Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss David Sadzin’s performance of this classic 1912 novel which is described as evocative, even poetic. James Weldon Johnson tells the unnamed man’s story in the first person, and Sadzin re-creates the character’s intimate and intelligent tone and catches the cadence of his self-conscious yet assured voice. Race, race relations, and the complex story of passing for white provide the sociological underpinnings of this short but compelling audiobook. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Brilliance Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com April 2021 marks the 25th annual celebration of poets and poetry with National Poetry Month. Nicholas Farrell delivers an inspiring work of imagination from the William Wordsworth autobiography in verse, The Prelude: according to our reviewer at AudioFile The Prelude “ is an essential listen for anyone interested in the roots of Romanticism.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Performed with grace and care, Daniel Henning’s outstanding narration of this fine biography reveals, warts and all, the larger-than-life James Beard. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss John Birdsall’s biography of the renowned chef who is considered the dean of American cookery. Henning narrates with intelligence at a good pace, and gives the elegant prose its due. It’s an audiobook filled with luscious descriptions of places, meals, and people, and the author deftly handles the essential truth of Beard’s life: He rose to fame as a closeted gay man in homophobic postwar America. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by HighBridge Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com After a fifteen hundred year break, the first Olympics of the modern era took place on April 6, 1896 in Athens. A History of the Olympics is a unique audiobook, our review at AudioFile said: “Barry Davis announces the history in an enjoyable, breezy manner.” Written by sports journalist John Goodbody, with a fascinating personal documentary featuring one of Britain’s leading Olympians, Sebastian Coe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how this audiobook absorbs the listener from its prologue to its end. Narrator Rebecca Lowman presents the many complex characters with just the right pace and carefully acts the various voices. Lowman particularly illuminates the character of Hazel Saltwater, an introspective, damaged seer whose life is indelibly marked by events that take place on the night of February 6 during the Blizzard of ‘78. Jack Livings’s novel has mystery, mayhem, and sci-fi, flashing forward and back as it revels in the lost world of late 1970s Manhattan. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Brilliance Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com American educator, author, orator, and adviser to several presidents of the United States, Booker T. Washington is remembered today. Hear his 1908 Atlanta Exposition Address in the Naxos AudioBooks production, Voices of Black America, now on Spotify. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrators Cassandra Campbell, Tom Taylorson, and Rachel Jacobs channel each member of the close-knit Senter family. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Meredith Hall’s audiobook, told with stunning performances that put listeners in the heart of the family before, during, and after a tragedy that changes the family forever. Set in the years spanning 1933 to the 1960s on a family farm in Maine and told in individual monologues, this beautiful, haunting story, performed with sensitivity, is best enjoyed on audio. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Lew Wallace's Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ could be said to be the first American blockbuster. Jeff Harding’s vivid reading combines all the best elements of popular classic, epic and action story against a background of authoritative historical detail. Celebrate this Easter season with a “heart-of-the-book” production from Naxos AudioBooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan Morris’s piquant, irreverent daily diary about life as a nonagenarian in the 21st century is brought to vibrant life by narrator Jennifer M. Dixon. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the late Morris’s observations on everything from world politics to neighborhood birds, aging, and family. Dixon is skilled at mirroring the author’s humor and essential kindness, encouraging us to savor her wisdom and honor her “equilibriumist” approach to life. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com April is SCOTTISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH. Some of our most iconic American literature, including The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and The Raven, are credited to tartan proud Scottish Americans. Adam Sims performs examples of early American fiction from Washington Irving and Edgar Allen Poe’s only complete novel, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym, at naxosaudiobooks.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kathe Mazur narrates Walter Isaacson’s clear and well-researched biography of Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna. She, along with colleagues, advanced biochemistry by employing CRISPR technology to improve and simplify genetic engineering—ultimately leading to a safe and effective COVID vaccine. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this audiobook that explores Doudna’s scientific achievements and the broader contexts. Mazur’s personable delivery and measured pace help listeners access the science and connect to Doudna’s research. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of The Real Hergé, the true story of the inspiration behind cultural phenomenon Tintin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is an extraordinary audiobook about four extraordinary women who were war correspondents—the three women who are the subject of Becker’s book, as well as the author herself. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Lisa Flanagan’s skill with her pitch-perfect narration in this account of trailblazing women. Flanagan moves from the harrowing action on the battlefields of Vietnam to the high-society backgrounds of the future journalists. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of The Last Queen. Simon Vance narrates a revelatory new biography of Queen Elizabeth and the royal Windsor family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Orlagh Cassidy returns to transport listeners back to bomb-shattered London of 1941. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this long-running series, which has followed Maisie Dobbs from her time as a WWI nurse to her role working with the Special Operations Executive. Jacqueline Winspear’s attention to the details of time, place, and speech, paired with Cassidy’s spot-on performance, make for an engaging and authentic listening experience. In the 16th in the series, Maisie is investigating a murder, and she finds herself in a complex situation involving British and French intelligence agents. She struggles between her duty to serve her country and her dedication to her child. A deeply moving listening experience. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our final look at the 2021 Audie Awards, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb talk about some of the funniest audiobooks in the Audies competition--the nominees for the Humor award. It’s a category where comedians shine, full of audiobooks that will make you laugh out loud. The finalists for the 2021 Audie Awards Humor audiobooks are: THE NEW ONE by Mike Birbiglia, J. Hope Stein, read by Mike Birbiglia, J. Hope Stein, published by Hachette Audio NOTHING LIKE I IMAGINED by Mindy Kaling, read by Mindy Kaling, published by Brilliance Audio SMALL DOSES by Amanda Seales, read by Amanda Seales, published by Audible, Inc. SURRENDER, WHITE PEOPLE! by D.L. Hughley, Doug Moe, read by D.L. Hughley, published by Harper Audio A VERY PUNCHABLE FACE by Colin Jost, read by Colin Jost, published by Random House Audio WOW, NO THANK YOU. by Samantha Irby, read by Samantha Irby, published by Random House Audio Congratulations to this year’s winner, A VERY PUNCHABLE FACE written and narrated by Colin Jost. Hear a clip from the winner and more about the audiobook in today’s episode. Find a full list of 2021 Audie Award finalists and winners at theaudies.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb share details about the winner of the Best Young Adult audiobook. This year’s nominees include audiobooks that were beautifully narrated by the authors themselves as well as those brought to life by professional narrators. Be sure to watch our discussion with the celebrity judges of the Young Adult Audies category, authors Jerry Craft, Melissa de la Cruz, and V.E. Schwab, on our website. The finalists for the 2021 Audie Award for Young Adult audiobooks are: CLAP WHEN YOU LAND by Elizabeth Acevedo, read by Elizabeth Acevedo, Melania-Luisa Marte, published by Harper Audio EVERYTHING SAD IS UNTRUE by Daniel Nayeri, read by Daniel Nayeri, published by Listening Library POISONED by Jennifer Donnelly, read by Rosie Jones, published by Scholastic Audiobooks A SONG BELOW WATER by Bethany C. Morrow, read by Jennifer Haralson, Andrea Lang, published by Macmillan Audio THIS IS MY AMERICA by Kim Johnson, read by Bahni Turpin, published by Listening Library Congratulations to Elizabeth Acevedo and Melania-Luisa Marte for their win for CLAP WHEN YOU LAND, a beautiful and heartbreaking story of two sisters united by tragedy. Hear more about the winning audiobook, which also won in the Multi-Voiced Performance category, in today’s episode. Find a full list of 2021 Audie Award finalists and winners at theaudies.com Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of The Last Queen. Simon Vance narrates a revelatory new biography of Queen Elizabeth and the royal Windsor family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AudioFile’s Michele Cobb and host Jo Reed are discussing the 2021 Audie Awards all week. In today’s episode, they are celebrating the excellent nominees for Best Female Narrator, recognizing them for their excellent work on compelling audiobooks‚ and toasting this year’s winner. The finalists for the 2021 Audie Award for Best Female Narrator are: THE CITY WE BECAME by N.K. Jemisin, read by Robin Miles, published by Hachette Audio THE COLOR PURPLE by Alice Walker, read by Samira Wiley, published by Audible, Inc. THE LYING LIFE OF ADULTS by Elena Ferrante, read by Ann Goldstein, published by Random House Audio ONE BY ONE by Ruth Ware, read by Imogen Church, published by Simon & Schuster Audio SUCH A FUN AGE by Kiley Reid, read by Nicole Lewis, published by Penguin Audio Congratulations to this year’s winner of Best Female Narrator, Robin Miles for THE CITY WE BECAME by N.K. Jemisin. Hear a clip from the winning audiobook and learn more about this captivating title that also took home the Fantasy award. Find a full list of 2021 Audie Award finalists and winners at theaudies.com Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of The Last Queen. Simon Vance narrates a revelatory new biography of Queen Elizabeth and the royal Windsor family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re celebrating the Audie Awards all week with host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb. Today they’re discussing last night’s virtual gala and the winner of the Audie Award for Best Male Narrator, a category full of skilled performances. The finalists for the 2021 Audie Award for Best Male Narrator are: ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE by Louise Penny, read by Robert Bathurst, published by Macmillan THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X by Malcolm X, Alex Haley, read by Laurence Fishburne, published by Audible, Inc. THE GLIMME by Emily Rodda, read by Andrew Scott, published by Bolinda Audio A MAN CALLED OVE by Fredrik Backman, read by George Newbern, published by Dreamscape SQUEEZE ME by Carl Hiaasen, read by Scott Brick, published by Random House Audio And congratulations to the winner, Laurence Fishburne’s stunning performance of THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley. Hear a clip from the winning audiobook--which also won in the Autobiography/Memoir category--and learn more about the impact of this new recording of a powerful work. Find a full list of 2021 Audie Award finalists and winners at theaudies.com Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of The Real Hergé, the true story of the inspiration behind cultural phenomenon Tintin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss their excitement over the 2021 Audie Awards, the Audio Publishers Association’s annual celebration of audiobook excellence. Tonight is the 26th Audie Awards—watch the virtual gala starting at 8:30pm ET at the APA’s YouTube page. Today, Jo and Michele are discussing the finalists in the Audiobook of the Year category, which are titles with high-quality content and production values and are recognized as benchmarks of excellence for the industry. Tune in tonight to hear the winner! The finalists for the 2021 Audie Awards Audiobook of the Year are: THE DECISION: Overcoming Today's BS for Tomorrow's Success, by Kevin Hart, read by Kevin Hart, published by Audible, Inc. MORE MYSELF: A Journey, by Alicia Keys, read by Alicia Keys, America Ferrera, Bono, Clive Davis, Craig Cook, DJ Walton, Jay-Z, Krucial, Leigh Blake, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Swizz Beats, Terri Augelo, published by Macmillan Audio THE MOUNTAINS SING by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, read by Quyen Ngo, published by Dreamscape PIRANESI by Susanna Clarke, read by Chiwetel Ejiofor, published by Bloomsbury Publishing WE'RE BETTER THAN THIS: My Fight for the Future of Our Democracy, by Elijah Cummings, James Dale, read by Nancy Pelosi, Laurence Fishburne, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, published by Harper Audio Find a full list of 2021 Audie Award finalists and winners at theaudies.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Four narrators create a striking collection of voices that explore and celebrate little-known poems of Black women from the Harlem Renaissance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this collection from poet Nikki Grimes that alternates a Harlem Renaissance poem with an original poem based on the work, using the golden shovel composition form. Bahni Turpin narrates Grimes’s poems, as well as her introduction, with a lively and youthful voice. Karole Foreman, Zakia Young, and Janina Edwards alternate reading the historical poems. Turpin’s light tones for Grimes’s poems serve as a contemporary counterpoint to the deeper, more somber tones of the historical works. Both Emily and Jo highly recommend seeking out the print book to listen and read along, as the print book is packed with original illustrations from Black women artists. An excellent book for classrooms and families to explore. Read the full review of the audiobook. Published by Bloomsbury Publishing. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of The Last Queen. Simon Vance narrates a revelatory new biography of Queen Elizabeth and the royal Windsor family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Woo Zeller’s melodic narration transports listeners to 1950s San Francisco in this coming-of-age novel about family, first love, and a Chinese American teenager discovering herself. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Malinda Lo’s YA historical fiction full of characters, places, and moments that Zeller beautifully brings to life. When Lily sees an ad for a male impersonator performing at the Telegraph Club, she is captivated by the idea and recognizes a longing within herself. Soon she’s sneaking out for heady nights at the Telegraph Club and falling for her friend Kath. As Lily becomes more comfortable in her own skin, Zeller’s narration becomes bolder and more confident. Be forewarned, this audiobook will break your heart—and mend it. Read the full review of the audiobook. Published by Listening Library. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Quincy Surasmith narrates this middle-grade work of nonfiction which depicts, in detail, the harrowing rescue of a youth soccer team stuck in a flooded cave in Thailand. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Christina Soontornvat’s impressive work and the skills Surasmith needed to bring it to life. The narrative swings from emotional tension when the author focuses on the boys or their parents to tactical precision when she explains the inner workings of the cave system. Surasmith navigates these changes expertly in his narration. This Newbery and Sibert Honor book makes for an informative and engaging yet pithy audiobook that is suitable for all audiences. Read the full review of the audiobook. Published by Brilliance Audio/Candlewick Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of The Last Queen. Simon Vance narrates a revelatory new biography of Queen Elizabeth and the royal Windsor family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cindy Kay narrates a violent retelling of Romeo & Juliet set in the underworld of 1926 Shanghai with a cool voice that matches the tone of the story. Host Jo Reed & AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this captivating YA audiobook. Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov are members of opposing gangs who must work together to save their city from a horrifying new threat. Juliette is a fierce and angry young woman constantly defending her position in the Scarlet Gang, and Kay leans into the rage that Juliette experiences. Roma also faces threats to his role as the heir to the White Flower Gang, and listeners hear the weariness he feels. Roma and Juliette were in love years ago, before a betrayal tore them apart, and coming back together to discover the source of a madness sweeping the city brings up old feelings of longing. Read the full review of the audiobook. Published by Tantor Media. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of The Real Hergé, the true story of the inspiration behind cultural phenomenon Tintin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fall in love with Eve and Jacob in Talia Hibbert’s final Brown sisters novel, narrated with warmth and enthusiasm by Ione Butler. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this sweet, steamy, and hilarious romance. Eve has a hard time sticking to a career, and when her parents confront her, she drives off and stumbles across a picturesque B&B with a help wanted sign. Despite initially butting heads with the B&B’s owner, Jacob, Eve gets the job as the chef and discovers a love for taking care of others. Eve and Jacob slowly become friends, and then lovers, and they share a compatibility that sparkles thanks to Butler’s engaging narration. This is an audiobook that will have you laughing out loud, and it’s a delightful end to the trilogy. Read the full review of the audiobook. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you listened to a Victorian novel lately? Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the joy of this ensemble narration of Wilkie Collins’s classic NO NAME. The talented Nicholas Boulton is the primary narrator, and his ability to mimic the elite and humble and capture their cadence and tone is unrivaled. His subtle inflections shape this long but satisfying performance. The stalwart cast transports listeners to 1840s London and the countryside. The novel is filled with unforgettable characters, and like his friend Dickens, Collins writes in torrents of descriptive prose and crafts a clever plot. Published by Naxos AudioBooks. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This four-character production from L.A. Theatre Works and playwright Larissa FastHorse (Sicangu Lakota Nation) is a send-up of woke culture, a satire of political correctness, and a most entertaining listening experience. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this production that captures the zeitgeist with controlled mayhem. Liza Weil plays well-meaning Logan, who is directing an elementary school drama production and trying her best to stitch together a “culturally sensitive” play about Native Americans with four white players, no script, and historical references that make every issue “an issue.” Ellis Greer’s Alicia, Josh Stamberg’s Jaxton, and Mark Jude Sullivan’s Caden give life to woke stereotypes. There’s an insightful interview with FastHorse, a MacArthur Fellow, at the audiobook’s conclusion. Published by L.A. Theatre Works Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A practiced narrator and elegant stylist, Gretel Ehrlich delivers her memoir in a poetic voice. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how the author of THE SOLACE OF OPEN SPACES narrates in a conversational tone, making for a relaxed listening experience that belies the intense adventures she recounts. She travels to some of the most remote places on earth, mapping the ravages of climate change as she visits outposts in Greenland, Alaska, Zimbabwe, and Japan. She finds hope in the “re-wilding” efforts in Siberia and comfort in her Wyoming ranching life. This is a personal and soul-searching work, and a love song to places remote and forgotten. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Rebecca Lowman is an excellent choice for Elizabeth Kolbert’s report on the future of our environment. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Lowman’s clear, precise narration that brings a sense of immediacy while bringing energy and intelligence to her narration. The audiobook examines the sinking of New Orleans, carbon capture in Iceland, invasive carp on the Mississippi river, and more. Kolbert, a Pulitzer Prize winner, is both an engaged writer and thoughtful witness to the daunting challenges ahead. Science writing has never been more important, and Kolbert’s audiobook deserves a wide audience. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An outstanding cast of 87 narrators brings these essays and poems vividly to life. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this stunning audiobook collection of essays and poems covering 400 years of African American history. Of the many incandescent narrators called upon to bring the stories to life, JD Jackson (“Upon Arrival”), Kevin R. Free (“Cotton”), January LaVoy (“Sally Hemmings”), and Robin Miles (“Marroons and Maroonage”) are masterful. Ninety entries, edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain, encapsulate the African American experience from 1619 to 2019, and the authors tell stories both little and well known that together give the listener a symphony of voices that bring the complex, often horrific, history of Black people in the U.S. into relief. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Julia Whelan brings vivid characterizations to Kristin Hannah’s saga about the 1930s Dust Bowl, from the perspective of Elsa Wolcott. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Whelan’s skill at becoming characters and making us ache, smile, and cry for them, their hardships, and their grit. Elsa Wolcott is tall, gangly, unloved by her family, and trapped in a spinster’s life in a Texas panhandle town. An encounter with handsome Rafe Martinelli leads to a shotgun wedding, and they are unexpectedly content until the Depression, drought, and wind decimate the land and the people. With forceful narrative drive, Whelan delivers a compelling performance of Hannah’s memorable new novel. Published by Macmillan Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of The Real Hergé, the true story of the inspiration behind cultural phenomenon Tintin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anne Lamott’s reading sounds relaxed at first, but as the audio unfolds and listeners come to know how she sees the world, her tone and pacing begin to sound beautiful. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Anne Lamott’s narration of her memoir and how her stream of consciousness style is well suited to audio. She’s a snappy storyteller who charms with her self-effacing perspectives and humanitarian sensibilities. Lamott’s observations, heard in her own voice, are a wonderful way to tap into some of her warmth and wisdom. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Petkoff narrates a thriller that ricochets listeners from a Florida swamp to the wilds of northern Maine. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten talk about Petkoff’s skill narrating this fast-paced listen. Nina once testified against her wealthy boss when his lethal crimes were revealed, and she was forced to leave her husband and young kids behind in order to protect them. Ten years later, her husband is killed in a car accident, and her children follow instructions to find her. Soon two groups of hired guns come after them--but who’s hunting whom? Petkoff keeps listeners engaged through myriad plot twists. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of The Last Queen. Simon Vance narrates a revelatory new biography of Queen Elizabeth and the royal Windsor family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zeno Robinson returns to narrate the fifth in Ide’s IQ series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Robinson’s skilled narration that grounds this audiobook using his gift for dialogue and skill with action sequences. Robinson eases listeners inside Isaiah Quintabe’s (IQ’s) weary mind as he departs L.A. to look for peace and rejuvenation in Northern California. But trouble follows, and Robinson accelerates the tempo as IQ traps a blackmailer, catches a serial killer, and prevents corporate backstabbing. Robinson is terrific with dialogue, and thankfully there’s lots of it. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of The Real Hergé, the true story of the inspiration behind cultural phenomenon Tintin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Morven Christie’s limpid, Scottish-inflected voice and gentle, enticing tone combine to lure listeners into Sarah Moss’s astonishing seventh novel as effectively as mermaids tempt sailors into the sea. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this memorable tale set at a Scottish holiday camp over the course of a long, rainy day, written in a series of linked vignettes. Each is its own vivid, heartfelt, mysterious, or humorous story that builds with the others toward an unexpected and shocking final drama. Christie’s narration keeps listeners rapt while maintaining rhythm with the action. An outstanding performance. Published by Macmillan Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lex tries hard to ignore her past, when she was known as Girl A in the aftermath of escaping her abusive parents. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Lex’s story, narrated by Ell Potter with a strong yet subtle performance that helps build the psychological tension in the story. The narrative shifts time frames, and Potter’s characterization helps to distinguish the young Lex from the highly accomplished but flawed adult Lex. Potter’s careful pacing allows listeners to use their imagination without feeling the horror is being overly dramatized. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, www.pagechaser.com, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar are sisters and co-narrators on a hilarious, rapid romp through a series of unfortunate events with the racially ignorant. Host Jo Reed and Michele Cobb discuss the comedic tone of the audiobook’s narration, which also simultaneously peels back the layers of how often and how absurdly poorly Lacey is treated. It is simultaneously infuriating and laugh-out-loud funny, thanks to the sisters’ sharp wit. Fun and educational, this is an engaging listen. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, www.pagechaser.com, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a deeply touching foreword by Oscar-winning actor Viola Davis and an introduction from Cicely Tyson herself, narrator Robin Miles picks up the torch and delivers 16 riveting, thought-provoking hours of the life and times of the author. AudioFile’s Michele Cobb tells host Jo Reed how this was one of her favorite celebrity autobiographies that she’s ever listened to, and especially poignant given the recent loss of the actress. This honest account of Tyson’s life also tells of the history and trials of Black women over generations. A must-listen audiobook thanks to the combined brilliance of Robin Miles’s performance and the genteel grace that pervades Tyson’s prose. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, www.pagechaser.com, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this collection of Katherine Anne Porter’s fiction, which brings three of her novellas to audio. Until now, her only fiction on audiobook has been SHIP OF FOOLS. Chelsea Stephens gives this matchless storyteller her due in a precise, subtly nuanced performance. These three novellas, among the best in American literature, live as vibrantly here as they did 80 years ago. Porter’s Pulitzer prize-winning story of the 1918 flu pandemic gives the collection its title, and that somber image links the very different “Old Morality” and “Noon Wine.” Published by Audible, Inc. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, www.pagechaser.com, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Dion Graham shines bright in this YA prequel, set 17 years before Thomas’s bestseller THE HATE U GIVE. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Graham’s skill at bringing this work to life. Listeners get to know Starr’s father, Maverick, at a sudden shift in his life--he’s become a father and is thrust into a whole new role as a caregiver. Graham adds to the emotional connection with the sound of his voice, easily shifting between Maverick’s sometimes frantic internal dialogue and the words he speaks aloud. It is a well-paced audiobook filled with nuances in both writing and performance, and difficult to put down. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, www.pagechaser.com, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan Do and Vyvy Nguyen charm listeners in a story of star-crossed lovers and mouthwatering foods, told in fast-paced alternating first-person chapters. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this sweet YA romance about two teens who fall for each other despite their family’s long-running rivalries. Bao Nguyen waits tables in his family’s Vietnamese restaurant, and Do conveys his anxieties about coasting without any real focus in school or out. When he has a chance encounter with Linh Mai, the daughter of his parents’ rivals, sparks fly. Nguyen’s compelling narration of Linh ensures that listeners hear the joys and fears she feels over her secret friendship--and relationship--with Bao. Both narrators convey the thrills of first love and the teens’ loyalty to their families and community. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, www.pagechaser.com, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kenny Ramos and DeLanna Studi bring a memorable intertribal powwow to life for listeners. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about this exciting new audiobook for children, featuring short stories from sixteen Indigenous authors. Diverse stories with overlapping narratives showcase the joys of coming together as a community while also highlighting the kids’ many different personalities and experiences. Ramos narrates with all of the nerves and excitement the boys are feeling over joining the festivities, and Studi captures the energy and emotions of the girl protagonists. The collection highlights for listeners that Indigenous people are still here, and that there’s no one story that represents what it’s like to be a Native kid. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, www.pagechaser.com, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Janina Edwards’s steady and friendly narration suits this children’s biography about the life and activism of Claudette Colvin, who, when she was 15 years old, helped launch the Montgomery bus boycotts by refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss how this new audiobook, part of the SHE PERSISTED chapter book series, can inspire young listeners to learn more about historical and current racial injustices. Edwards’s warm narration conveys Colvin’s curiosity and bravery. Published by Listening Library. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, www.pagechaser.com, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imani Parks brings a vibrancy to her narration of this brilliant new fantasy audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss B.B. Alston’s incredible debut, featuring a young Black girl launched into a supernatural adventure. Amari is worried -- her older brother Quinton has been missing for months. When she gets a mysterious package delivered, she suddenly learns that her brother was a superstar agent in the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. She’s determined to learn more and begins a hunt for clues as she competes for a spot as a Junior Agent. Kids looking for a fast-paced adventure full of magic will be thrilled with this listen. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, www.pagechaser.com, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Greta Jung captures both the youthful and the adult voices in this Newbery Medal-winning story about family and magic. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about Jung’s skills at bringing the characters to life. Author Tae Keller’s story captures intergenerational relationships and blends Korean mythology into the story seamlessly. Lily is a quiet and thoughtful girl who wants to disappear at the first sign of conflict, very different from her confident older sister Sam. When the girls and their mother move in with their Halmoni, Lily realizes she’s being followed by a tiger that only she can see--and that tiger may be the key to healing her Halmoni. Published by Listening Library Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, www.pagechaser.com, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s bonus edition of Behind the Mic, Nicholas Boulton joins host Jo Reed to discuss his narrations of classics, historical romances, and more. Nicholas’s narration of Dickens’s DAVID COPPERFIELD is the star of our new podcast, Audiobook Break with AudioFile Magazine, and he and Jo share their thoughts on the character work that goes into voicing a Dickens classic and the challenges of narrating a work written more than a century ago. Listen to hear how Nicholas got his start as an actor and the different techniques he uses to bring characters to life in audiobooks, on stage, and in video games. Once you’ve listened, look for Audiobook Break and start enjoying DAVID COPPERFIELD, with three chapters a week of Nicholas Boulton’s narration thanks to our publishing partner, Naxos AudioBooks. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, www.pagechaser.com, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This interpretation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 masterpiece by narrator Sean Astin adds a new layer of pathos and empathy to the classic story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Astin’s interpretation that gives millionaire Jay Gatsby’s story new emotions, and adds new insight into the tragic love story between Daisy Buchanan and Gatsby. Nailing the ending, Astin channels Nick’s longing to comprehend what has happened to him. Published by Dreamscape Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, www.pagechaser.com, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pete Cross does an excellent job narrating this hard-edged audiobook taking on the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, but with relevance to today’s COVID-19 pandemic. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the crisp voice Cross uses to narrate Harvard epidemiologist Paul Farmer’s true and sad account, one that gives listeners the gnawing sense that in pandemics and epidemics, care should always triumph over control, and that “stuff, staff, and systems” go a long way toward managing the sick. Published by Dreamscape Media. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, www.pagechaser.com, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel Henning and Rachel Perry share the narrations in a collection of six timely articles from the Harvard Business Review. AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff tells host Jo Reed how both narrators deliver transparent and thoughtful performances. From “Mindfulness” to “Find Coaching in Criticism,” the authors deliver well-researched arguments that make listeners take notice and examine their assumptions. The text combines serious suggestions with case histories and insights into famous folk who have been exceptionally resilient. Published by Gildan Media. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, www.pagechaser.com, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Petkoff is a clear and intelligent reader who suits the global scale and economic scope of Daniel Yergin’s audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Petkoff’s forthright narrative style balances the complexity of the subject. Yergin, a Pulitzer Prize-winner and an energy consultant, understands current geopolitical stresses surrounding energy production and use. Written with the background of the coronavirus, Yergin’s book details the drastic economic effects of the pandemic. Activists may deride some of his assertions, but this audiobook provides a primer on today’s environmental challenges. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, www.pagechaser.com, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A surprisingly delightful audiobook takes what might be a dry subject--the migrations of forests and trees--and turns it into a compelling listening experience. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Daniel Henning’s animated narration of Zach St. George’s collection of stories, adventures, and scientific studies. Henning gives a nuanced performance as the author tackles the effects global warming is having on the forests, and tells the stories of how naturalists, scientists, and corporations are endeavoring to find solutions. Published by HighBridge Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stefan Rudnicki splendidly reads this collection of fiction by the Russian author Pushkin. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Pushkin’s best fiction on luck, fate, honor, and grandeur, including stories from “Tales of Belkin,” his novella “The Queen of Spades,” and other stories that provide insights into humans and Russian society. Golden Voice narrator Rudnicki has a resonant voice and an understanding of the flow and nuance of each story, and his deep baritone captures the atmosphere and detail. Published by Blackstone Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meet Mistress Badger, Mrs. Mole, Miss Ratty, and Lady Toad. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this new production of Kenneth Grahame’s classic featuring a superb all-female cast. Led by Cush Jumbo, the actresses are completely comfortable with the author’s plush prose and elegant descriptions. With original music and on-location sound effects, this friendly tale will leave children captivated. Published by Audible, Inc. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Shanahan once again transports listeners down under—this time to Tasmania. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Jane Harper’s new Australian thriller, narrated with expertise by Shanahan. Kieran Elliot returns to his hometown to assist his parents’ move. When the body of a young woman is found on the beach, Kieran is drawn back into the memories of the terrible storm 12 years earlier that drowned his brother and friend. Shanahan keeps listeners engaged, and they will appreciate his delivery as Harper’s story depicts the varying ways survivors manage the pain and guilt of loss. Published by Macmillan Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With a gentleman’s grace and a finely tuned ear for character voices, narrator Simon Jones does a wonderful job bringing to life this collection of children’s fairy tales by one of the English language’s greatest wits. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Jones’s skill with this collection and beyond, and how he makes the classics so listenable, fresh, and enjoyable—even if you think you might already be familiar with these stories. Although written for children, Wilde’s unique twists on children’s literature are a little edgier, a bit more playful, a trifle wiser, and more fun than your average fairy-tale fare. Published by Alison Larkin Presents. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist and author Peter Guralnick offers a personal look at some of the last century’s most influential music artists and writers. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the audiobook narrated by Jim Meskimen with a steely timbre and vocal confidence. His intelligent performance of these captivating stories, insights, and reflections is a delight to hear, and he helps us share in the author’s enthusiasm. Guralnick writes about familiar artists and performers along with lesser-known performers, writers, and promoters who were just as critical to music’s ascendence in American culture. It’s an audiobook that musicians and music lovers will savor. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Page Chaser, a book loving community that celebrates uplifting books with regular book sweepstakes, book clubs, great book deals, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author and narrator Charlie Mackesy presents a heartwarming performance of an unlikely group of friends as they converse about life, hope, fear, and kindness while exploring the world around them. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this audio adaptation of a much loved illustrated work, which features a soundscape with music and wildlife sounds to transform the audiobook into a meditative and therapeutic experience. The short but memorable audiobook will leave listeners of all ages hopeful despite a world filled with uncertainty. It will also leave them hungry for cake. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Dreamscape Media, Publishers of bestselling audiobooks from classics like THE GREAT GATSBY to suspenseful mysteries, to indulging romance to essential non-fictions that make your ears happy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices