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JANUARY 11, 2019

Welcome back to another edition of the Weekly Sound Off! Fun fact: Yesterday was the 20th anniversary of the first episode of The Sopranos (shout-out to narrator Edoardo Ballerini, aka Corky Caporale!). While we’re still puzzling over the series’ final scene, the man behind Tony is less of a mystery thanks to this enlightening biography of James Gandolfini. And there was a lot more entertainment to delve into this week; to wit:

Golden Globes? More like golden VOICES.

The best moments at the Golden Globes were actually not screen-based, but instead exhibited the power of voice. Regina King, best supporting actress in the film of If Beale Street Could Talk, said her productions going forward would involve 50% women; Glenn Close (who won for her role in the film adaptation of The Wife) urged women to find personal fulfillment. Ben Whishaw, who starred in the TV adaptation of A Very English Scandal, said more opportunities for gay actors to play straight roles would help create an “even playing field for everybody.” And if you haven’t yet listened to Codename Villanelle, the basis for Sandra Oh’s Globe-winning Killing Eve, you’ll want to get on that. Laura Kirman’s narration gives it almost more life than its small-screen counterpart (and that’s saying something!).

And in the theater…

It makes SO much sense when you think about it. When a playwright as popular as Aaron Sorkin adapts a story as beloved as To Kill a Mockingbird, you’re pretty much guaranteed to break a few records. And that it did! Sorkin’s adaptation of America’s favorite novel has just become the highest-grossing American play in Broadway history, earning a whopping $1.7 million over the holidays. While Broadway musicals regularly see that kind of dough, it’s very rare for a play. We haven’t seen it yet, but we hope Atticus Finch’s famous courtroom scene includes Sorkin’s trademark “walking and talking” 🤞

This mutt is no Muggle.

Everyone thinks their dog is the best, but this dog is actually the best. His name is Remus, and his owner trained him using Harry Potter spells! He jumps on his hind legs with a flick of his owner’s wand when he hears Wingardium Leviosa, fetches upon being told Accio, and even plays dead with…well…you know. Now excuse us while we go buy an office pup for this very purpose.

The latest high-tech gadget is…wood.

A new home device garnered buzz at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show—smart wood. Mui is a sleek piece of wood that seamlessly integrates with other smart home features, but editor Katie just can’t get past the name. Maybe she’s been working with romance for too long, but Smart Wood sounds like an amazing title for a romance novel. We’re thinking tech geek meets witty ballbuster à la Brooklynaire, or perhaps AI gone wrong and two people who fall in love while saving the world in a little apocalyptic romance. Romance authors, please make our dream come true and give us some Smart Wood.

We’re not the only ones feeling drained…

Anne Helen Petersen struck a nerve with her deep dive on millennial burnout, arguing that an overload of work, social media, and self-optimization had made her generation unable to face the simplest of daily chores. To which the entire Internet replied, “It me!” So, sure: burnout isn’t millennial-specific, but we’ll be listening to Kids These Days, a key reference point for the article, as well as Social Creature, a stylish thriller featuring some of the most burned-out millennials we’ve EVER met. And we appreciate how Petersen put into words an affliction that resonates with so many of us. For that, we offer a world-weary salute.

…and this perked us right up.

There’s no single time of year that one can tackle new challenges, but there’s also no denying the fresh-start feeling that January brings. With that in mind, we’re serving up a couple of different ways to jumpstart your year. Follow this awesome flow chart to find the right self-improvement all-star to guide you on your path to life-changing self-improvement. Then see how your Audible editors are switching things up with their New Year Listening Resolutions that touch on everything from hitting new genres to changing where and how we listen. You’ll see you’re not alone and find a great new listen.
Till Next Week!
—the audible editors

P.S. If you still need more listening inspiration, there is SO MUCH brand-new audio goodness for January, it’s almost too much to handle. Our editors’ most anticipated listens are the best place to start.

Audiobooks in This Edition

James Gandolfini Audiobook By Dan Bischoff cover art
The Wife Audiobook By Meg Wolitzer cover art
A Very English Scandal Audiobook By John Preston cover art
Codename Villanelle Audiobook By Luke Jennings cover art
To Kill a Mockingbird Audiobook By Harper Lee cover art
If Beale Street Could Talk Audiobook By James Baldwin cover art