Audio

Fiction

National Book Award winner/New York Times best-selling author Alexie's (www.fallsapart.com) collection of stories, poems, and essays portrays a variety of characters dealing with difficult, often bittersweet situations. Alexie himself reads, with passion and sardonic humor. The strongest essays are those influenced by the author's own Native American heritage, especially the parts in which he channels his Spokane Indian father. Includes explicit language (notably, of the f**k variety); recommended for anyone who appreciates quality short fiction and nonfiction. [The Grove Pr. hc, which was published in 2009, won the 2010 PEN Faulkner Award for Fiction; the Grove pb is scheduled to be published in August.—Ed.]—J. Sara Paulk, Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Cty. Lib., GA

In the years preceding the United States' entrance into World War II, radio journalist Frankie Bard broadcasts from London during the air raids. Among her listeners are several residents of a small Cape Cod town. Writing in starkly descriptive prose, novelist Blake (Grange House) offers a revealing and intimate look at this moment in history, moving back and forth between small-town America and war-torn Europe and intertwining the narratives of three unique women along the way. Actress/narrator Orlagh Cassidy (The Piano Teacher) does a superb job of rendering this quietly powerful story; highly recommended. [The Putnam hc also received a starred review, LJ 12/09.—Ed.]—Joyce Kessel, Villa Maria Coll., Buffalo

Though No. 1 New York Times best-selling author Hamilton's (www.laurellkhamilton.org) 18th Anita Blake title—following Skin Trade (2009), also available from Books on Tape and Penguin Audio—doesn't especially move the series forward, it does give us a glimpse into Anita's "ordinary" life. In this novella-length entry, when Anita refuses a job raising the dead, the living take drastic actions that threaten the lives of the men she holds dear, and Anita discovers just how far she's willing to go to save them. Series reader Kimberly Alexis grows more comfortable in Anita's skin with each successive narration and here seamlessly conveys Anita's emotional discomforts and anger. Listeners will savor every word and will grasp, through Alexis's reading, the full weight and cost of Anita's decisions. While not required listening, Flirt will tide fans over until June, when Books on Tape and Penguin Audio will release the next series entry, Bullet.—Jodi L. Israel, MLS, Salt Lake City

Australian author McCullough's (The Thorn Birds) aptly titled new mystery features as its protagonist Carmine Delmonico, the no-nonsense, dogged detective she first introduced in On, Off (2006), also available from BBC Audiobooks America. It's 1967, and 12 murders are committed in one day in the town of Holloman, CT. Carmine, recently promoted to chief of detectives, is determined to find the killer(s). The book's plethora of victims and suspects makes tracking the characters at times cumbersome and challenging for any listener, let alone reader. But actor/narrator Charles Leggett (Capture) beautifully voices each person, even clearly distinguishing between two British-accented females. Recommended for mystery fans. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/1/09.—Ed.]—Deb West, Gannon Univ. Lib., Erie, PA

Ghana-born Quartey's debut novel is a mature, richly plotted mystery with a fully rounded protagonist who compares favorably with the best in modern detective fiction. When Detective Inspector Darko Dawson of Ghana's Criminal Investigation Division goes upcountry to investigate a murder, he confronts a powerful traditional belief system, a brutal local police chief, and a troubling mystery in his own family. Eleven-time Audie Award nominee Simon Prebble's consistently strong narration is a joy to hear. Highly recommended. [The Random hc also received a starred review, LJ 5/15/09; Quartey's second Darko Dawson title, Children of the Street, is scheduled to be published in 2011.—Ed.]—R. Kent Rasmussen, Thousand Oaks, CA

This latest addition to Symphony Space's "Selected Shorts" series, three of whose previous entries were Audie Award nominees, presents eight classic American short stories performed by an eclectic group of eight actors. Each performer breathes life into his/her story, transporting listeners to another place and time. Stockard Channing's presentation of Eudora Welty's "Why I Live at the P.O." and Malachy McCourt's interpretation of John Cheever's "Christmas Is a Sad Season for the Poor" are particularly noteworthy. Other writers whose work is featured here include Alice Walker, Donald Barthelme, Joyce Carol Oates, and Edgar Allan Poe. This title will be popular with fans of Symphony Space's "Selected Shorts" public radio series, from which these performances derive, appreciators of short stories, and generally anyone who enjoys masterly audio performances.—Donna Bachowski, Orange Cty. Lib. Syst., Orlando, FL

Few today may be aware of Twain's 1894 sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884). Though this novel is not up to the standard of those two immortal classics, it does make for fun listening as it places Tom, Huck, and former slave Jim in a fantastic balloon voyage across the Atlantic and North Africa. Of special interest is the narrative's frequent allusions to Richard Francis Burton's Arabian Nights. Great literature this is not, but it does contain some nice moments, and younger readers in particular will enjoy listening to actor/director/narrator Grover Gardner's (grovergardner.blogspot.com) delightful performance. [A boxed set collecting this recording together with Gardner's readings of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Tom Sawyer, Detective, will be available from Blackstone Audio in August.—Ed.]—R. Kent Rasmussen, Thousand Oaks, CA

For his sixth book—following Gods and Monsters (2004)—and first biography, journalist Biskind draws on interviews with Warren Beatty and his friends and colleagues as well as uses his accumulated knowledge of the inner workings of the movie industry to create this intricate portrait of one of Hollywood's most recognizable leading men. Biskind delves into both the facts and the gossip surrounding Beatty's long career in show business and his numerous relationships with equally famous women. Actor David Drummond, a relative newbie in the audiobook narrating business, reads with aplomb, varying his tones as needed to distinguish among the characters and create tension. Fans of Beatty and his films, listeners who appreciate celebrity bios, and those who liked Biskind's previous works should enjoy this. [The S. & S. hc was described as the "definitive work" on Beatty, "well written and compulsively readable."—LJ Xpress Reviews, 12/11/09.—Ed.]—Pam Kingsbury, Univ. of North Alabama, Florence

The late Pulitzer Prize-winning historians Will and Ariel Durant (The Story of Civilization) first published this exploration into the history of humankind and civilization in 1968. In this expanded audio edition (accompanied by an S. & S. paperback reissue), chapters are interspersed with archival recordings of the husband and wife further explaining their vast findings, many of which remain relevant today. Actor/director/narrator Grover Gardner (grovergardner.blogspot.com) presents this often dense material in a distinct, accessible manner. As the Durants examine history from a range of perspectives—including race, character, and religion—Lessons verges into political incorrectness at times, but this is understandable, considering its publication date. This expanded edition, winner of Publishers Weekly's Listen Up Award, is recommended for listeners with a serious interest in history and philosophy. It is especially valuable for its incorporation of commentary from the authors, who both died in 1981.—Risa Getman, Hendrick Hudson Free Lib., Montrose, NY

Best-selling author and marketing consultant Fox (www.foxandcompany.com), whose previous book, Rain: What a Paperboy Learned About Business (2009), is also available from Brilliance Audio, presents a business devotional comprised of 60 brief motivational chapters full of management- and business-related wisdom. The book, which Fox effectively narrates, contains little new content, but listeners will find themselves nodding in agreement with his insights and sometimes counterintuitive strategies, many in the form of gardening or sports metaphors. Reminders like "always answer the phone" and "never cancel batting practice" will inspire them anew with each successive listen. Recommended for both seasoned business veterans (as a refresher) and recent business school graduates (as indoctrination).—M. Gail Preslar, Eastman Chemical Co. Business Lib., Kingsport, TN

In these difficult times, what does it take for an employee—or a manager, or a CEO—to be truly indispensable to an organization? Here, Godin (www.sethgodin.com), author of the BusinessWeek best seller The Dip (2007), lays out a plan to help readers/listeners navigate their own route toward greatness, instructing them on how to make more meaningful contributions and forge stronger connections both at work and in their personal lives. No matter if you are in the production line or in the front office, Godin believes you can improve your position by assuming the indispensable role of "linchpin" within your organization. Godin himself reads, passionate but occasionally strident as he makes his case. For business, personal motivation, and self-help collections.—J. Sara Paulk, Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Cty. Lib., GA

Hirsch's second sports biography, following the New York Times best seller Hurricane (2000), tells the life story of baseball legend Willie Mays (b. 1931), who fully authorized this account and participates with an opening interview. From Mays's introduction to the game as a toddler to his iconic status in Giants lore, Hirsch paints Mays as a humble, sometimes aloof, and natural athlete whose deflection of overt off-the-field statements casts him as the social antithesis of Jackie Robinson. He does an especially fine job of addressing the racial injustices that Mays faced in his day. Actor Michael Boatman intersperses his authoritative narration with character voices that remain consistent and believable throughout. An engaging listen recommended for all baseball fans. [The New York Times best-selling Scribner hc also received a starred review, LJ 1/10.—Ed.]—Chris Rager, Pasadena, CA

Noah Adams, former cohost of NPR's All Things Considered, introduces this enjoyable collection of family vacation remembrances originally heard on that show and on NPR's Morning Edition. Each entertainingly relayed account is clearly read by its author, from Tom Goldsmith's "Who Needs a Fancy Cruise If You've Got Inner Tubes?" to Joel Achenbach's "Family Camping" to Marion Winik's "Setting Sail with Family, Imperfections in Tow." Their memories, which run the gamut from fond to awkward, will bring smiles to listeners' faces. Recommended. [Previous entries in HighBridge Audio's "NPR Road Trips" series include Roadside Attractions and Postcards from Around the Globe; see Audio NewsBriefs, LJ 6/1/09.—Ed.]—Denise A. Garofalo, Mount Saint Mary Coll. Lib., Newburgh, NY

Paving the way for the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education were two remarkable African American men: NAACP attorneys Charles Hamilton Houston (1895–1950) and Thurgood Marshall (1908–93), who together dedicated themselves to ending segregation by demanding equality for African Americans and proving that separate but equal wasn't equal at all. Attorney Rawn's first book is a fascinating historical chronicle that reminds us of the many sacrifices civil rights activists made to achieve equal rights in this country. Actor/narrator Dominic Hoffman's (Sixty Feet, Six Inches) eloquent reading is well suited to the subject matter. Historians and history buffs alike will find this inspirational.—Gloria Maxwell, Metropolitan Community Coll.-Penn Valley Lib., Kansas City, MO