Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews

Our guest today is Sunil Malhotra, narrator of I HAVE LOST MY WAY by Gayle Forman, one of our picks for the Best Young Adult Audiobooks of 2018. Sunil narrates this story along with Michael Crouch and Nicole Lewis. Three strangers collide in Central Park, and their stories are told in three very different perspectives by those three narrators. Hear from Sunil about what it was like recording this moving audiobook. Read our full review of I HAVE LOST MY WAY at audiofilemagazine.com. Explore ALL of the audiobooks in AudioFile’s Best of the Year Ezine with sound clips and narrator videos at https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/bestof/. On today’s episode are Michele Cobb, Publisher at AudioFile Magazine, and our guest, narrator Sunil Malhotra. We are giving away audiobooks from Libro.FM, Audiobooks.com, and Downpour on Twitter — visit us there at @audiofilemag and look for the #podcast for your chance to download your picks from our Best Of lists. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we share AudioFile Magazine’s list of the Best Young Adult Audiobooks of 2018. Listen in as we discuss these audiobook winners and share clips from HOPE NATION and CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE. Tune in tomorrow for more on YA winner I HAVE LOST MY WAY from narrator Sunil Malhotra. AudioFile Magazine’s Best Young Adult Audiobooks of 2018 CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE by Tomi Adeyemi, read by Bahni Turpin, published by Macmillan Audio HOPE NATION Edited by Rose Brock and read by a full cast, published by Listening Library I HAVE LOST MY WAY by Gayle Forman, read by Sunil Malhotra, Michael Crouch, Nicole Lewis, published by Listening Library LADY'S GUIDE TO PETTICOATS AND PIRACY by Mackenzi Lee, read by Moira Quirk, published by Harper Audio POET X written and narrated by Elizabeth Acevedo, published by Harper Audio Explore ALL of the audiobooks in AudioFile’s Best of the Year Ezine with sound clips and narrator videos at https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/bestof/. On today’s episode are Robin Whitten, Founder and Editor, and Michele Cobb, Publisher at AudioFile Magazine. We are giving away audiobooks from Libro.FM, Audiobooks.com, and Downpour on Twitter — visit us there at @audiofilemag and look for the #podcast for your chance to download your picks from our Best Of lists. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we share AudioFile Magazine’s list of the 2018 Best Nonfiction & Culture Audiobooks. Listen in as we discuss these audiobook winners and share a sound clip from one of the best of the year, Ijeoma Oluo’s SO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT RACE, narrated by Bahni Turpin. AudioFile Magazine’s Best Nonfiction & Culture Audiobooks of 2018 BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY BURN AGAIN by Ben Fountain, read by Ron Butler, published by Harper Audio I'LL BE GONE IN THE DARK by Michelle McNamara, read by Gabra Zackman, Gillian Flynn [Intro.], Patton Oswalt [Afterword], published by Harper Audio SO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT RACE by Ijeoma Oluo, read by Bahni Turpin, published by Blackstone Audio THE DEATH OF TRUTH by Michiko Kakutani, read by Tavia Gilbert, published by Random House Audio THE HAPPINESS CURVE by Jonathan Rauch, read by Robert Fass, published by Macmillan Audio WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? by Marilynne Robinson, read by Carrington MacDuffie, published by Blackstone Audio Explore ALL of the audiobooks in AudioFile’s Best of the Year Ezine with sound clips and narrator videos at https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/bestof/. On today’s episode are Robin Whitten, Founder and Editor, and Michele Cobb, Publisher at AudioFile Magazine. We are giving away audiobooks from Libro.FM, Audiobooks.com, and Downpour on Twitter — visit us there at @audiofilemag and look for the #podcast for your chance to download your picks from our Best Of lists. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest today is the talented Michael Crouch, who was recognized for his narration on 3 of our Best Audiobooks of 2018. Today he talks about his narration of one of our fiction picks, OLIVER LOVING by Stefan Merrill Block, published by Macmillan Audio. OLIVER LOVING is a brilliant, propulsive audiobook about a life-changing moment in a family, the traumas and secrets that test us, and the stories that hold us together. Read our full review of OLIVER LOVING at audiofilemagazine.com. Explore ALL the audiobooks in AudioFile’s Best of the Year Ezine with sound clips and narrator videos at https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/bestof/ On today’s episode Michele Cobb, Publisher at AudioFile Magazine, and our guest, narrator Michael Crouch. We are giving away audiobooks from Libro.FM, Audiobooks.com, and Downpour on Twitter — visit us there at @audiofilemag and look for the #podcast for your chance to download your picks from our Best Of lists. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we share AudioFile Magazine’s list of the 2018 Best Fiction Audiobooks. Listen in as we discuss these audiobook winner, and share clips from CIRCE and WARLIGHT. Tune in tomorrow for more on OLIVER LOVING from narrator Michael Crouch. AudioFile Magazine’s Best Fiction Audiobooks of 2018 CLOCK DANCE by Anne Tyler, read by Kimberly Farr, published by Random House Audio OLIVER LOVING by Stefan Merrill Block, read by Michael Crouch, published by Macmillan Audio TRANSCRIPTION by Kate Atkinson, read by Fenella Woolgar, published by Hachette Audio WASHINGTON BLACK by Esi Edugyan, read by Dion Graham, published by Random House Audio CIRCE by Madeline Miller, read by Perdita Weeks, published by Hachette Audio WARLIGHT by Michael Ondaatje, read by Steve West, published by Random House Audio Explore ALL of the audiobooks in AudioFile’s Best of the Year Ezine with sound clips and narrator videos at https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/bestof/. On today’s episode are Robin Whitten, Founder and Editor, and Michele Cobb, Publisher at AudioFile Magazine. We are giving away audiobooks from Libro.FM, Audiobooks.com, and Downpour on Twitter — visit us there at @audiofilemag and look for the #podcast for your chance to download your picks from our Best Of lists. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This fantasy debut combines intrigue, magic, betrayal, and romance in an original world with an historical setting. Cabals of noble families use their unique magical gifts to control the fates of nations, while one young man seeks only to live a life of his own. Dr. Miles Singer is a veteran from the deadly world war, and he’s a magical healer hiding away. He went to war to escape his destiny and came home a different man, but he couldn't leave his past behind. Samuel Roukin gives listeners a dramatic British-accented narration. Published by Recorded Books Read the full review of WITCHMARK at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Assistant Editor Emily Connelly Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The author’s charming guide to cooking is based on the four essential elements — salt, fat, acid, and heat. The audiobook talks you through the science and reasoning behind why good food tastes so good, and guides you through making your own at home. Perfect Thanksgiving listening—learn all about why brining your turkey makes it taste so good! It’s an essential companion to Samin’s new Netflix show, and be sure to check out the beautifully illustrated print cookbook for actual recipes. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Read the full review of SALT, FAT, ACID, HEAT at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Assistant Editor Emily Connelly Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can life be like a Broadway play? In alternating viewpoints, the authors—and two narrators—tell the story of two teens. Sixteen-year-old Arthur sees a cute boy at the post office in New York City and strikes up a conversation with him—they connect, but he never gets the cute guy’s name. Ben can’t forget Arthur, either, and the two do all they can to find each other again. Plenty of NYC references, from Broadway’s “Dear Evan Hansen” to city landmarks. Published by HarperAudio. Read the full review of WHAT IF IT'S US at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Assistant Editor Emily Connelly Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Based on the author’s personal experience, this story of 5th grader Mia Tang captures her qualities of cheer, ingenuity, and resilience. Mia moves with her parents from China to California and almost immediately aids them in managing a motel by taking over the front desk. By turns humorous and horrifying, Mia’s optimism sees her through transitions and challenges and wins the hearts of motel weeklies—and of listeners. Published by Listening Library Read the full review of FRONT DESK at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Assistant Editor Emily Connelly Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christopher Skaife is a Yeoman Warder, otherwise known as a Beefeater. He’s partly responsible for tours of the Tower of London, and years of telling stories about the ravens and the tower’s history have honed his skill as a narrator for this audiobook. Listeners get the bonus of the sounds of the ravens between chapters. As he talks with obvious affection for his charges—the ravens—listeners learn some superstitions about the Tower and the ravens, animal behavior, and history in a totally entertaining audiobook. Published by Macmillan Audio. Read the full review of THE RAVENMASTER at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Assistant Editor Emily Connelly Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Maryrose Wood joins us on a bonus episode. Maryrose is the author of The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series that listeners can enjoy in six brilliant audiobooks. The Incorrigibles are set in Victorian England and focus on Miss Penelope Lumley, who is engaged as a governess to care for and educate three children who were originally raised by wolves. Mayhem ensues, and these rolicking stories are the perfect family audiobooks. Maryrose shares her articulate insights about the special relationships she has had with the narrators of her books: Katherine Kellgren for five of the six titles, and Fiona Hardingham, who picked up the reins for the last title, THE LONG-LOST HOME. Maryrose talks about how she developed the relationship between author and narrator—twice—and about choosing narrators who could find “that beautiful sweet spot between performing the book in this wildly external way while also preserving the intimacy of the reader’s relationship with the book.” For families looking for the perfect listening experience to share over many hours, The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place has it all—a heroine with pluck, optimism, and good common sense; many character voices, animal sounds, and sea shanties; literary jokes; and plenty of humor that adults will love, too. Hear from Maryrose about where her creative ideas spring from and the elements she brings together in her audiobooks. Read the audiobook reviews of all six of the series titles: THE MYSTERIOUS HOWLING THE HIDDEN GALLERY THE UNSEEN GUEST THE INTERRUPTED TALE THE UNMAPPED SEA THE LONG-LOST HOME For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and our guest, author Maryrose Wood. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a run-up to the holidays, plug into food writer Ruth Reichl’s memoirs. We talk about MY KITCHEN YEAR: 136 Recipes That Saved My Life, https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/105024/ read by the author, in which she makes food sound decadent, luxurious, and a pleasure to be savored in both the preparation and the eating. In her earlier memoir GARLIC AND SAPPHIRES, https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/22370/ narrator Bernadette Dunne takes Ruth’s role during her stint as the food critic for the New York Times when she often dined in disguise. Published by Penguin Random House Audio. Find full reviews of the audiobooks discussed on today’s episode and Ruth Reichl’s other audiobooks at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Editor/Founder Robin Whitten Be sure to listen to our interview with children’s book author Maryrose Wood, a special bonus episode coming later today. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Italian author Calvino’s first novel, published just after WWII, tells the story of a young boy who joins a group of partisans in German-occupied Italy. Edoardo Ballerini’s sensual narration transports you to the grim provincial town during the war, making the most of Calvino’s evocative writing. Published by Recorded Books. Read the full review of THE PATH TO THE SPIDERS' NESTS at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Editor/Founder Robin Whitten Don’t miss our upcoming interview with author MaryRose Wood, a bonus episode dropping this Friday. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Revel in Joanne Froggatt’s skillful narration of this sweeping tale of art, beauty, love, and murder. She brings her “Downton Abbey” voice to the story of Birchwood Manor over the course of 150 years, from the fateful summer of 1862 to the current time. Australian author Kate Morton is the author of THE LAKE HOUSE—also an Earphones Award-winning audiobook. Published by Bolinda Audio. Read the full review of THE CLOCKMAKER'S DAUGHTER at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Editor/Founder Robin Whitten. Don’t miss our upcoming interview with author MaryRose Wood, a bonus episode dropping this Friday. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jack Reader, the loner, mysterious stranger, and knight errant makes a random choice at a New England crossroads to explore his father’s ancestry. After 20+ episodes of Child’s mega-series, listeners know things don’t turn out as expected. Golden Voice narrator Scott Brick takes over for longtime voice of the series Dick Hill. Never fear, Brick nails Reacher’s concise verbal style and the thriller’s fast-paced conclusion. Published by Penguin Random House Audio Read the full review of PAST TENSE at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Editor/Founder Robin Whitten. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This short novel pays tribute to combat veterans everywhere in a profoundly moving look at the emotional toll of modern warfare. Told from the point of view of Eden’s Marine buddy who died in the explosion that left Eden severely wounded. Narrator Macleod Andrews connects us to this story with quiet intensity. Ackerman, a former Marine veteran of 5 combat tours, is also author of the celebrated DARK AT THE CROSSING. Published by Penguin Random House Audio Read the full review of WAITING FOR EDEN at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Editor/Founder Robin Whitten. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Begin and end your day with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s gentle, encouraging voice offering tiny but powerful doses of affirmation and inspiration. He guides you not just with his words, but with his breaths, or a yawn—this audiobook is an intimate experience that you can savor one pep talk at a time. The creator and star of “Hamilton” shares these sometimes sweet, sometimes moving, sometimes funny greetings, compiled from years of his posts on Twitter. Published by Random House Audio. Read the full review of GMORNING, GNIGHT! at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine publisher Michele Cobb. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A “sortabiography” from actor and comedian Eric Idle, member of the legendary comedy troupe Monty Python and author of the Broadway musical “Spamalot.” Can it get any better than Idle telling his own life story? Funny voices, Monty-Pythonesque routines, and his own god-given distinctive British accent bring us one of the funniest audiobooks of the year. Published by Random House Audio. Read the full review of ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine publisher Michele Cobb. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bosch. Harry Bosch. In his 21st novel, L.A. Detective Harry Bosch is joined by young, fierce police detective Renée Ballard, who Connelly introduced in THE LATE SHOW. They collaborate on a cold case. Titus Welliver, who plays the title role in Amazon’s BOSCH, has won a succession of Earphones Awards for the Bosch audiobooks, and he’s joined here by Christine Lakin as Ballard. Published by Hachette Audio. Read the full review of DARK SACRED NIGHT at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine publisher Michele Cobb. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With a poet’s passion, Kwame Alexander narrates his novel-in-verse about high school friends Noah and Walt. Alexander’s strong connection to his characters shines—he’s inside the heads of these teens. Consider it a listening companion to SOLO, also by Alexander and Hess, or the celebrated THE CROSSOVER—both Earphones Award winners. In an AudioFile interview, Alexander said, “Good poetry—the kind that connects and resonates with readers and listeners—is work that stands on the page and on the stage.” Published by Blink. Read the full review of SWING at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine publisher Michele Cobb. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Could you burn a book? Orlean, author of THE ORCHID THIEF, contemplates the idea in her book that’s part memoir, part tribute to libraries and librarians. Intriguing and fascinating, the audiobook, read by the author, is full of bizarre factoids about the Los Angeles Public Library and the library’s catastrophic 1986 fire. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Read the full review of THE LIBRARY BOOK at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine publisher Michele Cobb. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An audiobook for the first time, James Baldwin’s 1961 essay collection conveys his struggle to understand the times in which he was living, his self-imposed exile abroad, and his subsequent decision to return home—and then venture into the American south. His seminal essay collection THE FIRE NEXT TIME was published in 1963. The series of essays in this audiobook sheds light on the thinking of one of America’s great writers and social observers. Narrator Kevin Kenerly will knock listeners out with his performance. Published by Blackstone Audio. Read the full review of NOBODY KNOWS MY NAME at audiofilemagazine.com For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine contributor Jonathan Smith. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore the key role the French navy played in the American Revolution through the straightforward account by celebrated historian Nathaniel Philbrick. The naval and military strategy was vital in the run-up to the battle of Yorktown in 1781. Golden Voice Scott Brick makes the most of Philbrick’s journalistic style. He’s also the narrator of Philbrick’s other maritime histories IN THE HEART OF THE SEA, VALIANT AMBITION, and SEA OF GLORY. Published by Penguin Audio. Read the full review of IN THE HURRICANE’S EYE at audiofilemagazine.com For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine contributor Jonathan Smith. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This biography of David Hosack, a pioneer in medicine and in botany and attending doctor at the duel between Hamilton and Burr, is one of those great untold stories. Johnson's book is a National Book Award finalist, and it’s a captivating look at both daily life and aspects of medical and political history in the early 1800s. Hosack was also the founder of the first public garden in America. Narrator Susan Ericksen nicely illuminates this portrait of Dr. Hosack. Published by HighBridge Audio. Read the full review of AMERICAN EDEN at audiofilemagazine.com For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine contributor Jonathan Smith. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listeners expecting another macabre tale from Stephen King may be surprised by this audiobook—but pleasantly so. A timely tale about finding common ground, the story is set in the familiar town of Castle Rock, a place where, as in all small towns, people have deep-rooted differences. It’s narrated by the author, who has a keen sense of pacing and fun accents for his Maine characters. And for readers who appreciate King’s short stories, a bonus included in the audiobook is “Laurie,” a tender short story about a man and his dog. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Read the full review of ELEVATION at audiofilemagazine.com For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine contributor Jonathan Smith. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This biography of Manhattan District Attorney Eunice Carter is remarkable—both for her accomplishments—including helping to take down the notorious mobster “Lucky” Luciano—and also for being a trailblazer as an African-American woman in the 1930s. Carter was grandmother of the book’s author, Stephen L. Carter, who is a Yale law professor and author of fiction and social commentary. Published by Macmillan Audio. Read the full review of INVISIBLE at audiofilemagazine.com For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine contributor Jonathan Smith Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dive into a magical world where vampires, witches, and daemons live among humans. As with her All Souls Trilogy, Harkness offers a rich tapestry of intersecting stories. Listeners revisit Diana and Matthew and their magical twins, and learn of vampiric transformations in the present and during the American Revolution. Narrator Saskia Maarleveld nimbly adds diverse accents to the mix. Published by Penguin Audio. Read the full review of TIME'S CONVERT at audiofilemagazine.com For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine editor Emily Connelly. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A contemporary retelling of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE set in a tight-knit Bushwick neighborhood. Zuri Benitez and her four sisters cope as changes come to their lives and their community. Ibi Zoboi is known for last year’s celebrated YA novel, AMERICAN STREET. Narrator Acevedo—an award-winning slam poet—gives these verses a perfect flow. Publisher by HarperAudio. Read the full review of PRIDE at audiofilemagazine.com For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine editor Emily Connelly. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A perfect listen for fans of adventure stories, with strong women carving out lives on their own terms. Felicity Montague, a young Englishwoman in the 1700s, has the single-minded ambition to become a doctor—and is readily and repeatedly told that being a woman means the world of medicine is closed to her. Remember THE GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE? Listeners will be glad to encounter Percy and Monty again in this satisfying sequel. Published by HarperAudio. Read the full review of THE LADY'S GUIDE TO PETTICOATS AND PIRACY at audiofilemagazine.com For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine editor Emily Connelly. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore the complex emotions of adopted children in this memoir about family. Narrator Janet Song recounts the upbringing of author Nicole Chung, a Korean-American who was adopted by white Americans and raised in a small, mostly Caucasian town in Oregon. Song's narration is sensitive as she delivers details of subtle discrimination against Chung and her questions about her biological parents. This contemporary exploration of identity will resonate with many listeners. Published by HighBridge Audio. Read the full review of ALL YOU CAN EVER KNOW at audiofilemagazine.com For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine editor Emily Connelly. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you already love Rosie Revere and her fellow Questioneers? The picture books have many fans, and your young listeners will find lots to like with Rosie’s second audiobook. Sound effects and music add to the fun, along with inspiration for problem solving and inventions. Rachel L. Jacobs’s narration is a perfect complement and received AudioFile’s Earphones Award. Published by Dreamscape. Read the full review of ROSIE REVERE AND THE RAUCOUS RIVETERS at audiofilemagazine.com For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile editor Emily Connelly. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This darkly funny novel of contemporary Russian life is both charming and depressing. Russian-born American grad student Andrei returns “home” to take care of his grandmother. Baba Seva steals the show in Ari Fliakos’s heartbreaking and hilarious performance of this frail and feisty elderly woman. Fliakos is a perfect choice in the casting of A TERRIBLE COUNTRY. Author Gessen worked as a journalist on politics and Russian life, but in his second novel turns observations into fiction. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine editor & founder Robin Whitten. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of FRANKENSTEIN’s 200th birthday, YA author White has cooked up a grand retelling that focuses on his companion/fiancée, Elizabeth. If Gothic tales are your listening pleasure, this audiobook is for you. And what’s better than hearing the twisted tale? Imagine all the film adaptation of the Frankenstein story, and plug in for British actress Katharine McEwan’s smooth and chilling performance. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine editor & founder Robin Whitten Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JK Rowling writing as Galbraith has created detective Cormoran Strike, war veteran turned private eye and new darling of gritty British crime fiction. In Cormoran’s fourth outing, his partner Robin Ellacott is now a partner in the agency, and they are faced with another brutal murder—this time a Cabinet Minister. Narrator Glenister is perfecting his command of the audiobook series, and listeners are hooked from the get-go. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine editor & founder Robin Whitten Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Grann (author of KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON) originally published an account of one man’s extraordinary trek across Antarctica in The New Yorker. The isolation and fortitude of Henry Worsley’s solo expedition to cross the freezing landscape of Antarctica is both fascinating and terrifying. The ghost of Ernest Shackleton haunts and inspires the British explorer. It’s hard not to admire the determination and obsession of Worsley’s quest. Brilliant narrator Will Patton, who we most often think of for fiction, will keep you frozen to your headphones. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine editor & founder Robin Whitten Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Follow Sheriff Walt Longmire across the remote Mexican desert as he pursues the kidnappers of his beloved daughter Cady. Baddest of bad, drug lord Tomas Bodarte unleashes a landslide of challenges for Walt to overcome. Signature quirky characters of Craig Johnson’s long-running series abound, and the smart dialogue entertains throughout. Golden Voice George Guidall delivers each character and harebrained situation with aplomb. If you’ve only seen the “Longmire” streaming series, the Johnson-Guidall audiobook versions will totally engage you. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine editor & founder Robin Whitten Support for Behind the Mic comes from Grammy Award-winning publisher Hachette Audio, home to works by James Patterson, JK Rowling, Joel Osteen, David Sedaris, David Baldacci, Elin Hilderbrand, Michael Connelly, and many more bestselling audiobooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How did SOPRANOS veteran Michael Imperioli come to write and perform his first novel—a coming-of-age drama about a young man and his friendship with rock god Lou Reed? Michael chats about his 30-year acting career, his evolving life as a writer, and his involvement with the audiobook process to create THE PERFUME BURNED HIS EYES. Chatting with host Jo Reed, Michael shares his story, including the many careful details that evoke Matthew’s innocence and the wild side of Manhattan of 1976, and the freedom of writing a complete novel. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. Today’s bonus episode features a conversation between Michael Imperioli and Behind the Mic host Jo Reed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This posthumous memoir from the beloved NEW YORK TIMES fashion photographer chronicles his early life as a milliner in New York City, long before he was capturing street style and covering high society. Arthur Morey’s performance brims with Cunningham’s enthusiasm, high spirits, and sweetness as he turns setbacks and deprivations into hilarious triumphs. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine publisher Michele Cobb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This portrait of Holocaust survivor Ludwig Sokolov, based on his own account revealed to the author, becomes a mesmerizing account for listeners. Sokolov was sent to Auschwitz in 1942 as a prisoner and assigned the role of tattooing Jewish prisoners. His spirit and courageous works to help other prisoners are captured. British narrator Richard Armitage (“The Hobbit,” “North and South”) will sweep listeners away with his emotional connection and powerful performance. Synchronicity Films has a TV series in the works. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine publisher Michele Cobb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Booker Prize-winning novelist Pat Barker, known for her powerful WWI history in the Regeneration trilogy, enters the world of reimagined myths. Homer’s ILIAD is the basis for this account of warriors gods and the women swept up in the conflict of the Greek and Trojans. A pair of British narrators, Kristin Atherton and Michael Fox, connect to this dramatic story and bring it home to listeners. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine publisher Michele Cobb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In her first memoir, as she always has with her film and television work—from “Norma Rae” to “Gidget”—actress Sally Field connects to her audience with a strong sense of narrative voice. She gives a sensitive and earnest account of the obstacles and successes in her life, the abuse of her stepfather, and her relationship with the late Burt Reynolds—delivering it all with grace and honesty. Both the writing and delivery stand out in the genre of celebrity memoirs. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine publisher Michele Cobb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Root for the unlikely heroes of this high adventure who escape by hot air balloon from an 1830s Caribbean plantation to the arctic plains of Canada. Narrator Dion Graham pulls out the stops to sweep listeners along with the eleven-year-old enslaved boy and his master. Beautiful, evocative writing has put this historical novel on the shortlist for the 2018 Man Booker Prize. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine publisher Michele Cobb. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover an enlightening explanation of what meditation is—and what it is not. Author and narrator Jon Kabat-Zinn uses quiet encouragement to reveal that mediation is simpler and more fluid that many expect, and therefore less intimidating. He tells listeners that meditation is about awareness of mind and emotions, but not the content of those thoughts and emotions. Kabat-Zinn has written and narrated audiobooks about mindful eating, mindfulness at work, and mindfulness for beginners. Listen and be inspired to find peace and awareness this weekend. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine reviewer Jonathan Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Golden voice narrator Robin Miles narrates a biography of Richard Durham, an African-American radio broadcaster who was posthumously inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame. Durham rose as an intellectual during a period when African-American writing was getting increased attention after WWII, and his story is good listening for history buffs. Robin Miles narrates with smooth transitions, and even sings out some of the spirituals featured in the story. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine reviewer Jonathan Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The perfect listen for a road trip. Richard Ratay’s audiobook looks at how travel, cars, and roads have evolved in the U.S. It’s a lighthearted listen about the “joys” of family road trips in the 1970s, and narrator Jonathan Todd Ross delightfully handles the history, both of American travel and of Ratay’s family adventures. Listen for a fascinating history lesson about the development of the car and American roads. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine reviewer Jonathan Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This moving audiobook is written and narrated by two siblings who were in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School when a classmate shot and killed 14 students and 3 faculty members, and injured 17 others. Leaders of the #NEVERAGAIN movement, both David and Lauren Hogg have become outspoken advocates for gun safety reform and gun control measures, and this audiobook voices their shock at the events of that day, and their anger that little has been done to prevent further shootings. This is a remarkable narration of a brief but powerful audiobook. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine reviewer Jonathan Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you like science? If so, you’re in luck. THE TANGLED TREE is a deep dive into what makes us—us. Science writer David Quammen introduces the study of molecular phylogenetics, which completely changed our understanding of what we often think of as the evolutionary “tree of life.” Narrator Jacques Roy’s fluid and engaging style combined with Quammen’s mix of science and stories makes this audiobook a good listen for science lovers. On the National Book Award longlist for Nonfiction. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine reviewer Jonathan Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A cast of narrators presents this anthology from YA lit stars published in partnership with We Need Diverse Books. Stories from Jason Reynolds, Nicola Yoon, Melissa de la Cruz, and Daniel José Older and more are brought to life by narrators including Guy Lockard, Bahni Turpin, Dion Graham, and Kim Mai Guest. Listen to a sample from Reynolds’s bittersweet romantic story “Eraser Tattoo,” and don’t miss out on this affecting collection full of stories about and by diverse people with compelling stories to share. Perfect weekend listening for teens and adults alike. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine assistant editor Emily Connelly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The perfect audiobook for Jane Austen lovers who are willing to think past those tidy Happily Ever After endings. Marisa Calin brings a refreshing voice to the much beloved PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, this time with the focus on the plain and “unlovely” middle Bennet sister, Mary. Listeners will be charmed as Mary develops a rich inner life for herself as a writer, and a romantic. Author Katherine J. Chen has written a satisfying and feminist ode to unlovely women as she explores the dynamics of Austen’s world with a modern eye. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine assistant editor Emily Connelly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover the wholly satisfying conclusion to Tim Federle’s Odyssey honor middle-grade series. As both author and narrator, Tim Federle fully embodies Nate, making sure that we understand him and his vibrant and dynamic personality — and his insecurities. Nate’s just come off of a summer of performing on Broadway, and now has to handle going back to high school, where he hasn’t yet come out as gay. Listeners will want to get to know Nate in the first two audiobooks in this series, BETTER NATE THAN EVER and FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, NATE, before leaping into this final chapter. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter on our website. On today’s episode are Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine assistant editor Emily Connelly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices