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Listening & Viewing Recommendations




Best
Audio Fiction of 2006
as
chosen by Library
Journal and Audiofile Magazine
GENERAL
FICTION
Sara
Gruen Water for Elephants
Living
out his days in a nursing home, 90-year-old Jacob Jankowski recalls
his youth with a traveling circus. A poignant, colorful delight
of a story told in two different voices.
Scott
Turow Ordinary Heroes
A
retired journalist finds a trove of WWII-era letters written by
his dead father and describing a life no one knew he'd led. Actor
Ed Herrmann's voice is a near-perfect vehicle for this story dark
with the irony and muddied morality of war.
Larry
McMurtry Telegraph Days
A
picaresque tale set in the Wild West, where spunky Nellie Courtright
seeks her fortune after her Virginia family dies off. Larger-than-life
fictional characters share the stage with such historical figures
as Buffalo Bill, Doc Holliday, and Billy the Kid. Annie Potts narrates
with the humor and exaggeration the story demands.
Mark
Haddon A Spot of Bother
A
hilarious domestic comedy of (British) manners featuring hypochondriac
retiree George Hall and his highly dysfunctional family. Simon Vance's
reading conveys the needs, loves, and worries of each unique character
.
David
Mitchell Black Swan Green
A
poignant, compassionate coming-of-age story in which 13-year-old
Jason must deal with his stammer, his classmates' hostility, and
his family's disintegration .
Joanne
Harris Gentlemen & Players
The
Latin master at a British boys' school begins to suspect that a
string of campus catastrophes are somehow related to the arrival
of a new teacher. A cat-and-mouse game ensues, culminating in a
delicious twist at the end. The story is told in alternating sections
by the two teachers, and reader Steven Pacey creates two entirely
unique narrative voices.
Irene
Nemirovsky Suite Francaise
This
book, which surfaced some 60 years after the author's death at Auschwitz,
comprises the first two of a planned five-novel cycle describing
life in Nazi-occupied France. “Storm in June” is read by Daniel
Oreskes; “Dolce” is read by Barbara Rosenblatt. A classic work cut
tragically short.
THRILLERS,
MYSTERY, & SUSPENSE
Lee
Child The Hard Way
In
a high-octane race against time, series hero Jack Reacher must use
every ounce of guts and savvy to find a mother and daughter kidnapped
in New York. Narrator Dick Hill's spirited reading (with a British
accent that's easy on the ears) matches the story's pace perfectly.
Brad
Meltzer The Book of Fate
Years
after a presidential assassination attempt left aide Wes Holloway
disfigured, he discovers that one of the supposed victims is very
much alive. To discover the truth about what happened, Holloway
must decipher a centuries-old code and penetrate Masonic secrets.
Veteran narrator Scott Brick does the good guys and the villains
with equal brilliance.
Jeffery
Deaver The Cold Moon
Lincoln
Rhyme, NYPD's brilliant quadriplegic detective, takes on the case
of the “Watchmaker,” a serial killer who leaves a ticking clock
at each crime scene. Edgy,dark and violent; read by Joe Mantegna
in his familiar tough-guy voice for those who like their crime hard-boiled.
Martha
Grimes The Old Wine Shades
20
th in the series whose intriguing titles all come from the names
of British pubs, this one follows detective Richard Jury's search
for the missing family of a mysterious physicist. John Lee's narration
perfectly conveys the nuances of British class distinction .
Donna
Leon Through a Glass Darkly
The
Commissario Brunetti mysteries are hugely popular for their intelligent
plotting, appealing hero, and atmospheric rendering of Venice, and
this latest in the series does not disappoint. David Colacci's reading
adds richness to the Italian ambiance.
Janet
Evanovich Twelve Sharp
Bounty
hunter Stephanie Plum searches for a kidnapped child while dealing
with the barely restrained chaos of her business and the unrestrained
chaos of her wacky family. Lorelei King's reading gives perfect
voice to more than a dozen characters.
Michael
Robotham Lost
Fast-paced
action does not detract from thoughtful and complex characterization
in this gritty thriller as an amnesiac British detective searches
for the missing daughter of a Russian mobster. Narrator Ray Lonnen
supplies the hard-edged accents of London's mean streets.
Ruth
Rendell End in Tears
20
th in the Chief Inspector Wexford series. Here the detective must
puzzle out the relationship between two murdered teenage girls,
one a new mother and the other newly pregnant. John Lee draws the
listener in with his expert use of silence, pacing, and perfect
diction.
FICTION
CLASSICS
Become reacquainted with these literary classics newly recorded:
Harper
Lee To Kill a Mockingbird
The story is set in the Deep South during the pre-civil
rights era, but the issues of prejudice, cruelty, justice and simple
human virtue it raises transcend time and place. Actress Sissy Spacek,
narrating as young Scout Finch, tells the story with an appealing
southern lilt.
Ernest
Hemingway A Moveable Feast
Hemingway's
enchanting memoir (he hinted that it could be considered fiction)
of the expatriate life in Paris in the 1920s, read with warmth,
humor, and affection by James Naughton.
James
Joyce A
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
This
masterpiece of 20 th century literature follows the evolution of
young Stephen Daedalus into a writer, costing him his family, his
faith and his homeland. Jim Norton does a masterful job of recreating
the hero's voice as it matures from child to adult.
Best
Audio Nonfiction of 2006
as
chosen by Library Journal and Audiofile Magazine
:
BIOGRAPHY
& MEMOIR
Frances
Mayes A Year in the World
After
four bestsellers about her adopted home in Tuscany, Mayes here indulges
her passion for travel to other places – Scotland, Spain, Portugal,
Italy, Greece, Morocco, and Turkey. Reader Cassandra Campbell provides
a smoothly polished narrative for the author's delightful musings
on the joys of independent travel.
Leigh
Montville The Big Bam: The Life &
Times of Babe Ruth
This
colorful, multifaceted exploration of a baseball legend traces Ruth's
life from his deprived childhood in Baltimore to his entrance into
the record books. Reader Scott Brick's wry narration is the perfect
vehicle for rendering the complexities of his larger-than-life subject.
Joan
Didion The
Year of Magical Thinking
Didion's
account of the year following the death of her husband and the severe
illness of her only child is both harrowing and engrossing. Barbara
Caruso speaks the author's words as though from her own heart. “Can
one call an audio performance ravishing?” ( Audiofile )
HISTORY
Nathaniel
Philbrick Mayflower
This
version of the Pilgrims' story has little to do with the Thanksgiving
myth. Philbrick's unvarnished account of the settlers' struggles
is echoed in the voice of veteran narrator Guidall, who guides listeners
through harrowing events seldom described in schoolbooks.
Michael
Tougias Ten Hours until
Dawn
True story of the fatal final voyage of the harbor pilot boat the
Can Do, which came to the aid of a Coast Guard cutter during the
Blizzard of '78. Reader Joe Barrett's reenactments from actual radio
transmissions adds vividness to this account of the doomed men aboard
the boat.
Mark
Kurlansky The Big Oyster
The author's stock in trade is microhistory ( Cod ; Salt
), which traces the evolution of complex events by focusing
exhaustively on the history of one small, common object. Here he
gives us the early history of New York as it can be inferred from
the changing fortunes of the lowly oyster. Both a cautionary ecological
tale and a delightful miscellany of cultural, culinary, and historical
insight.
CONTEMPORARY
CULTURE
Michael
Pollan The Omnivore's Dilemma
“What
should we have for dinner?” the author asks, and moves from there
to an exploration of what and why we consume what we do in 21 st
century America. Neither alarmist nor preachy, this wryly humorous
tour of the food chain is also a thoughtful analysis of what Pollan
calls “our national eating disorder.”
Seth
Godin Small
Is the New Big
Read
by the author in dynamic, spontaneous style (though he advises not
listening all at once – “It will give you a headache” ), this guide
to business marketing is a compilation of provocative ideas, some
only a few paragraphs long, that have made Godin's books irreverent
bestsellers.
Robert
Long De Kooning's Bicycle:
Artists and Writers
in
the Hamptons
An
art critic describes the lives of writers and artists in the Hamptons
from the 1940s to the 1980s. Reader Grover Gardner brings to life
such luminaries as Jackson Pollock and Willem De Kooning
Jeffrey
Siegel Keyboard Conversations
Making
the most of the audiobook format, pianist Siegel gives us a “concert
with conversation” – a lively lecture about both the musical and
personal lives of classical pianists Liszt, Grieg, and Chopin, combined
with musical interludes featuring the musicians' works.

View
it! feature titles we recommend for your viewing pleasure.
Coming
in May
COMING
IN MAY
BELLA
[Street
5-06-08
]
An
international soccer star is on his way to sign a multimillion-dollar
contract and a waitress is struggling to make it in New
York City
until something happens, bringing their lives to an abrupt halt
until kindness brings them together.
“…a
heart- tugger with the confidence not to tug too hard.” – Roger
Ebert, Chicago
Sun-Times
Toronto
Film Festival People's Choice Award; Heartland Film Fest Dramatic
Grand Prize, Crystal Heart
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I'M
NOT THERE [Street
5-06-08
]
A
look at the life and music of Bob Dylan, with different people portraying
each aspect of the legend's life, from poet to prophet to star.
Starring:
Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett , Richard Gere , Kris Kristofferson,
Heath Ledger, Ben Whishaw , Michelle Williams
“…best
of the year.” – Roeper & A.O. Scott
Golden
Globe & Independent Spirit Award Supporting Actress Cate Blanchett
and Robert Altman Award
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
OVER
HER DEAD BODY [Street
5-06-08
]
A
recently deceased bride-to-be makes it her heavenly duty to keep
her fiance from falling in love with anyone else.
Starring:
Lake Bell
, Jason
Biggs, Eva Longoria, Paul Rudd
“It's
three lead characters have just the right mix of sass, slapstick
and sincerity…” – Detroit
News
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P.S.
I LOVE YOU [Street
date 5-06-08
]
Holly
Kennedy is devastated when her loving husband unexpectedly dies.
But he seems to come back into her life when messages he recorded
before he died start showing up on her doorstep, helping to push
her into a new and happy future.
Starring:
Kathy Bates, Gerard Butler, Harry Connick Jr., Lisa Kudrow , Hilary
Swank
“…made
for the female audience and we thank you. PS, take Kleenex.” – The
MovieChicks.com
“…one
of the year's best love stories.” – Urban Cinefile
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
THE
GREAT DEBATERS [Street
date 5-13-08
]
Chronicles
the journey of Professor Melvin Tolson , a debate team coach who
turns a group of underdog students from a small African-American
college into a historically elite debate team.
Inspired
by a true story.
Directed
by Denzel Washington
Starring:
Kimberly Elise, Jurnee Smollet , Denzel Washington, Forest
Whitaker
“…affirming
and inspiring and re-creates the stories of a remarkable team and
its coach.” – Roger Ebert, Chicago
Sun-Times
2008
NAACP Image Awards Best Picture, Actor and Supporting Actor Denzel
Washington, Actress Smollett
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
MAD
MONEY [Street
date 5-13-08
]
Three
desperate women from very different worlds decide to smuggle millions
of dollars in worn-out currency from their jobs inside the Federal
Reserve.
Starring:
Ted Danson , Katie Holmes, Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah
“…the
feistiest Hollywood
movie about American women and their jobs since ‘9 to 5'.
– Boston
Globe
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
UNTRACEABLE
[Street
date 5-13-08
]
A
predator that stalks his prey online uses his website to determine
who dies based on how many hits his site gets. Now it's up to a
special division of the FBI to find the killer before he posts his
next victim.
Starring:
Joseph Cross, Colin Hanks, Diane
Lane
“…so
hypnotic that all you do is sit there waiting while they deliver
one big shock after another.” – Rex Reed
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
YOUTH
WITHOUT YOUTH [Street
date 5-13-08
]
After
an adverse event changes the life of a timid professor and forces
him into exile from Nazi scientists, he decides to ponder the mysteries
of life.
Directed
by Francis Ford Coppola
Starring
Tim Roth
2008
Independent Spirit Award Nominee Best Cinematography
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
NATIONAL
TREASURE 2 – Book of secrets [Street
date 5-20-08
]
When
Ben's great-grandfather is implicated as a key conspirator in Abraham
Lincoln's death, he is determined to prove his ancestor's innocence.
Ben follows an international chain of clues that leads to the trail
of the world's most treasured secrets.
Starring:
Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris, Helen Mirren , Jon Voight
“…total
entertainment from start to finish.” -- Maxim
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
AUTISM
– THE MUSICAL [Street
date 5-27-08
]
Follow
the extraordinary acting coach Elaine Hall, five autistic children,
and their parents as they improbably, heroically mount a full-length
original stage production and learn to communicate their feelings
in song and performance.
Documentary;
Winner at 4 International Film Festivals
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
CASSANDRA'S
DREAM [Street
date 5-27-08
]
Two
brothers that are desperate to make their troubled lives better
instead become entangled into a sinister situation after meeting
a beautiful stranger.
Directed
by Woody Allen
Starring:
Colin Farrell, Ewan McGregor, Tom Wilkinson
“…a
pulp story pinned to the screen with an ice pick of conscience…”
– New
York
Post
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
GRACE
IS GONE [Street
date 5-27-08
]
A
man decides to take his two daughters on a road trip to tell them
that their mother has just been killed in the Iraq War, and to learn
how to be a better father.
Starring:
John Cusack, Marisa Tomei
“…serves
as a gently thoughtful coda and reminder of what continues.” – Los
Angeles
Times
2007
Sundance Film Festival Audience Award Best Drama and the Waldo Salt
Screenwriting Award
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
RAMBO
( 2008)
[Production
year 2008] [Street date 5-27-08
]
After
missionaries are taken prisoner by Burmese soldiers, Rambo is sent
in to rescue them in the midst of a civil war.
Directed
by Sylvester Stallone
Starring:
Matthew Marsden, Sylvester Stallone
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ANDREW
JACKSON: good, evil and the presidency
A
look at the 7th President of the United States, and how he founded
the Democratic Party but was viewed by his enemies as an American
Napoleon.
Narrated
by Martin Sheen.
Part
of the Pbs
Home Video series.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
BELGIUM
and LUXEMBOURG
Katy
Haswell visits Belgium and Luxembourg, two European countries small
in stature but large in attractions, such as Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels,
and the site of the battle of Waterloo, then Luxembourg in time
to take part in the National Day festivities.
Part
of the Pilot
Guides series.
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BLUE
MAN GROUP: the complex rock tour live
The
Complex Rock Tour captures two shows at the Next Stage Amphitheatre
in Grand
Prairie ,
Texas
.
Features
behind-the-scenes footage, and three music videos.
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CUBA
and HAITI
Explore
bustling Havana
,
the cigar famed Pinar del Rio
region, and the musical Santiago
de Cuba .
Travel onto Haiti
through its capital, Port au Prince and end the journey at the spectacular
Citadel in Cap
Haitien .
Part
of the Pilot
Guides series.
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CRUISING
RUSSIA
– St.
Petersburg
to Moscow
on the Volga & Neva
Experience
a spectacular voyage through the heart of Russia
.
Travel the scenic and historic Russian waterways, along the Neva
,
across two of Europe
's
largest lakes, Lake
Ladoga
and Lake
Onega
,
down the Volga-Baltic Waterways, and all on the Volga
.
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THE
11 th HOUR
Explores
the indelible footprint that humans have left on this planet, and
the catastrophic effects of environmental neglect and abuse, and
calls for restorative action through a reshaping of human activity.
Produced
and Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio
“…some
altogether fascinating ideas about how to go about solving the climate
crisis.” -- Variety
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HELVETICA
A
surprisingly fascinating feature-length documentary about the sans-serif
typeface known as Helvetica, created in Switzerland in 1957 and
now found sprawled across street signs, form letters, ads, storefronts
- you name it.
“…an
emblem of the machine age, a harbinger of globalization and an ally
of modern art's impulse toward innovation, simplicity and abstraction.”
– New York Times
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JIMMY
CARTER MAN FROM PLAINS
A
look at Jimmy Carter as he tours to promote his newest book.
“…gripping
meditation on the very hot-button-ness of the Israeli-Palestinian
question.” – Entertainment Weekly
“…simply,
easily immerses us.” – Associated Press
“***Recommended |