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Fiction

Angle of Repose Wallace Stegner, read by Mark Bramhall. Blackstone Audio, unabridged, 18 CDs, 22 hrs., $34.95 ISBN 978-1-4417-1425-1

It is at first disconcerting that the narrator sounds half the age of the author's narrator: Lyman Ward is an elderly, severely crippled historian at odds with his wife and children over his ability to live alone and write. But Mark Bramhall's comparative youth is soon forgotten as he leads us into the saga of intertwined generations. His pacing, his characterizations, and his convincing emotional repertoire embed us in this 1971 Pulitzer Prize winner that is in no way dated. Stegner's heroine is Ward's grandmother, Susan Burling Ward, a 19th-century writer and artist living in the rough mining towns of the West with her idealistic engineer husband. Bramhall's Susan is sometimes too girlish, but this, too, is a small matter; overall, he offers us a fine reading of a superb book. A Penguin Classics paperback. (Mar.)

The New Adventures of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, Vol. 2: The Little Death Mickey Spillane and Max Allan Collins, read by Stacy Keach and a full cast. Blackstone Audio, two CDs, 2 hrs., $24.95 ISBN 978-1-4417-1256-1

Beautifully produced, this fully realized original radio drama hits all the right notes for an exciting noir adventure. Stacy Keach, who has made PI Mike Hammer his own, provides just the right voice for the now iconic tough guy. Based on material developed by Spillane in the 1950s, the intricate plot revolves around Hammer's involvement with Helen Venn, the former girlfriend of the now deceased casino owner and mobster, Marty Wellman. Helen is on the run from the new mob boss, Carmen Rich, who figures she's holding $10 million of missing gambling money. Hammer and his best Gal Friday, Velda, leap in, with fists and bullets flying, to the young woman's aid, but, naturally, nothing is as simple as it first appears. Keach is letter perfect in his smooth, unflappable portrayal of Hammer, and he is supported by a talented group of actors. Superb sound design and jazz score (composed and performed by Keach) make this radio novel a great way to spend two hours. (Feb.)

The Weight of Silence Heather Gudenkauf, read by James Colby, Eliza Foss, Cassandra Morris, Andy Paris, Therese Plummer, and Tony Ward. Recorded Books, unabridged, nine CDs, 9.5 hrs., $102.75 ISBN 978-1-4407-7695-3

This is the kind of compelling, can't-put-it-down audiobook that will have listeners driving around the block a few extra times just to find out what happens next. Taking turns to read (the narrative rotates between various points of view), the cast renders each character believable and expertly ratchets up the suspense. The pacing is exactly right, and the different narrations flow into each other seamlessly and naturally. All the actors are excellent, but the standout is Tony Ward as middle-aged Martin, whose guilt, frustration and helplessness at his daughter's disappearance are palpable in his anguished voice. This is a must-listen audiobook. A Mira paperback (Reviews, June 22). (Feb.)

Golden Hell L. Ron Hubbard, read by a full cast. Galaxy Audio, unabridged, two CDs, 2 hrs., $9.95 ISBN 978-1-59212-253-0

Spurred by the chance of treasure, Capt. Humbert Reynolds sets out into the Gobi Desert to find gold only to encounter impossible obstacles, not the least of which are treacherous Mongolians and a cult living at the gold's epicenter. Like much pulp fiction, this story is big on action, manly men, and simplistic and often crude depictions of nonwhites (one Mongolian character is reported to have an Oxford accent and yet the actor fails to produce anything but an overtly stereotypical “Asian” accent). This aside, the music, sound quality, and production are top-notch and the full cast and sound effects lend it nostalgic appeal. An additional story, “Pearl Pirate,” is featured at the end, and though short, by comparison it is equally polished as the main production. A Galaxy Press paperback. (Jan.)

The Thirty-Nine Steps John Buchan, read by a full cast. BBC Audio, two CDs, 2 hrs., $19.99 ISBN 978-1-60283-860-4

A full cast delivers a gripping performance of John Buchan's classic tale of espionage and intrigue. When Richard Hannay discovers a dead body in his apartment, he's dragged into a dark and dangerous world of global politics, secret societies, and undercover agents. Accused of murder and with the fate of the British fleet resting in his hands, Hannay must elude the police and foreign spies, decode a cryptic notebook, and convince the enigmatic Sir Walter Bullivant to believe his incredible tale. David Robb dazzles as Hannay, delivering a gritty, nuanced performance of a man living a nightmare, and with the addition of dramatic music and a host of pitch-perfect sound effects, this audiobook is highly enjoyable and highly recommended. (Jan.)

A Single Man Christopher Isherwood, read by Simon Prebble. HighBridge Audio, four CDs, 4.5 hrs., $24.95 ISBN 978-1-61573-058-2

Isherwood's resurrected classic—now a feature film—takes us to Southern California in the 1960s and into one day in the life of George, a gay, middle-aged English professor, struggling to cope with his young lover's tragic death. Simon Prebble's voice is a perfect conduit for Isherwood's lyricism, and he assumes the role of George so naturally and with such raw feeling that listeners will feel as if they are hearing the words straight from the protagonist himself, so beautifully does Prebble create George's reserve behind which surge tides of grief, rage, and bitter loneliness. A University of Minnesota paperback. (Jan.)

Remarkable Creatures Tracy Chevalier, read by Susan Lyons and Charlotte Parry. Penguin Audio, unabridged, eight CDs, 10 hrs., $39.95 ISBN 978-0-14-314530-1

The discoveries of fossils on the beaches of Lyme Regis, England, in the 19th century rocked the world and opened the minds of scientists to the planet's unimaginable age and the extinction of species. Though attributed to men of consequence, the first remarkable finds were made by the poor working-class Anning family—and their young daughter, Mary. Chevalier wraps the history with a tale of the friendship between Mary and Elizabeth Philpot, a gentlewoman also fascinated by the creatures of stone, in a time when women were thought to be ill-suited to the work or incapable of understanding the scope of their finds. Each of these two characters tells a first-person story, and Susan Lyons gives Elizabeth Philpot the diction, reserve, subdued tones, and poise expected of a gentlewoman and shades her with idiosyncrasies, passions, and palpable loneliness. Charlotte Parry is convincing as a callow, coarse Mary Anning, and listeners will witness her gradual maturing and refinement as the story unfolds. The quality audio production enhances Chevalier's picturesque historical novel. A Dutton hardcover (Reviews, Sept. 28). (Jan.)

Ghosts and Lightning Trevor Byrne, read by John Lee. Tantor Media, unabridged, seven CDs, 7.5 hrs., $34.99 ISBN 978-1-4001-1555-6

Twenty-something protagonist Denny Cullen is called home to Dublin when his mother dies unexpectedly. He stumbles through the following weeks; vivid reunions with friends and family are felt through a veil of loss and grief. Written in the strong, colorful dialect of working-class Dublin, Byrne's first-person fiction reads like a memoir, and British actor John Lee's narration is natural and realistic. Lee articulates Denny's thoughtful observations with self-deprecating wit and heartfelt warmth kept in check with gritty, dark humor. A Doubleday hardcover. (Jan.)

The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald, read by Robertson Dean. Tantor Media, unabridged, four CDs, 5 hrs., $19.99 ISBN 978-1-4001-1424-5

Robertson Dean's rich, deep voice sweeps us into this classic with the same straightforward narrative elegance Fitzgerald gives his narrator, Nick Carraway. Dean manages to be moving without dramatic exaggeration, and to distinguish characters, male and female, without resort to stereotyping. He reifies Jay Gatsby in all his ambition and naïveté, and paints Fitzgerald's complex picture of love, power, money, and hypocrisy with simple sonority. This audio is a wonderful experience for old fans as well as first-time Fitzgerald readers, and it comes with a companion e-book. (Dec.)

Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword of Avalon Diana L. Paxson, read by Lorna Raver. Tantor Media, unabridged, 14 CDs, 17 hrs., $39.99 ISBN 978-1-4001-1187-9

Anyone familiar with Arthurian lore knows of the magical sword given to Arthur by the Lady of the Lake, but the origins of the sword itself have been a mystery until now. Paxon continues Marion Zimmer Bradley's beloved Arthurian saga in this sprawling epic that traces the provenance of the sword to the iron of a meteor—and the gods themselves. It's a detailed plot and a long listen, but Lorna Raver reads with the immediacy and intimacy of a fireside storyteller. She creates believable characters, juggles the diverse cast, adds pulsing momentum—all while staying ethereal enough to convey all the romance and magic of the legend. A Roc hardcover (Reviews, Oct. 12). (Dec.)

Hollywood Moon Joseph Wambaugh, read by Christian Rummel. Hachette Audio, unabridged, 10 CDs, 12 hrs., $39.98 ISBN 978-1-60624-774-3

For the final and arguably best entry in his Hollywood trilogy (after Hollywood Station and Hollywood Crows), Wambaugh takes listeners on “a cops-eye ride along the boulevard of broken dreams” through all manner of police eccentricities and heroism, brutal violence, gallows humor, romance, marital discord, and a jaw-dropping study of the ins and outs of identity theft. Christian Rummel, his partner on the ride, translates the vivid prose into something resembling an audio play. He's already honed the voices of such characters as detective Hollywood Nate Weiss and the surfer cop team, Flotsam and Jetsam, but they're refined: Nate sounds a little more grounded, the surfers more subtly spacey. Plus there's a cast of new characters to play with—creepy ID thieves; henpecked and delusional Dewey Gleason and his chain-smoking, gravel-voiced wife, Eunice; and the chilling teenage serial rapist and prospective murderer, Malcolm Rojas. Wambaugh sets a swift pace as he drives his cops and criminals toward each other and an inevitable collision, and Rummel has no trouble keeping up, adding his own spin around the novel's hairpin turns. A Little, Brown hardcover (Reviews, Sept. 28). (Nov.)

I, Alex Cross James Patterson, read by Tim Cain and Michael Cerveris. Hachette Audio, unabridged, six CDs, 7 hrs., $39.98 ISBN 978-1-60024-768-2

Death's shadow passes close to home in this latest installment of Patterson's long-running Det. Alex Cross series. When the remains of Alex's estranged niece are discovered in the trunk of a car, his investigation takes him into the powerful, protected, and very decadent world of the Washington elite. Tim Cain and Michael Cerveris deliver top-notch performances as they expertly bring Patterson's signature roller-coaster plotting and diverse cast of characters to life. Though the actual resolution to the story may stretch the realm of believability, Cain and Cerveris bring the listener along for the ride with strong conviction in their reading. A perfect book for a long drive. A Little, Brown hardcover (Reviews, Dec. 7). (Nov.)

The Mercy Rule John Lescroart, read by David Colacci. Brilliance Audio, unabridged, 15 CDs, 16 hrs., $38.99 ISBN 978-1-4233-8693-3

Lescroart's multilayered 1999 novel, the fifth to feature San Francisco bartender-turned-barrister Dismas Hardy, is a heady brew of courtroom drama, hot topics (assisted suicide), and family dynamics among richly drawn characters. David Colacci, the primary narrator of the series, brings back his renditions of Hardy's easygoing but always intelligent voice and his police lieutenant Abe Glitsky's hoarse delivery, along with introducing a cast of new characters. New interpretations include a gruff, halting speech pattern for fishmonger Salvatore Russo, an Alzheimer's sufferer whose death triggers the plot; the calm, almost beatific voice of Sal's son, Graham, who's charged with Salvatore's murder; and the fluty, aristocratic murmurs of Sal's socially prominent, long-since-remarried ex-wife. Though the author may go a little too far in placing the heroic Hardy in final jeopardy, Colacci maintains the perfect pace throughout, moving us through the thrills to a smooth and satisfying conclusion. A Dell paperback. (Nov.)

Nonfiction

Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage Elizabeth Gilbert, read by the author. Penguin Audio, unabridged, seven CDs, 8.5 hrs., $29.95 ISBN 978-0-14-314575-2

Gilbert's sequel to the megabestselling Eat, Pray, Love is a serious, sincere, yet ultimately tedious slog of a listen. Debating whether or not to marry her boyfriend, the author embarks on a one-year study of marriage's evolution, cultural variations, pitfalls, and pleasures. It's earnest and heartfelt, but there's no story. Gilbert's encapsulations of her research cannot sustain the reader's interest, and her forays into amateur anthropology in Southeast Asia are crude and uncharitable: she vacillates between tropes of the happy savage and crowing that the Hmong women she interviews will never know her level of education, health, and agency. But these considerable flaws belong to the material alone; Gilbert's reading is unimpeachable. Her voice is low, warm, slightly hoarse; her attitude is confiding and self-deprecating, and her charm does much in making the book's less palatable sections go down easily. A Viking hardcover (Reviews, Nov. 23). (Jan.)

Fly by Wire: The Geese, the Glide, the Miracle on the Hudson William Langewiesche, read by David Drummond. Tantor Media, unabridged, five CDs, 6 hrs., $29.99 ISBN 978-1-4001-1546-4

Much more than a straight retelling of U.S. Airways flight 1549's miraculous landing on the Hudson, Langewiesche's latest uses the story—and the heroism of pilots Chesley Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles—as a lens through which to examine the advances in and flaws of modern air travel and piloting. David Drummond delivers a solid reading, relaying the detail-laden text—the backstories of the pilots, the technical information, the gripping blow-by-blow—with clarity and careful pacing. A subtle performance that enhances and never overwhelms the material. A Farrar, Straus & Giroux hardcover (Reviews, Nov. 9). (Jan.)

The New Frugality: How to Consume Less, Save More, and Live Better Chris Farrell, read by the author. HighBridge Audio, unabridged, six CDs, 7 hrs., $26.95 ISBN 978-1-61573-034-6

Farrell's brief on the value in shifting from conspicuous consumption to responsible spending is well-intentioned, but rarely does his advice move beyond commonsense considerations into more substantive lifestyle shifts. The pedestrian material also undermines Farrell's reading—which, given the author's textured voice, a personable vocal manner, and lilting rhythm, should have been excellent. Coupled with the text, however, Farrell's performance is listless and lacks energy, charisma, and powerful prose necessary to interest and inspire the listener. A Bloomsbury hardcover (Reviews, Oct. 26). (Jan.)

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea Barbara Demick, read by Karen White. Tantor Media, unabridged, 10 CDs, 12.5 hrs., $34.99 ISBN 978-1-4001-0984-5

Following six North Koreans over the course of 15 years, Demick offers a haunting portrait of life in North Korea. Her subjects are instantly relatable—they fall in love, raise families—but as their country grows increasingly isolated, totalitarian, and repressive, and is ravaged by unemployment and famine, they risk everything to leave. Karen White delivers a stunning reading; her character interpretations are confident and well-rounded, and she forges a strong bond with the audience. Powerful without becoming overwrought, White handles the harrowing material with sensitivity and intelligence. An unforgettable listening experience that will resonate long after the final sentence. A Random hardcover (Reviews, Sept. 28). (Jan.)

Cleaving Julie Powell, read by the author. Hachette Audio, unabridged, nine CDs, 10.5 hrs., $29.98 ISBN 978-1-60024-569-5

Powell flounders in her latest cooking-themed memoir. Trying to end an affair, the married Powell leaves town and seeks distraction in a butcher shop. She explores her obsessions with meat and with her lover—but listeners will quickly tune out. Her sarcastic inflections, flat tone, and nervous voice that worked reasonably well with Julie and Julia sound supercilious and affected here. The clunky performance cannot redeem the uninspired prose, and Powell—who compulsively cheats on her “saintly” husband—is difficult to empathize with. A Little, Brown hardcover. (Dec.)

Live for Your Listening Pleasure David Sedaris, read by the author. Hachette Audio, unabridged, one CD, 1.5 hrs., $17.98 ISBN 978-1-60024-718-7

A master of the pregnant pause and king of cockeyed deadpan, Sedaris is at the top of his game in these five live performances, delivered in cities across the U.S. The disc includes one of his animal fables, as well as trenchant observations about his life in France and his travels during his author tours. As mundane an experience as shopping at Costco provides as many opportunities for humor, meditations on his past, and appreciation for the bizarre as does the time Sedaris fed a kookaburra outside an Australian restaurant. The brisk and endlessly entertaining listen again proves that mere readers of Sedaris are missing out. (Dec.)

Unlikely Allies: How a Merchant, a Playwright, and a Spy Saved the American Revolution Joel Richard Paul, read by Arthur Morey. Tantor Audio, unabridged, nine CDs, 11 hrs., $24.99 ISBN 978-1-4001-6490-5

Arthur Morey steps into the boots of three unwitting heroes of the American Revolution: with his smooth delivery and flawless voice, Morey transforms into Silas Deane, Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, and Chevalier d'Eon—respectively the eponymous merchant, playwright, and spy, allowing listeners to lose themselves in this compelling, true story of American's origins. Morey's voice and Paul's words prove to be the ideal combination for an entertaining and informative history. A Riverhead hardcover (Reviews, Dec. 21). (Dec.)

Googled: The End of the World as We Know It Ken Auletta, read by Jim Bond. Brilliance Audio, unabridged, 12 CDs, 14 hrs., $29.99 ISBN 978-1-4418-2097-6

Auletta offers a comprehensive history of Google's meteoric rise, profiling its creators, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the initial team members, previous commentators on the organization, and Google's various competitors over the years. Jim Bond captures Auletta's tone admirably, tonally balancing fact and opinion within the book. Despite some vocal wavering, Bond commands our attention and sustains interest with pacing and emphasis that enable listeners to absorb the information effortlessly along with the significance of certain moments and individuals. A Penguin Press hardcover (Reviews, Aug. 24). (Nov.)

Miss O'Dell: My Hard Days and Long Nights with the Beatles, the Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and the Women They Loved Chris O'Dell with Katherine Letcham, read by Renée Raudman. Tantor Media, unabridged, 11 CDs, 14 hrs., $39.99 ISBN 978-1-4001-6491-2

Ever wonder what was really going on in the studio when the Beatles recorded the White Album? Chris O'Dell offers these entertaining vignettes of her backstage experiences with the boys in the bands—Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, and Eric Clapton—for whom she was variously muse, lover, typist, confidante, and, on one occasion, drug runner. O'Dell pops up with Zelig-like ubiquity in pop music's most iconic moments, and the book is a gossip gold mine—but it's also a deeply felt account of living a full life, with all its concomitant regrets. Renee Raudman delivers a stunning wallop of a recording that captures the essence of the stories with easy glamour and raw emotion. A Touchstone hardcover. (Nov.)

The Simpsons: An Uncensored, Unauthorized, History John Ortved, read by John Allen Nelson. Tantor Media, unabridged, nine CDs, 11.5 hrs., $34.99 ISBN 978-1-4001-6448-6

This behind-the-scenes look at perhaps the most successful television series of all time is a memorable and highly entertaining romp that offers listeners never before heard stories and anecdotes from such figures as Conan O'Brien and James L. Brooks. John Allen Nelson does a splendid job at relating the text with an ear for Ortved's wry wit—though his Homer impression could use a little work. Nelson takes listeners to places they've never been, tells them stories they thought they'd never hear, and does it all in such a cool and collected tone, that it seems almost second nature. It's endlessly informative and a fine complement to Ortved's superb study of the pop culture phenom. A Faber & Faber hardcover (Reviews, Oct. 5). (Nov.)

Go Ask Alice

The classic and an equally transporting imagining of the life of Alice Liddell Hargreaves.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Lewis Carroll, read by a full cast. BBC Audio, two CDs, 2 hrs., $14.95 ISBN 978-1-60283-660-0

With strong performances from a stellar full cast, this dramatization of the beloved novel sends listeners tumbling down the rabbit hole and into a world of magic, mushrooms, anthropomorphic animals and adventure. Chasing the White Rabbit, growing and shrinking in size, and meeting a menagerie of oddballs—the dotty Mad Hatter, the lugubrious Mock Turtle, and the homicidal Queen of Hearts—Alice attempts to navigate the strange world without losing her head—literally and figuratively. With Sarah-Jane Holm as Alice, Roy Hudd as the Mad Hatter, and David Bamber as the White Rabbit—all of whom sound as if they're thoroughly enjoying themselves—the cast transports the listener into an alternative universe with perfectly scored incidental music and fantastic sound effects. An energetic and delightfully zany rendition of the classic. (Jan.)

Alice I Have Been: a Novel Melanie Benjamin, read by Samantha Eggar. Random House Audio, unabridged, six CDs, 6 hrs., $35 ISBN 978-0-3077-1344-5

Samantha Eggar is a consummate actor, and the character of Alice Liddell Hargreaves, from girlhood into old age, is a great vehicle for her talents. The three young Liddell sisters who dominate the first half of the book are easily distinguished and thoroughly believable. So are their parents and the shy, stuttering Oxford professor Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll), who entertains the girls with long, highly imaginative stories. Romance, mystery, and tragedy soon erupt in the life of the “real” Alice; fans of the classic and of smart, atmospheric contemporary fiction will find much to relish. A Delacorte hardcover (Reviews, Oct. 12). (Jan.)

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