Carr, Robyn. Redwood Bend. 8 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 9¬Ω hours. Recorded Bks. 2012. ISBN 9781461802303. $92.75; 1 MP3-CD library ed.; 8 CDs. retail ed.; Playaway digital; digital download. ROMANCE
This 18th installment of the Virgin River series features the return of plucky Katie Malone, sister of Connor Danson from the previous entry, Hidden Summit. Katie is traveling to Virgin River and back to Connor in search of family stability for her twin sons when a flat tire temporarily delays her arrival. Spotting Katie struggling in the rain, playboy and former childhood television star Dylan Childress is all too willing to help play the valiant prince riding to her rescue on his stallion Harley. An immediate, undeniable attraction kindles a passion between Katie and Dylan‚ when that passion turns out to be love, they must decide how much they are willing to risk. Narrator Therese Plummer executes the female and children’s voices expertly, especially her dramatization of Dylan’s grandmother, Adele. Male voices present more of a challenge and at times are indistinguishable from one another and frequently punctuated by scratchy exhalations. VERDICT The strong chemistry between the two main characters coupled with the breathtaking, cozy Virgin River setting will more than satisfy fans of this popular series. [The Harlequin hc was a New York Times best seller.‚ Ed.]‚ Erin Forson, Columbus, OH
Englander, Nathan. What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank: Stories. 6 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 7 hrs. Random Audio. 2012. ISBN 9780307989291. $35;
6 CDs. retail ed.; digital download. F
Kaufman Prize winner Englander doesn’t fail to please in his latest offering of eight Jewish-themed short stories. In the bizarre Camp Sundown, a camp leader deals with aged attendees and reverse racism. In the surreal Peep Show, a man going to a nudie show instead gets an eyeful of his old rabbi and his psychiatrist and pays a strange penance for his partial infidelity. From the sad finale of women trapped in Sister Hills to the hilarious quips in Everything I Know About My Family on My Mother’s Side, the stories run the gamut of emotions. Strange, funny, and, above all, thought- provoking, with a full-cast narration, including the author, one gets the feel of village tales being passed around among a large family. VERDICT A very enjoyable experience, recommended to fans of David Sedaris’s Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary. [A wonderful collection of short stories that will appeal to fans of Etgar Keret and Jonathan Safran Foer, read the review of the Knopf hc, LJ 2/15/12.‚ Ed.]‚ Terry Ann Lawler, Phoenix P.L.
Hermes, Will. Love Goes to Buildings on Fire: Five Years in New York That Changed Music Forever. 11 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 13 hrs. Blackstone Audio. 2012. ISBN 9781455156252. $32.95; 1 MP3-CD library ed.; 11 CDs. retail ed.; Playaway digital. MUSIC
Rolling Stone critic and National Public Radio contributor Hermes presents a chronological history of New York City’s music scenes during the fertile period from 1973 to 1977. He covers the emergence of punk, hip-hop, disco, salsa, loft jazz, and the Minimalist composers. Music geeks will be well pleased, as no detail is left out of this meticulous day-by-day rendering. Fans of these particular genres may be better served by less chronologically and geographically bounded histories. VERDICT Seasoned narrator Adam Verner’s enthusiastic baritone jibes with the encyclopedic sweep of the text, but the lack of accompanying music is a missed opportunity. Recommended to readers in New York City and music fans generally. [Hermes writes with scene-setting observational detail and provides contextual background to events and social movements taking place throughout New York, read the review of the Faber & Faber hc, LJ 9/15/11.‚ Ed.] ‚ Mark Swails, Johnson Cty. Community Coll., Overland Park, KS
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The following titles are reviewed in the June 15 print issue. Visit our Reviews Center (Beta) for the full reviews.
FICTION
Chiaverini, Jennifer. The Sonoma Rose. 11 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 13¼ hrs. Recorded Bks. 2012. ISBN 9781464003912. $123.75; 1 MP3-CD. library ed.; 11 CDs. retail ed.; Playaway digital; digital download. F
Chung, Catherine. Forgotten Country. 8 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 9 hrs. AudioGO. 2012. ISBN 9780792785903. $69.95; 1 MP3-CD. library ed.; 8 CDs. retail ed.; digital download. F
Enoch, Suzanne. A Beginner’s Guide to Rakes. 8 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 11 hours. Tantor Audio. 2012. ISBN 9781452636078. $39.99; 1 MP3-CD. library ed.; 9 CDs. retail ed.; digital download. ROMANCE
Leon, Donna. Fatal Remedies. 7 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 12 hrs. AudioGO. 2012. ISBN 9780792786665. $69.95; 7 CDs. retail ed.; 1 MP3-CD. library/retail eds.; Playaway digital; digital download. MYS
Harris, Charlaine. Deadlocked. 8 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 9¬Ω hrs. Recorded Bks. 2012. ISBN 9781449818104. $102.75; 1 MP3-CD. library ed.; digital download. MYS
Lutz, Lisa. Trail of the Spellmans: Documents #5. 8 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 10¼ hrs. Recorded Bks. 2012. ISBN 9781464013171. $92.75; 8 CDs. retail ed.;
1 MP3-CD library/retail eds.; Playaway digital; digital download. MYS
McAfee, Stephanie. Diary of a Mad Fat Girl. 9 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 11¬Ω hrs. Tantor Audio. 2012. ISBN 9781452636412. $39.99; 9 CDs. retail ed.; 1 MP3-CD. library/retail eds.; digital download. F
Persson, Leif GW. Another Time, Another Life: The Story of a Crime. 13 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 16 hrs. Books on Tape. 2012. ISBN 9780449009574. $45; 13 CDs.
retail ed.; digital download. MYS
Puzo, Mario. The Godfather. 15 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 18 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 9781455809677. $79.97; 15 CDs. retail ed.; 1 MP3-CD. library/retail eds.; Playaway digital; digital download. F
Straub, Emma. Other People We Married. 5 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 5¬Ω hrs. Dreamscape Audio. 2012 ISBN 9781611205602. $59.99; 5 CDs. retail ed.;
1 MP3-CD. library/retail ed.; Playaway digital; digital download. F
Trigiani, Adriana. The Shoemaker’s Wife. 15 CDs. library ed. unabridged. Harper Audio. 2012. ISBN 9780061791376. $44.99; 15 CDs. retail ed.; digital download. F
Wyndham, John. The Kraken Wakes. 7 CDS. library ed. unabridged. 9 hrs. CSA Word, dist. by Trafalgar Square. 2012. ISBN 9781906147754. $29.95; 7 CDs. retail ed. SF
NONFICTION
Beck, Martha. Expecting Adam: A True Story of Birth, Rebirth, and Everyday Magic. 10 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 13 hrs. Tantor Audo. 2012. ISBN 9781452636320. $90.99; 2 MP3-CDs. library ed.; 10 CDs. retail ed.; digital download. AUTOBIOG
Kihn, Martin. Bad Dog: A Love Story. 5 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 6 hrs. HighBridge Audio. 2012. ISBN 9781611747508. $59; 5 CDs. retail ed.; 1 MP3-CD. retail ed. Playaway digital; digital download. PETS/MEMOIR
Lawson, Jenny. Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: (A Mostly True Memoir). 7 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 9 hrs. Penguin Audio. 2012. ISBN 9781611760859. $39.95; 7 CDs. retail ed.; Playaway digital; digital download. AUTOBIOG/MEMOIR
Lucado, Max. Cast of Characters: Lost and Found; Encounters with the Living God. 5 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 5 hrs. Oasis Audio. 2012. ISBN 9781613751176. $22.99; 5 CDs. retail ed.; Playaway digital; digital download. REL
Overton, Margaret. Good in a Crisis. 7 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 8 hrs. AudioGO. 2012. ISBN 9780792785316. $59.95; 7 CDs. retail ed.; digital download. AUTOBIOG
Press, Bill. The Obama Hate Machine: The Lies, Distortions, and Personal Attacks on the President‚ and Who Is Behind Them. 8 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 10 hrs. Blackstone Audio. 2012. ISBN 9781455128563. $79; 1 MP3-CD. library ed.; 8 CDs. retail ed.; Playaway digital; digital download. POL SCI
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