There is a precision and care in Kirby Heyborne's narration of this audiobook that is well suited to the collection. As the title suggests, each of these seven stories paints a portrait of a man who finds himself, one way or another, alone. Heyborne skillfully manages to make each story part of the cohesive themed group, and a unique snapshot of humanity. The spare, clean quality of his performance makes this collection inherently listenable for all types of audiences. His voice spans the divide between coolly aloof and warmly compassionate. The stories are deep enough to appeal to lovers of novels, but the recording will appeal to those looking for a light listen, too. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
The literary world can like an infinite sea of ideas: walk into a bookstore and the thousands of titles on display—which are only the tip of the bookberg bobbing under the surface—is overwhelming in the best way. You might imagine the chances of two novels written by different people, at different times, and for different reasons being […]
Fans of beach reads: start your engines! It may not be officially summer yet, but a pair of fresh, fabulous novels set in Nantucket and Sullivan Island will kick off the season perfectly. Add in a tear-jerker about a dog’s journey, two short story collections (courtesy of Haruki Murakami and Richard Russo), and some fascinating […]
Jill Eisenstadt’s debut, From Rockaway, was bound by the nihilistic routines of a trio of lifeguards who spend their summers surveying New York’s Rockaway Beach. Though still young, their lives already seem decided, split between watching the waves and working blue-collar jobs in the cold months. Her latest, Swell, returns to the shore thirty years […]
Cherry blossoms, sunshine, the smell of cut grass, and fresh new books from fabulous authors mean it must be spring. This year, short story collections are all the rage, along with historical fiction, family dramas, and a sophomore thriller from Paula “Girl on the Train” Hawkins. Even Michael Crichton has a new book out. Whether you’re in […]
Haruki Murakami is one of those writers who’s tipped each year as a Nobel contender; widely acclaimed as a genius, his distinctive magical-realist style is both deceptively simple and dense, delving into the interior lives of his characters in a very literal fashion. He’s a writer whose work seems to speak personally to everyone who reads […]