New Reviews: Biography & Memoir

This absorbing audiobook looks at the lives of three jazz greats--Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Bill Evans--from their growth as young musicians to when they collaborated on Davis's 1959 album, KIND OF BLUE, and beyond. Their lives were challenging and full of pathos, which narrator Dion Graham captures with the empathy and vocal talent he's known for. His vocal range and... Read More

You think you know the Beatles story? When you hear this audiobook and the performances of Adam Stevens, Anthony Howell, Emma Gregory, and others, you'll be singing, "I thought I knew you, what did I know?" Based on interviews with the Beatles and their intimate associates in 1980 and 1981, the audiobook is nearly 10 hours of history, often shocking. The Beatles talk about... Read More

Author/narrator Amy Tan takes up bird watching to counteract the negativity and discord in the world. Tan is a joy to listen to--a charming and warm presence, with a dollop of self-deprecation, as she chronicles her learning journey. She exudes joy and wonder as a hummingbird feeds from her hand. There is anguish when, to avoid spreading a disease among the Pine Siskins, she... Read More

This portrait of Founding Father Ben Franklin is part biography, part travelogue, and part personal commentary. Because of that, it's eminently suited to audio. Author Eric Weiner is the narrator, and his presentation exactly fits the material. His pace is easy to follow, and his tone is easy on the ears. As he walks in the footsteps of Franklin in the various places where he... Read More

Entertainer Whoopi Goldberg's raspy timbre and amused tone make her the only person appropriate to narrate her memoir. As listeners hear just a trace of a New York City inflection at the ends of some sentences, the story of Goldberg's career is skillfully woven into anecdotes featuring her exceptional mother, Emma Johnson, and her unique older brother, Clyde. Born Caryn... Read More

Jaime Lincoln Smith skillfully narrates this long overdue biography. Smith's relaxed pacing, rich tone, and understated swagger embody Calvin Peete, one of the best Black golfers in history. This fascinating audiobook takes listeners from Peete's early days as the child of migrant laborers with limited opportunities for education to his incredible success in the PGA despite his... Read More

Barrie Kreinik performs this in-depth look at the life of literary prodigy Carson McCullers (THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER, published in 1940). Dearborn presents a complex portrait of McCullers, who grapples with a toxic marriage and alcoholism. As she finds herself eternally entangled in messy relationships--both romantic and platonic--she experiences physical and mental... Read More

Ellen Adair handles this biography of Pete Rose beautifully, with clear enunciation and pronunciation, letting the rich and troubled life of baseball's all-time hits leader stand for what it is. Rose was a homegrown Cincinnati guy who went on to star for the Reds. But his off-field pursuits--gambling, an extramarital affair, and a lack of solid friendships--mar his legacy.... Read More

Jess Moran's light, sweet voice accentuates the many lyrical passages in poet Iris Jamahl Dunkle's biography of Charmian Kittredge, writer Jack London's second wife and frequent collaborator. As headstrong and independent as her famous husband, and five years older, the Los Angeles-born Kittredge was an accomplished horsewoman, musician, and writer. For the 11 years of their... Read More

The privileged world of the spirited Isabella Stewart Gardner is aptly captured by the patrician voice of narrator Maggi-Meg Reed. Born in 1840 to a wealthy family in New York City, Isabella married Boston Brahmin Jack Gardner and proceeded to both dazzle and confuse proper Boston elites. Reed softens her tone when "Mrs. Jack" suffers the death of her only child, to recover,... Read More

Journalist Nicholas Kristof delivers his monumental memoir--by turns harrowing (think gunfire, rats, Darfur) and inspiring (he mentors young journalists, starts a nonprofit, and champions rural America). A practiced public speaker, Kristof sounds thoughtful as he covers his long and distinguished career. He's worked four decades as a reporter, foreign correspondent, bureau... Read More

Rebecca Lam unfolds the incredible events behind Anna May Wong's rise to fame as the first female Chinese actor in American cinema. Lam smoothly transports listeners to the glamorous, tumultuous world of Hollywood in the 1920s. With precision and clarity, Lam captures Wong's journey from her early struggles to her rise to stardom. She recounts the challenges Wong faced as an... Read More

Rachel LeBlang performs this debut memoir by Anna Gazmarian. When Gazmarian is diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2011, she discovers that many of the members of her evangelical community believe that mental illness is merely the result of a lack of faith in God. As Gazmarian grapples with her beliefs in the wake of her new diagnosis, she begins expanding her ideas on religion... Read More

This fascinating collection of voices from the disabled community is presented with care by a talented team of narrators. In her introduction to these 40 powerfully affecting essays, activist Alice Wong, who edited this volume, stresses the value of seeking and exploring intimacy. Each essay opens a window that may contain familiar elements or, perhaps, a novel mode of... Read More

The fashion magazine industry of the 1940s is wonderfully realized by Carlotta Brentan's energetic, intelligent performance. Many in the fashion industry at that time came from socially prominent families, and Kathryn and Frances McLaughlin, the identical twin fashion photographers at the center of this narrative, were no exception. Brentan's bright tone and lively pace... Read More

Chuck Warner and Dana Abbott narrate the sometimes repetitive story of Eddie Reese, longtime swimming and diving coach at the University of Texas. Listeners meet enthusiastic and nostalgic swimmers of all ages who were involved in garnering Reese's 39 Olympic Gold Medals and 15 NCAA titles. Warner's smooth delivery keeps frequent time and location changes clear. Most... Read More

Julie Chavez projects the cheer and passion that have earned her recognition for her podcast, "Ask a Librarian." Here she writes about a time of personal crisis when she was juggling the demands of her job and taking sole care of her sons when her husband was frequently traveling for work. Suddenly, she found herself experiencing a mental health crisis that manifested as panic... Read More

In this memoir of the unexpected death of her son, Fi, Alexandra Fuller pulls off quite a feat by simultaneously filling her voice with both life and loss. Fuller grew up in Zimbabwe (DON'T LET'S GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT), and her rich, warm voice contains appealing traces of that accent. Fi died at age 21 despite having no real health problems, and grief and incomprehension are... Read More

Barrie Kreinik is an excellent guide through this memoir and travelogue by Jane Bertch, founder of La Cuisine Paris. She captures Bertch's adventures in Paris as a banker turned entrepreneur. With warmth and authenticity, Kreinik conveys the humorous self- deprecation underlying each anecdote as Bertch grows to accept a city--and country--she once hated. Kreinik balances the... Read More

Happily, another of John McPhee's classics has been brought to life with this finely narrated audiobook. Golden Voice narrator Edoardo Ballerini performs the work with care for the author's eloquent descriptions of Deerfield, Massachusetts, as it evolves over the twentieth century--as does its legendary headmaster, Frank L. Boyden, who took over in 1902 and stayed in charge for... Read More

Amy Lin's husband was running a virtual half-marathon when he dropped dead for no discoverable reason. He was 32 years old. She was left absolutely broken. Lin's performance of her memoir, told in vignettes of meeting and losing Kurtis, is so staggeringly beautiful that it will break your heart. Her grief is so obviously raw and her memories of their life together so full of... Read More

Nadia Davis, an attorney who is the ex-wife of a former California attorney general, shares her recovery from various traumas to help those who are facing similar challenges. Davis tells her story with unapologetic honesty and power. She describes how she healed from the physical and psychological pain of a car accident that nearly killed her, interpersonal violence, addiction,... Read More

Shayla Lawson presents their collection of wide-ranging travel essays in a low, measured tone that mirrors the essays themselves. Lawson's voice is crisp and clear, with a professional cadence that never sounds lofty or removed; instead, Lawson sounds calm, centered, and curious. In essays set in locales across the globe--Egypt, Bermuda, Japan, the Netherlands, and more--Lawson... Read More

Fans of Tiffany Haddish will delight in her memoir, which she narrates with unapologetic authenticity. Those familiar with her signature blend of sass and sincerity will enjoy every line as she brings her story to life in vivid detail. Each anecdote, even the painful ones, are told with her infectious energy and unflagging sense of humor. Listeners will likely laugh along--and... Read More

Nicky Endres is the perfect narrator for this work of queer nonfiction, first published in 2019 and now available on audio. Thom's essays explore the contradictions and complexities of queer and trans communities and social justice movements. She writes about how communities talk about--and don't talk about--suicide, abuse, conflict, family making, sex work, and more, always... Read More

What binds listeners to this absorbing memoir is the compelling question provoked by the author's near-death experience: What happens to us after our physical bodies die? The author spends most of this audio detailing the high-risk treatments he received for a nasty aneurysm, describing the commonalities of near-death experiences, and reviewing what science can and cannot tell... Read More

Barbara Benjamin-Creel's clear voice and strong performance bring Mendez's memoir to life. Mendez began her nearly thirty-year career in the CIA as a "contract wife"--an administrator who was the spouse of a CIA agent. Embarking into this "man's world," she used her brains, grit, and persistence to become an intelligence agent herself and eventually rose to be the chief of... Read More

Every Holocaust memoir offers a unique perspective. This audiobook shows its horrors through the eyes of innocent children, Stefan and Marion Hess. Tavia Gilbert delivers their story of life with their parents in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp with tenderness and care. She manages to depict the reality and fragility of their existence without surrendering its fleeting moments... Read More

Former University of Kentucky great, NBA player, and social influencer Rex Chapman narrates a brutally honest account of his fall from basketball stardom to opioid addiction. He narrates his own work in a deep voice as he guides listeners through his story. He covers his career and also opens up about aspects of his personal life, such as dealing with public comments about his... Read More

Pop singer Boy George narrates his memoir in an honest, casual tone, creating the feeling that a good friend is confiding in you. Fans of his music will be intrigued by his direct everyday persona as he recounts a riveting journey through his life. With his trademark wit and candor, he takes listeners on a roller-coaster ride through the highs and lows of fame, addiction, and... Read More

Salman Rushdie offers an emotionally resonant account of the shocking knife attack that almost ended his life in 2022 in Chautauqua, New York. In a measured tone, Rushdie describes the events of that day, including the excruciating 27 seconds in which he encountered his would-be assassin and the terrible graphically described wounds that his body sustained. While the attack is... Read More

Author and narrator Uché Blackstock sounds authentic and urgent in this plea for medical practitioners to combat the racism that still exists in all aspects of healthcare. Dr. Blackstock virtually grew up in the hospital where her mother practiced as a kidney doctor. Blackstock is appalled at the gaping systemic disparities she observed during her stints at a well-resourced... Read More

Benjamin Koenig laudably creates the vibrant personality of 70-year-old writer/performer David Vass. Listeners first meet Vass as a 7-year-old impoverished, neglected, stuttering child who had already realized he was gay. His charm and wit enabled his early success at such efforts as securing a YMCA for a 1970s gay rights event and learning to work with the entertainment greats... Read More

In this audiobook Stephen Colbert narrates the various events that affected Pope Francis throughout his life. Father John Quigley performs the numerous monologues of Pope Francis that are scattered between these historical events. The extermination of Jewish people, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and racial discrimination are a few of the topics Pope Francis discusses.... Read More

Ana Osorio's youthful voice seems an appropriate vehicle for recounting the story of a young Venezuelan reporter who experiences the personal and political upheaval that is taking place under the government of Hugo Chavez. Poignant moments occur throughout the audio; for example, Ramón imagines that a coup might rescue her from having to finish homework. Osorio's voice takes on... Read More

Laurel Canyon music legend Ellen Naomi Cohen, better known as Mama Cass of the 1960s folk-rock group The Mamas & the Papas, died at age 32. Her daughter, the author of this audiobook, was 7. Elliot-Kugell's slightly nasal narration of this biography is sincere, loving, and precise. But, sadly, the text seems unfinished and incomplete. What predominates is a compendium of... Read More

Andrew Sean Greer enthusiastically captures the inherent absurdity of an odd couple and their road trip. The brief audio story depicts the author/narrator and his mother as they travel from Kansas to California. Greer, who won a Pulitzer for his comic novel, LESS, is a natural raconteur--for photo ops he wears a fried-egg costume, and his choices for places to stay are... Read More

The problem with the audio version of Elspeth Barker's indelible essays and stories is that you can't underline your favorite parts. That's probably just as well; your pen would go dry. Married to a poet, the author of one iconic novel, O CALEDONIA, hers was a fascinating, messy, wildly unconventional life. Barker writes about her household full of animals wild and domestic,... Read More

It makes sense that Christine Blasey Ford would want to narrate the audio version of her memoir about doing her civic duty to testify at the confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh's nomination as a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018. She wants to "set the record straight," and the catharsis wouldn't be as complete if she hadn't been the narrator. She has a distinctive... Read More

Three voices evocatively describe life in a Polish ghetto and in Auschwitz during WWII. Christine Williams narrates the majority of the audiobook, skillfully juggling the diverse timeframes and details of the memoir published in print. Felicia Lubliner's son, Irving, incorporates excerpts of 1960s recordings of programs she gave about her horrific experiences and clarifies his... Read More

Mary McGlory and Sylvia Saunders/Wiggins are the authors and narrators of this eccentric musical memoir. Both women are grand storytellers, although Wiggins is the smoother narrator, injecting more rhythm and modulation into her chapters. McGlory has the thicker Liverpool accent. Together, the pair re-create the musical history of their all-women band, the Liverbirds. The group... Read More

Michael Langan's narration infuses curiosity and delight into this memoir and guidebook on sustainability. The authors moved into a 1930s lodge when Peter accepted work as a forester in northwestern Germany. Langan's gentle, uplifting tone captures their enthusiastic but not fanatical attitude during their quest for self-sustainability and small-scale farming. Through his... Read More

Author and narrator Anna Shechtman guides listeners through this combination feminist history of the crossword puzzle and personal memoir. As a young woman struggling with the compulsions of anorexia, Schectman discovered that crafting crossword puzzles distracted her from self-destructive behavior. At 18, she had her first puzzle published in THE NEW YORK TIMES. Schectman... Read More

Raquel Willis gives an impassioned and engaging performance of her memoir about her life in trans activism. After beginning with her childhood in Georgia, she reminisces about her various coming-out moments in high school and college--as gay, as a genderqueer drag performer, and as trans. She delves into her career as a journalist and activist in Georgia, California, and New... Read More

Susan Page's narration of this absorbing biography of television legend Barbara Walters is authoritative but somehow intimate, just as the biography is both clear-eyed and sympathetic. There's no denying Walters's burning ambition, which drove her to steal interviewees such as Fidel Castro and Bill Clinton from her colleagues. But in her later years, as ABC cut back her on-air... Read More

In Q&A format, actor Brendan O'Hea asks intriguing questions of world-famous actor/director Judi Dench. The result is absolutely delicious. O'Hea recorded four years of interviews with Dench, but due to her failing eyesight, the audiobook is co-narrated by Barbara Flynn. In a remarkable performance, Flynn laughs, jokes, and calls O'Hea to task when he's wrong--all sounding very... Read More

Performing this moving history from surviving members of the iconic singing group The Blind Boys of Alabama, Phil Morris captures the joys, hardships, and pathos woven into their 80-plus years of performing Black gospel music. You can hear the reverence Morris feels as he describes the pivotal periods of American history the evolving members of the group somehow survived. Their... Read More

January LaVoy's smooth and expressive voice is a perfect match for Karen Valby's history of America's first Black professional ballerinas and the Dance Theatre of Harlem, founded in the late 1960s. These five women cracked open the door that Misty Copeland would dance through decades later. LaVoy is a master at conveying the emotions wrought by the exacting standards of their... Read More

Brian Holden delivers a portrait of quintessential "theater kids." His amused tone and playfully self-deprecating comments are narrated with candor and appropriate snarkiness. He portrays theater kids (TKs) as oddball individuals who joined the drama club in high school and college, and who kept "playing" long after graduation. Thanks to these self-proclaimed "queer" actors,... Read More

Hanif Abdurraqib's latest book is a transcendent feat of poetry, memoir, and--well, magic. His narration is as breathless and beautiful as his prose; this book is epic in every sense of the word. It's an ode to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio; a love letter to basketball; a meditation on home and belonging; and an exploration of faith, Blackness, music, and place. He delivers... Read More

Rob Henderson's flat tone may reflect the substance of his life. Still, his material engages as he describes how his three names represent the first people who abandoned him. He frames his early life as a series of eight moves from one foster home to the next. As he describes his eventual adoption by a loving family as he neared his teens, his characterizations deepen, and the... Read More

Doris Kearns Goodwin's voice is well known from TV appearances; not surprisingly, her narration comes across as thoughtful and familiar. Bryan Cranston's role is minimal. The use of snippets of speeches from John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and Robert Kennedy add to the authenticity of the presentation. This is a kind of oral history of the 1960s told through the unique lens of... Read More

Hannah Arendt (1906-1975) was a German American philosopher. An outspoken opponent of totalitarianism, she has a fascinating story, superbly told here by narrator Cosima Shaw. At its core, this is a biography, but it is also an explanation of Arendt's passion and the reasons her beliefs are as relevant today as they were when she lived. Her conviction was bolstered by her... Read More

Author Kao Kalia Yang's soft Hmong-accented voice opens this forthright and heartrending refugee story with the birth of her own children. She then moves on to chronicle family history from her mother Tswb's (pronounced "Chew") point of view. Yang narrates the introductory and concluding elements of the story herself, with Pamela Xiong picking up the body of the narrative,... Read More

Using the infamous 1843 murder trial of Polly Bodine of Staten Island, narrator Erin Bennet recounts the rise of tabloid journalism and the public's fascination with true crime. Indicted for killing her sister-in-law and niece, Bodine was the first American woman to be tried for capital murder. Her case perfectly illustrates media sensationalism. Bennett's delivery reflects the... Read More

Cindy Kay narrates Dr. Fei-Fei Li's memoir of her life at the vanguard of artificial intelligence (AI) with an emotionally attuned ear. As a teenager, Li's family emigrated from China to the United States, a move that led to both opportunities and challenges. Kay sensitively conveys the author's confidence and vulnerability; her expansive delivery allows listeners to experience... Read More