In the first of a regular monthly column from our friends at AudioFile magazine, we look at some popular fall book titles with outstanding audio editions.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, read by Bahni Turpin (HarperCollins/Blackstone, unabridged)
Whether you've seen the recent film yet or not, listeners should not miss one of the greatest audiobook performances of the last few years--for which Bahni Turpin received the Best Female Narrator Audie Award. Turpin's portrayals of all the characters are rich and deep, environments are evocatively described.
Leadership: In Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin, read by Beau Bridges, David Morse, Jay O. Sanders and Richard Thomas (Simon & Schuster Audio, unabridged)
In this work on presidential leadership profiling Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson, four narrators are used for each president. They break a lengthy book into smaller, almost self-contained segments. In addition, each narrator adds vocal character to the profiles. They don't try to sound like the presidents, but their individual tones add to the experience--a rough Midwestern edge for Lincoln, a more refined tone for FDR. And Goodwin narrates an introduction and conclusion.
Lethal White: Cormoran Strike, Book 4 by Robert Galbraith, read by Robert Glenister (Hachette Audio, unabridged)
As with Jim Dale's almost incredibly inventive performance of the Harry Potter novels, Robert Glenister has peopled Strike's world with a huge cast that is convincing, horrifying, and funny. Here, as Strike and his partner, Robin, sort out the murder of Britain's awful culture minister, Jasper Chiswell (pronounced "chisel"), the many greedy, snobbish, cruel faces of evil are human, but the plot and performance are pure magic. (Reminder: Robert Galbraith is the pen name that author J.K. Rowling uses for the Cormoran Strike series.)
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, read by Cassandra Campbell (Penguin Random House Audio, unabridged)
Cassandra Campbell uses a variety of accents for the mix of classes and regions in this story about Kya, a girl abandoned by her family in the isolated marshes of North Carolina who comes of age with little social contact in the 1950s and '60s. She also provides the same realistic detail that nature writer Delia Owens provides for the marsh.
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin, read by Maggie Hoffman (Penguin Random House Audio, unabridged)
Maggie Hoffman narrates this thought-provoking story about the four Gold siblings with a straightforward delivery. Her recounting of many of the cultural landmarks of the '60s in San Francisco and New York City's Lower East Side will resonate with listeners.
Fear by Bob Woodward, read by Robert Petkoff (Simon & Schuster Audio, unabridged)
With the steely, measured delivery of a seasoned newscaster, Robert Petkoff narrates an audiobook that lives up to its title. Woodward and Petkoff humanize key members of the White House, including embittered Chief of Staff John Kelly, erratic former Chief of Staff Steve Bannon, occasional voice of reason Ivanka Trump, and a host of others.
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson, read by the author (Blackstone, unabridged)
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium, delivers his study of space and time clearly and engagingly to listeners. His well-known narrative skills are used to full effect, explaining concepts such as the big bang, quarks, dark matter and unseeable light. Though most of the material goes down smoothly, a few nuggets may require hitting the rewind button. Tyson's ability to simplify and connect with audiences work perfectly in the audiobook version.
Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights, and Other Appreciations by John McCain and Mark Salter, read by Beau Bridges (Simon & Schuster Audio, unabridged)
The late Senator John McCain delivers the introduction and conclusion of his memoir, giving this audiobook archival significance. While his voice sounds tired and well worn, it does create an accurate sensibility of a man battling a deadly form of brain cancer, the same type that ultimately took Senator Ted Kennedy's life. Beau Bridges narrates the balance of this memoir, capturing the tone and timbre of McCain's vocal qualities while injecting a dose of boyish charm.