How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia
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Mohsin Hamid, read by the author. Penguin Audio, library edition, four CDs, 4.5 hrs., $59.99 ISBN 978-0-241-14619-4
Moshin Hamid’s novel follows a nameless protagonist who struggles to overcome poverty and find a life of luxury through a mixture of persistent hard work, luck, and, at times, questionable ethics. The entire book is told in the second person, which makes for a curious listening experience. Repeatedly hearing “you” is not something audiobook listeners are used to—but it works exceedingly well here because of Hamid’s skill as both a writer and narrator. His reading is deliberate and reserved, nuanced and subtle. This understated delivery contrasts strongly with the sometimes powerful and shocking content of the book. Still, it is a performance that drives the story forward, as listeners wait with great anticipation to learn what will happen to “you.” A Riverhead paperback. (March)
Double Feature
Owen King, read by Holter Graham. Simon & Schuster Audio, unabridged, digital download, 16 hrs., $29.95 ISBN 978-1-4423-6053-2
Sam Dolan is in the process of completing his very first film. It’s been a tumultuous experience, one made even harder by both his B-movie actor father, who thinks he’s far more famous than he truly is, and his family and friends, who nearly drive him insane. King’s novel is brought to life by inspired narration from Holter Graham, who dives headlong into the story and entrenches himself in its endless idiosyncrasies. Graham’s delivery is superb; his slight shifts in tone and style for each and every character are as well plotted and conceived as the book itself. Listeners will immediately get a sense of the realism Graham injects into his characters’ voices, making them all the more immediate and powerful. It is the casual tone with which Graham approaches the book’s seemingly complex web of identities that allows him to win over the audience easily and keep them engaged for the duration. A Scribner hardcover. (March)
Tales of the City
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Armistead Maupin, read by Frances McDormand. HarperAudio, unabridged, digital download, 7.5 hrs. $18.99 ISBN 978-0-06-225973-8
Maupin’s tale of young Mary Ann Singleton, who relocates to 28 Barbary Lane in 1970s San Francisco at a time of great upheaval, is as engaging and relevant today as it was when it was first published (in 1978). In this audio edition, Frances McDormand skillfully narrates Maupin’s classic novel—which was originally serialized in the San Francisco Chronicle and is the first in a series of eight books. Her performance is lively and theatrical, which suits the tone and style of Maupin’s prose perfectly (the book was made into a television miniseries in the 1990s). MacDormand’s pacing is excellent, her delivery is colorful and inspired, sounding controlled but not restrained. The narrator never forces the material; rather she allows the author’s work to speak for itself. (March)
The Accursed
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Joyce Carol Oates, read by Grover Gardner. HarperAudio, unabridged, digital download, 23 hrs., $40.99 ISBN 978-0-06-224368-3
Clocking in at a whopping 23 hours, this sweeping narrative set at the turn of the 20th century, tells the tale of a town in New Jersey where evil seems to have been birthed and is wreaking havoc: a curse, disappearances, abduction, and even an appearance by a man who might be the devil himself. Seasoned narrator Grover Gardner delivers a compelling performance and an enjoyable listen from start to finish. Gardner’s delivery is well paced and thoughtful; his shifts in tone occur just at the right moments and keep listeners on their toes. Though the book’s plot becomes a bit confusing in the middle to latter portion of the novel, Gardner pulls off an entertaining performance—and even voices Grover Cleveland and other historical figures. All in all, a long and winding road made enjoyable by a spirited performer. A HarperLuxe paperback. (March)
A Matter of Trust
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Lis Wiehl with April Henry, read by Eleni Pappageorge. Oasis Audio, unabridged, eight CDs, 9 hrs., $29.99 ISBN 978-1-61375-332-3
Wiehl and Henry get their new series off to a breathless start: on a cellphone, recently widowed prosecutor Mia Quinn, protagonist of the series, overhears her friend and colleague Colleen Miller being shot. Narrator Eleni Pappageorge channels Quinn’s intensity, but uses skillful pacing and tone rather than frantic vocals to convey the novel’s swiftly unfolding events. The authors have created an appealing lead in the still-grieving Mia, who is a bit overwhelmed by the responsibilities of single parenthood and leading an investigation into her friend’s murder. Equally appealing is Quinn’s partner, homicide detective Charlie Carlson, whose unconventional methods Quinn doesn’t trust. Pappageorge crisply presents the twists and turns of plot, while using subtle touches to suggest the characters’ moods. A Thomas Nelson hardcover. (March)
Indiscretion
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Charles Dubow, read by Robert Petkoff. HarperAudio, 10 CDs, 12 hrs., $100 ISBN 978-0-06-223964-8
The lives of the privileged prove to be complicated and fragile in this debut novel from Dubow. Harry and Madeleine Winslow are the perfect upper-class couple. He is a handsome, award-winning author, while she is an athletic beauty of advantaged upbringing. Together they shine bright in their affluent circle of friends. However, sometimes it only takes a random event to tarnish the veneer of perfection. One summer, the couple meets young Claire, an admirer of Harry’s writing, who later is responsible for an indiscretion that upsets the Winslows’ orderly lives. Robert Petkoff beautifully narrates this touching story of love, love betrayed, and love unrequited. Petkoff delivers this lyrically written story, told from the point of view of Walter, Madeleine’s oldest friend and confidant, with a gentle, pragmatic melancholy that perfectly suits the material. A William Morrow hardcover. (Feb.)
Alex Cross, Run
James Patterson, read by Michael Boatman and Steven Boyer. Hachette Audio, abridged, five CDs, 6 hrs., $24.98 ISBN 978-1-61969-171-1
The latest episode in the troubled life of Patterson’s Alex Cross makes a very satisfying transition to audio thanks to top-notch narrators Michael Boatman and Steven Boyer. Boatman smoothly performs the chapters narrated by Cross, giving the D.C. police detective a thoughtful, measured tone that, when tested by a pair of vicious multiple murderers and an obsessed character from his past, turns tough, understandably aggressive, and, at times, unexpectedly guilt-ridden. Boyer gives voice to the twisted killers—one erudite and sinister, the other emotional and sleazy—whose plot to discredit Cross works surprisingly well; he also voices just about every other character in the novel. With a series as long running as this, the secret of success for each new addition is its ability to place its hero into a state of credible jeopardy. Patterson has done just that here, and the two narrators have turned his suspenseful and well-plotted novel into a riveting audio thriller. A Little, Brown hardcover. (Feb.)
Schroder
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Amity Gaige, read by Will Collyer. Hachette Audio, library edition, six CDs, 7 hrs., $59.99 ISBN 978-1-61113-295-3
The success or failure of the audio edition of a deeply interior novel hinges on the quality of its narrator, and in this case Will Collyer does not disappoint. He beautifully captures the complexity of the novel’s antihero, Eric Kennedy aka Eric Schroder. In a youthful attempt to remake his life, Eric fabricates a history and a name for himself—that name being Kennedy and that history involving distant kinship with the Hyannis Port Kennedys. Sticking with his fake identity into adulthood and through marriage, it’s only a matter of time before the house of cards begins to fall. Because Collyer is so effective in his portrayal of Eric, it’s easy for listeners to be taken in by the character. Listeners will want to believe him—even root for him. Eric’s narcissism knows no bounds, and his choices lead to disaster. As voiced by Collyer, this compelling character is fully believable, even as he slides into darkness. A Twelve paperback. (Feb.)
A Memory of Light
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Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, read by Kate Reading and Michael Kramer. Macmillan Audio, unabridged, 33 CDs, 42 hours, $79.99 ISBN 978-1-4272-1024-1
This 14th and final book in Jordan’s celebrated Wheel of Time fantasy series was completed after Jordan’s death by Sanderson, working from the author’s notes and outline. Narrators Kate Reading and Michael Kramer, who narrated previous installments of the series, return for this conclusion, and their deep understanding of these characters and this fictional world shines through in every word. Kramer has a deep voice that pulls the reader in, while Reading’s tones are more thoughtful and reflective. Both give memorable, nuanced performances that keep readers on the edge of their seats during exciting action scenes and put them in the characters’ minds as thoughts are revealed. The rich history of this fictional world and its enormous cast of characters is likely too complicated for newcomers, who really need to start with the first book. But fans of the series will be well rewarded for their patience in awaiting this final installment. A Tor hardcover. (Jan)
Cover of Snow
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Jenny Milchman, read by Cassandra Campbell. Random House Audio, unabridged, library edition, 10 CDs, 12.5 hrs., $45 ISBN 978-0-385-36621-2
Set in a small Adirondack Mountain town of Wedeskyull in upstate New York, home restorer Nora Hamilton awakens one cold winter morning to find her seemingly idyllic life shattered by the apparent suicide of her police officer husband, Brendan. Stunned by Brendan’s death, Nora is determined to find out what could have led the man she loved to take such drastic measures. She begins to investigate his last few days hoping to find answers, but gets more than she bargained for when she uncovers secrets from her husband’s past that reach back decades—secrets that someone is willing to kill for to keep quiet. Cassandra Campbell’s reading hooks listeners from the beginning and never lets go. Her characterizations are spot-on and unique. But it is with Nora that she shines brightest, creating a distinctive heroine who grows along with the story. The book’s climax will keep listeners riveted.A Ballantine hardcover. (Jan.)
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