillful actors who have made audiobooks their art form take on multiple voices—male and female, old and young. Chandler's careful reading is generally disappointing. His lack of vocal range is all too obvious. Lawyer and murder suspect "Work" Pickens sounds exactly like his female nemesis, Detective Mills. Work's wife, Barbara, could be his brother. Oddly, the homeless Max, a minor player in this thriller, has the most distinctive voice. Another problem is that Chandler's performance is devoid of the lovely North Carolina lilt, which is an essential component of this novel, much as John Grisham's South looms large in his characters' psyches. Too frequently, Chandler seems to suffer from dry mouth as his tongue separates audibly from the roof of his mouth. Water, please! On a more positive note, Chandler reads Hart's delicious similes and clever phrasing with slow elegance. Hart's writing sparkles throughout, and this is a compelling story, one the reader won't turn off, despite a performance that doesn't matches the brilliance of the novel. Simultaneous release with the St. Martin's Minotaur hardcover (Reviews, Jan. 16). (May)

A long but satisfying ride is in store for listeners who accompany crime reporter Nick Mullins on a routine assignment. Coping with the loss of his wife and daughter in a tragic auto accident, and now single parent to his remaining daughter, he is propelled into a search for a deadly sniper, who, it seems, has Nick as his ultimate target. King does a fine job balancing Nick's personal and professional lives, as Nick adjusts to his new circumstances and tries to satisfy his daughter's needs. Mel Foster's radio announcer voice delineates the various characters very well, and the use of a special sound for phone calls adds to the reality. But the narration tends to be serviceable rather than exciting. There are particularly affecting scenes of father and daughter finding their way together in the new circumstances of their lives, an area not explored that often in the thriller genre, but one which fleshes out both characters' background and vulnerability. Nick is a natural companion for that summer jaunt on the open road. Simultaneous release with the Dutton hardcover (Reviews, Mar. 27). (May)

Colacci brings the perfect resonance to his reading of Lynds's latest and best espionage thriller. Jay Tice is a legendary spymaster from the Cold War era, one of the last of the old school CIA operatives. However, his distinguished career ended in disgrace when he was sentenced to life in prison for treason against the U.S. Tice is a model prisoner for years until he escapes. Elaine Cunningham, a CIA agent headed toward the end of her career, is assigned to track him down. Her hunt will take her into the darkest corners of the spy game, where nothing is what it seems and death can come at the hands of a friend as easily as those of an enemy. Colacci offers a capital performance, handling the mounds of expositional narrative and spy technospeak with ease. He's just as adept with his characterizations as he slips effortlessly from one character or accent to another. Colacci and Lynds make an excellent combination for lovers of spooks and spies. Simultaneous release with the St. Martin's Press hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 3). (May)

Lamia is fast becoming a treasure to the audiobook world—her reading of The Secret Life of Bees earned her an Audie nomination. Lamia's performance of Reynolds's novel is a thing of beauty, pitch perfect and dead on. The story of 14-year-old Tessa Lee, who, at seven, was abandoned along with her little brother, Travis, is elevated beyond Reynolds's (The Rapture of Cannan) already poetic text by Lamia's exquisite and skillful interpretation. The pain and anger of abandonment mixed with the ache of yearning to see her ne'er-do-well mother again is made palpable by Lamia's uncanny empathy toward her characters. Lil, Tessa Lee's grandmother and caretaker, tries to hold on to and protect her growing and hurting granddaughter. Though all the characters shine, Lamia's depiction of Tessa Lee is inspired. This is fine acting, not just reading. As one hears Tessa Lee breathing and smiling along with her thoughts, it makes the listener smile, too. Simultaneous release with the Shaye Areheart Books hardcover (Reviews, Feb. 13). (May)

Nonfiction

Are you the sole Survivor of a bunch of Desperate Housewives who got Lost on their way to becoming an Apprentice to the latest American Idol? Many recent hit network television shows have come to fruition under the most unlikely of happenstances, and Carter explains how some of America's favorite shows evolved from idea to pilot after struggling with numerous pitfalls and false starts. Carter also explores how the four networks have risen and fallen in popularity because of those hit shows. Olsher reads with a very conversational manner and handles the material with ease. He brings characters to life with expression and tone that clarifies each speaker's intent. While Olsher shines, the abridgement dulls this audiobook's content. The text often jumps from one direction to another without strong transitions. At times, unnecessary anecdotes are included at the expense of better details surrounding Carter's premise. While the abridgement confuses through its lack of continuity, listeners will enjoy learning a great deal about their favorite shows. Simultaneous release with the Doubleday hardcover. (Reviews, Mar. 27). (June)

Gardner's inspiring rags-to-riches memoir of his transformation from homeless single father to philanthropic owner of a multimillion-dollar brokerage house somehow has less of an impact in audio than on paper. Blake has an excellent, manly voice, perfect intonation and excellent streetwise cursing abilities (a crucial part of Gardner's account of his relationship with his stepfather). Yet as good as the narrator is, by the third CD listeners may not be able to shake the feeling that he's an actor reading someone else's words. Since Gardner's love of jazz is a running theme, the evocative jazz trumpet music at the beginning and end of each CD is appropriate; even more between-tracks music might have been effective where the narrator's pauses are not long or dramatic enough (say, between one sentence where he is with his biological father in Louisiana and the next, at work in his brokerage office). This is a moving story whose audio version might have been better served with more dramatic devices. Simultaneous release with Amistad hardcover. (Reviews, Mar. 6) (June)

Buford's voice echoes the rhythms of his own writing style. Writing about his break from working as a New Yorker editor and learning firsthand about the world of food, Buford guns his reading into hyperspeed when he is jazzed about a particularly tangy anecdote, and plays with his vocal tone and pitch when mimicking others' voices. At its base, Buford's voice is tinged with a jovial lilt, as if he is amused by his life as a "kitchen slave" and by the outsize personalities of the people he meets along the way. Less authoritative than blissfully confused, Buford speaks the way he writes, as a well-informed but never entirely knowledgeable outsider to the world of food love. Listening to his imitation of star chef Mario Batali's kinetic squeal, Buford ably conveys his abiding love for the teachers and companions of his brief, eventful life as a cook. Simultaneous release with the Knopf hardcover. (Reviews, Apr. 3). (May)

Bowden, whose Black Hawk Down won him a National Book Award nomination, turns his sights to the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. The audio abridgment is generally smooth, though it's often difficult to keep the cast of characters straight: 66 original hostages, dozens of Iranian captors and untold numbers of diplomats, bureaucrats and family members. On audio, such a dizzying array of stories and backstories can become confusing. Bowden is a capable and competent narrator; while there are no tour de force performances here, the reading is solid and consistent, with no annoying vocal tics or other distractions. The real bonus of the audio over the print version is the final disc, which contains several visual enhancements: a PDF map of the embassy compound; a map of Iran, with markings not only for cities but also the landing site of the ill-fated 1980 rescue mission; and, most impressively, almost nine minutes of footage from the Discovery Channel's four-part documentary Guests of the Ayatollah, featuring compelling interviews with surviving members of the rescue team. Simultaneous release with the Atlantic Monthly hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 17). (May)

The plummy voice, ringing with the sound of perfectly enunciated consonants and gently undulating vowels, immediately rouses images of the ancient stone walls of Oxford and Cambridge. Schama's posh accent takes every line of his new book, every scrap of quoted dialogue, rolls them around in his mouth and gives them the shape and punch of a particularly well-formulated cocktail party bon mot. Schama's subject is not quite so lighthearted. Studying the lives of slaves and ex-slaves around the time of the American Revolution, Schama finds brutality, horror and the ever-present threat of a return to slavery, leading many blacks to embrace the British cause and the hope of freedom. Schama's Oxbridge voice, so overwhelmingly appealing to American listeners, who innately associate its sounds with the presence of deep wells of intelligence, is a lovely serving dish for his book's meal, decorating and presenting his work with an authoritative upper-class flourish. Simultaneous release with the Ecco hardcover (Reviews, Mar. 6). (May)

Gentle voice notwithstanding, psychologist (and national television personality) Smith pulls no punches and minces no words in her heartfelt caution against the danger in believing "that you don't need what you do need." Truth is the theme here, and Smith guides listeners in how to recognize it, speak it and make it a part of the marriage. Although targeted to women who suppress themselves in order to be in a relationship, men are not left out. Smith's candid examples from her own failed marriage and those of the troubled couples she counsels ably illustrate her points. The first CD lists the top 10 lies about relationships (including "You can learn to live with the things that make you unhappy") together with their corresponding truths ("Suffering is not love"). The second CD explains how couples can make each marriage vow real. The third CD's bonus material is equally valuable: a set of 275 questions (viewable in Adobe reader) to ask before you marry. Smith succeeds admirably in taking the microscope to the myriad actions and words couples automatically do and say, and explaining how questioning them can lead to a more authentic marriage. Simultaneous release with Hyperion hardcover. (May)

It's a treat to hear the often-cranky McMillan's motherly, caring side sneak out, which it does on this audiobook born of a speech she gave to son Solomon's high school graduating class. Notwithstanding Floyd's sassy sista-girl voice with a Terry-like accent, listeners familiar with McMillan's voice might feel shortchanged that she did not narrate this single disc. Otherwise, this music-free CD is perfect for a young adult attention span: short, funny, hip, yet insightful and heartfelt. After the introduction—which explains that the speech covers what McMillan wished she'd known as a high school graduate in the class of 1969—are 23 commonsense tips (from "Sit up straight and walk tall" to "Don't listen to your parents") to guide young adults through the confusing sea of hormones and homework, influences and inspirations. The nurturing tone only underscores how much more momentous it might have been if McMillan herself had narrated this important departure from her bestselling relationship-based fiction. And her money's where her mouth is: the introduction notes that Solomon graduated from Stanford University in last month. Simultaneous release with the Viking hardcover. (May)

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