Editor Audible

Tricia Ford

Tricia escucha para descubrir personajes y voces que la transporten, no a un mundo de fantasía, sino al corazón de lo que significa ser humano en este planeta. La ficción, las memorias y la ciencia peculiar pueden ser parte de los requisitos, pero lo que más le fascina son los personajes que están perfectamente vivos, incluso si resultan ser imaginarios.

Tricia's Featured Reviews

A must-listen for fans of Toni Morrision

The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.

Performed by Karen Chilton

The Prophets is a debut novel by a writer with an extraordinary gift for storytelling. Robert Jones, Jr.’s prose is lyrical, challenging, beautiful, and horrifying. This epic historical fiction tells the story of Samuel and Isaiah—two enslaved men in love on a Deep South plantation. They have always been known as an inseparable pair, but as their romantic love is revealed to others, they begin to find themselves in increasing danger. Told from the perspective of an array of characters, the narrative is largely in third person, with each chapter coming from a different perspective. Mixed in are chapters told in first person plural—where the old gods of Africa, watching over the descendants of those who worshiped them, share wisdom and serve as witnesses. This is where I became completely mesmerized by narrator Karen Chilton’s performance. I listened, and relistened, and will surely go back again to reexperience the profound beauty of this masterpiece.

A treasure trove of songs and stories

Dolly Parton, Songteller by Dolly Parton

Performed by Dolly Parton

Musical memoirs are all the rage here at Audible! So while I typically go for fiction finds when choosing my picks, I just had to jump on the bandwagon (get it, “band” wagon?) and join in on the fun. How lucky are we to have a new memoir—filled with personal stories, life wisdom, and yes, musical interludes—from the American treasure that is Dolly Parton!?! She frames her story through her songs—taking the listener on a real musical journey. Dolly is timeless. Her authenticity and talent shine through and she reminds me of all that is good in this world.

A locked-room mystery that's pure Backman

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Performed by Marin Ireland

After unsuccessfully attempting to hold up a cashless bank, a desperate father accidentally creates a hostage situation after running headfirst into an apartment viewing. From our bumbling would-be robber, to the collection of “regular” folks locked in together, to the father–son cop team who lead the investigation, each character has a story to be told. What’s revealed is pure Backman truth-telling that perfectly captures the human experience with humor, tenderness, and wisdom. And the shining glory of this listen is narrator Marin Ireland’s performance. She simply nails it—all of it: Backman’s uncanny ability to get to the heart of things and in giving each and every quirky character a voice that resonates. I’m still smiling and can’t wait for the next Backman/Ireland collaboration!

Portrait of an artist as a young woman

Casey Peabody is the central character of this new novel by Lily King. She’s in her early 30s and living the kind of life some would argue should have ended in her 20s—most of her friends have moved on from the "artist’s" life and gotten "real" jobs, while Casey still waitresses, lives alone is what’s basically a potting shed, and has been working on her novel for the past six years. And while Casey is far from happy—she is reeling from her mother’s death and suffers debilitating anxiety—her life is in no way a cautionary tale, or a cliché. Casey is not perfect, or even 100% likable, but I felt intense empathy for her, and there were plenty of times when her musings made me laugh or even cringe a little bit with self recognition. Most strikingly, throughout the whole story she felt real—the result of a well-drawn character and stellar narration. For a story that’s so much about the internal voice of one woman, having the right person narrate is crucial, and Stacey Glemboski’s performance is an example of perfection in casting. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see the world through Casey’s eyes for a time—King has masterfully captured the essence of one young(ish) woman making her way in the real world.

Tricia's Past Reviews

Oona Out of Order

A Novel

De: Margarita Montimore

Narrado por: Brittany Pressley

Duración: 11 h y 30 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 02-25-20

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 2,951 calificaciones

An uplifting joyride

Imagine living your life out of order… What would it be like to be 19 years old on the inside forever? What would you do it you woke up tomorrow 30 years older than you are today? These are just a few of the questions you can’t help but ask yourself while listening to Oona—a delightful time travel novel that made me take my own trip down memory lane all while imaging various "what-if" scenarios for myself. How much fun would it be to have invested wisely (based on having already lived the future) and now have all of the money you could ever want or need? I’d have a Brownstone too, for sure. I also found myself immediately sympathizing with Oona—cringing at her many missteps and bad choices and reveling alongside her as she parties like a 27-year-old woman who’s already been a 51-year-old woman and is really only 19 years old on the inside. Narrator Brittany Pressley sounds exactly how I’d imagine Oona to sound—capturing the enthusiasm and hopefulness of a 19 year old who also holds a more tempered wisdom—something earned by having already lived so much of her later life.
Nothing to See Here

De: Kevin Wilson

Narrado por: Marin Ireland

Duración: 6 h y 40 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 10-29-19

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 11,439 calificaciones

Such a great story to listen to!

I've finally discovered Kevin Wilson and will diving into his backlist for sure! Having fallen for Marin Ireland's narration in Beartown (Fredrik Backman) I was immediately drawn to trying out more of her performances (fingers crossed that her audiobook resume will continue to grow). I adore her, and she is just too perfect for this quirky, heartfelt story filled with a wonderfully authentic cast of characters. The fact that there are children who spontaneously burst into flames (or occasionally more subtlety smolder if only slightly agitated) somehow only adds to its realness. You will care deeply for these people--you will laugh and you may cry. I did all of these things and I'm left with the overwhelming sense of satisfaction found in experiencing a story that is both entertaining and moving--the joy of time well-spent. 😊
City of Girls

A Novel

De: Elizabeth Gilbert

Narrado por: Blair Brown

Duración: 15 h y 8 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 06-04-19

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 24,582 calificaciones

Looking back with no regrets

Vivian Morris is a 95-year-old woman who looks back on her youthful indiscretions with zero regrets. Zero. From the time she arrived at her Aunt Peg's rundown Manhattan theater at age nineteen, escaping the rigor and elitism of 1940's Vassar, Vivian enthusiastically sought out the kind of life lessons best taught by show girls. She considered those years of youthful hedonism as the best of her life—living with intent and absolutely no shame—and (almost surprisingly) she was not destroyed by it! Narrator Blair Brown's performance is amazing. She captures the spirit of this dauntless NYC woman and a place and time forever immortalized in Gilbert's glittery prose.
Where the Forest Meets the Stars

De: Glendy Vanderah

Narrado por: Lauren Ezzo

Duración: 9 h y 57 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 03-01-19

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 14,037 calificaciones

Real-life magic

Where the Forest Meets the Stars is my favorite audiobook so far this year! As mesmerized as I became with this tale, you may be surprised to find out that there's no actual magic in this story. The whole thing is more tortuously real than fantastic. The magic is in connections forged between some very likable people. But before I give too much away, let's just say that it’s one of those stories that hooked me immediately, and kept me 100% invested through the bitter end (yes, there were tears). The characters will capture your heart—in large part due to Lauren Ezzo’s performance. My god, can she transition from adult to child with ease and skill. She will make you believe that eight-year-old Ursa is a very real little girl (and possibly a genius alien). Dare I say it's a near-perfect listen for fiction lovers? Yes, I do.
Last Seen Wearing

De: David Hewson

Narrado por: Samantha Dakin, Stuart Milligan, John Guerrasio, Laurence Bouvard, Vaughn Johseph, Martin T. Sherman, Adela Leiro, Jared Zeus, Danielle Lewis, Lorelei King, Thomas Stroppel, Paul Panting, Lachele Carl

Duración: 9 h y 7 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 01-10-19

Idioma: Inglés

4 out of 5 stars 359 calificaciones

Created especially for Audible

Author David Hewson is behind some of my favorite "audio-first" projects like Macbeth: A Novel and Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel in which he and co-creator A. J. Hartley brilliantly re-imagined two of Shakespeare's classics. Last Seen Wearing is something quite different and is even more audio-centric. Here, Hewson, in this full-cast production, takes on NYC with a crime story unlike anything else you've listened to. If you're a fan of TV shows featuring cops, PI's, and detectives you'll want to check this one out. Warning: If listening while driving, take care to ignore random sirens and car horns—you're not (likely) getting pulled over by the fuzz or being tailgated by an 18-wheeler.
A Ladder to the Sky

A Novel

De: John Boyne

Narrado por: Richard E. Grant, Richard Cordery, Nina Sosanya, Laurence Kennedy

Duración: 11 h y 32 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 11-13-18

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 1,123 calificaciones

A literary psychodrama

A Ladder to the Sky is set in the supposedly genteel world of writers. But where do writers get their ideas from? For one particularly dark, ambitious, and cunning writer who has skill but lacks imagination...he steals them. The story is told is three distinct parts, each wonderfully performed by a different narrator and from the perspective of three separate characters: the successful author with a secret past who takes on a young Maurice as a protégé, Maurice's author-wife, and finally from an aged Maurice himself. It's a full-circle reveal of a very bad man.
Milkman

De: Anna Burns

Narrado por: Bríd Brennan

Duración: 14 h y 11 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 12-04-18

Idioma: Inglés

4 out of 5 stars 1,963 calificaciones

Winner of the 2018 Man Booker Prize

Every once in a while I like a challenge and Milkman is that in spades. But one well-worth taking on because it's oh-so-smart, and well written, and it got in my head and made me think differently. It didn't change my mind about the political and social implications of the Troubles in Northern Ireland in the '70s—but it altered how I saw the world for a while after I finished listening. The 18-year-old female protagonist may be unnamed, but boy is she a unique and brilliantly drawn character. It's through her eyes, and the unflinching performance of narrator Bríd Brennan, that I came to see what happens in a world where illogical, even absurd, lines are made between us and them—and almost no one thinks to question it.
The Witch Elm

A Novel

De: Tana French

Narrado por: Paul Nugent

Duración: 22 h y 7 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 10-09-18

Idioma: Inglés

4 out of 5 stars 8,415 calificaciones

A satisfying slow burn

I'm a huge fan of Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series, so I was more than excited for her first-ever stand-alone novel, The Witch Elm. What it shares with her other books is that knack she has for creating an amazing sense of place: always modern-era Ireland, but so much more precise than just that. Narrator Paul Nugent is new to me, but he’s quickly become a favorite. He gives a very clear picture of the book’s central character, Toby—a 20-something year old who (up until now) seems to have been blessed with good luck in all things. When something terrible happens to him, this completely likable-enough guy goes through physical and emotional challenges, to say the least. As he recovers from his own trauma, he finds himself back at the old family compound, Ivy House, to care for his ailing uncle. True to form, French turns Ivy House into a character in and of itself. It’s not your typical haunted house, but is equally as unnerving, especially after a skull is discovered hidden in the hollow of a witch elm in the backyard. Toby’s former sense of ease in life has been obliterated, and now he must confront the fact that he may have had it all wrong his entire (privileged) life.
Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree

De: Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, Viviana Mazza - afterword

Narrado por: Robin Miles

Duración: 5 h y 59 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 09-04-18

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 131 calificaciones

Harsh truths revealed in fiction

This is an artfully executed blend of fact and fiction told from the perspective of a teenaged girl in Nigeria who is abducted by the radical group, Boko Haram. Presented in short vignettes, each chapter highlights what her life is like in the small village where Christians and Muslims have lived together peacefully—aware of but not threatened by their differences—where her focus is on school, family, and her best friend. Everything changes when Boko Haram charges into the village and she's ripped from her family, but her indelible spirit remains strong. Narrator Robin Miles embodies this spirit with an impassioned and authentic performance that gives this unnamed girl a voice to be remembered.
The Ruin

De: Dervla McTiernan

Narrado por: Aoife McMahon

Serie: The Cormac Reilly Series, Libro 1

Duración: 10 h y 25 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 07-03-18

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 27,964 calificaciones

For fans of Tana French

Because it's one of my favorite places in the world, I could not resist the Galway locale of The Ruin, even if it might reveal a disturbing side of life in this otherwise idyllic Irish city. Not unexpectedly, the setting does add a distinct air of Irish melancholy that permeates the story, but dare I say it's in a "good" way? In the end, the unnerving themes explored in this cleverly composed police procedural speak mostly to the universal demons that haunt so many people—just in an Irish accent. Debut author Deverla McTiernan makes full use of her Irish upbringing, legal training, and calculating mind to create the perfect tale for those who like their mysteries on the darker side. Brace yourself, but don't let it keep you from visiting Galway!
Calypso

De: David Sedaris

Narrado por: David Sedaris

Duración: 6 h y 39 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 05-29-18

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 22,073 calificaciones

Why would you name a house "Sea Section"?

We're all getting older, I suppose. Even David Sedaris. And with age comes . . . even more darkly funny, laugh-out-loud humor. The kind of humor I personally like to share with my family—my perfectly imperfect siblings and their offspring. This is why Calypso is the book my sister and I will be listening to on our road trip to our own (rented) beach house which, like David's, is also on the Carolina Coast and also has a unique name. The Sedaris clan has "Sea Section" to congregate in, and my clan will gathering at "Perfect Peace" where naps will be taken, waves ridden, and resentments both fostered and forgotten. (I’ll let David tell you where he got the name for his house.)
Us Against You

De: Fredrik Backman

Narrado por: Marin Ireland

Serie: Beartown, Libro 2

Duración: 14 h y 17 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 06-05-18

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 7,008 calificaciones

What happens in Beartown . . .

I spent a week last spring listening to Marin Ireland perform Fredrik Backman's Beartown and became completely engrossed in its Swedish small-town setting and the characters that filled it. So, when I saw that Marin would be returning to narrate the sequel it was an easy pick for me. I knew this would be more time well spent, and I was right. The inevitable fallout from the tragic event at the center of Beartown plays out in expected and unexpected ways. There are revelations and secrets revealed. Each character's reaction sheds light on the ways politics, homophobia, racism, and sexism play out in this remote northern village, and by extension, in small towns and big cities everywhere.
Travel as a Political Act

De: Rick Steves

Narrado por: Rick Steves

Duración: 10 h y 14 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 02-06-18

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 390 calificaciones

Transformaciones por Viajes

Way back when, I worked for an educational tour company—sending groups of American students and teachers on European adventures with the goal of creating a "living" classroom. To keep us up-to-date, the documentary series Rick Steves' Europe was required watching for staff (we had a library of VHS tapes to choose from). Many years later, Rick Steves is still making documentaries and writing books, but now there’s also a nifty audiobook app that allows me to listen to this 3rd edition (updated for 2018) of the industry classic Travel as a Political Act, in Steve's distinct voice. It’s a welcome reminder of how simply leaving the U. S. and experiencing the world beyond my bubble—meeting actual people, in real life—is a kind of political act. At the very least, it’s a great first step.
The Chalk Man

A Novel

De: C. J. Tudor

Narrado por: Euan Morton

Duración: 9 h y 50 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 01-09-18

Idioma: Inglés

4 out of 5 stars 2,927 calificaciones

Cuidado con los hombres de tiza

Just a few chapters into C. J. Tudor's debut thriller I could understand why this book sparked a nine-way publisher auction with early chatter of a future film. It's simply that gripping. With all the charm and nostalgia of 80s movie favorites like Stand By Me and The Goonies, The Chalk Man is a perfect combination of richly created characters and a super twisty plot that hooks you. Summer 1986: Anderbury England. 4 friends. Eddie "Munster" Adams, Fat Gav, Metal Mickey, Hoppo, and Nicky are 12 years old and spend their days getting into mischief on their bikes, having fun, and creating a secret way of communicating through chalk men symbols. 30 years later, the chalk men game restarts—with terrifying consequences. Narrator Euan Morton's performance moves seamlessly between the 12-year-old Eddie and the 40-something Eddie, with every flashback and return a perfectly natural transition—making The Chalk Man all the more compulsively listenable.
Beartown

De: Fredrik Backman

Narrado por: Marin Ireland

Serie: Beartown, Libro 1

Duración: 13 h y 11 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 04-25-17

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 17,638 calificaciones

Angustia adolescente y miedo de los padres

Estoy tan feliz de que Fredrik Backman se haya convertido en un escritor prolífico! Para mí, A Man Called Ove creó una especie de problema con los libros que nunca antes tuve, el picor de Backman. Afortunadamente, sus varias novelas nuevas han satisfecho este nuevo requisito literario para mí. Pero Beartown es diferente y enciende algo nuevo. Es más oscuro, casi YA en la sensación, y más amplio en el alcance. Es un libro de "hockey", pero, al igual que Friday Night Lightsen la TV, se trata de algo más que deportes juveniles. La actuación de Marin Ireland captura perfectamente la angustia adolescente y el miedo de los padres que impregna la historia (tener una narración femenina fue una elección muy atrevida para un libro de "hockey", ¡y funciona!). Beartown es una novela para la mayoría de edad, un juego de moralidad y un testimonio de pensamiento grupal. Como todos los libros de Backman, resuena y perdura en la mente meses después, cuando menos te lo esperas.
Manhattan Beach

A Novel

De: Jennifer Egan

Narrado por: Norbert Leo Butz, Heather Lind, Vincent Piazza

Duración: 15 h y 16 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 10-03-17

Idioma: Inglés

4 out of 5 stars 5,125 calificaciones

El Brooklyn Histórico Toma Vida

En contraste con su ganadora de premio Pulitzer y muy moderna A Visit From the Goon Squad, Manhattan Beach de Jennifer Egan es una ficción histórica tradicional en todos los sentidos. Obviamente, es una novela de investigación impecable, empapada en el ambiente de la ciudad de Nueva York, en particular los barrios portuarios de Brooklyn, desde la Gran Depresión hasta la Segunda Guerra Mundial. A la brillantemente descriptiva prosa de Egan se suman las destacadas interpretaciones de los narradores Norbert Leo Butz (dos veces ganador del premio Tony), Heather Lind (TURN: Washington's Spies), y Vincent Piazza (Jersey Boys, Boardwalk Empire). Este trío "sube las apuestas" por así decirlo, haciendo de la escucha una experiencia realmente inmersiva.
The Golden House

A Novel

De: Salman Rushdie

Narrado por: Vikas Adam

Duración: 14 h y 40 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 09-05-17

Idioma: Inglés

4 out of 5 stars 502 calificaciones

Rushdie aborda nuestra realidad actual

Un nuevo libro de Salman Rushdie es siempre un acontecimiento literario, así que The Golden House ha estado en mi radar desde que escuché por primera vez los rumores de una novela Rushdie "con tema de triunfo". Entonces Vikas Adam (Lion) fue anunciado como narrador, y rápidamente llegó a la cima de mi lista de los que me escuchaba. Con su plétora de referencias a la cultura mítica, literaria y pop, este libro es un desafío - pero bien vale la pena asumirlo. Explora hábilmente los temas del día (y la eternidad, aparentemente), desde el amor, la inmigración, la clase y la identidad de género hasta la familia, la historia, y sí... la política. A veces hipnotizante, a menudo confuso, pero siempre verboso y bello, The Golden House es Rushdie haciendo realismo (más que realismo mágico) con la habilidad de un maestro narrador de historias.
Homegoing

A Novel

De: Yaa Gyasi

Narrado por: Dominic Hoffman

Duración: 13 h y 11 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 06-07-16

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 10,334 calificaciones

A Brilliant Debut

"Un relato épico que sigue a dos hermanas de Ghana a América y viceversa, Homegoing captura maravillosamente una historia compartida de África y Estados Unidos y los lazos que unen a estos dos mundos aparentemente opuestos. Es la clase perfecta de ficción histórica: un libro que te transporta a través del tiempo y el lugar mientras te mantiene conectado personalmente con cada personaje. Es sorprendentemente real y de otro mundo al mismo tiempo, y aunque no quería que terminara, el final fue uno de los más satisfactorios que he escuchado en mucho tiempo. El narrador Dominic Hoffman es un genio de la voz, cambiando de personaje a personaje, adaptando su tono, acento y cadencia sin esfuerzo. Estoy tan feliz de haber descubierto esta gema y no puedo esperar para escuchar más de Yaa Gyasi.
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

Reese's Book Club (A Novel)

De: Gail Honeyman

Narrado por: Cathleen McCarron

Duración: 11 h y 2 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 05-09-17

Idioma: Inglés

4.5 out of 5 stars 65,727 calificaciones

El narrador perfecto para un libro muy especial

Eleanor Oliphant es el tipo de personaje literario que brilla absolutamente en el audio. Ella es claramente irritable, únicamente fuera de contacto con las tendencias del día, y ha deformado ideas acerca de la etiqueta social adecuada. Gracias a la brillante actuación de la narradora Cathleen McCarron, se llega a escuchar el diálogo interno histéricamente estéril de Eleanor con el brogue escocés que merece (a diferencia de la versión americana que yo habría imaginado leyendo). En un encuentro fortuito, Eleanor encuentra amigos poco probables que la ayudan a romper lentamente las barreras mentales y emocionales que en un momento sirvieron para el propósito tan necesario de la auto-preservación. A medida que su pasado es revelado y recordado, Eleanor se convierte en un personaje aún más rico y más raro que no puedes dejar de buscar.
When the English Fall

A Novel

De: David Williams

Narrado por: Eric Michael Summerer

Duración: 5 h y 41 m

Fecha de lanzamiento: 07-11-17

Idioma: Inglés

4 out of 5 stars 175 calificaciones

Distopía Amish

Cuando era niña, el país Amish fue un destino vacacional para mi familia (Lancaster, PA estaba lo suficientemente lejos para llegar en una noche y lo suficientemente cerca para hacerlo algo regular). Viendo hacia atrás, parece un poco extraño, pero esos viajes fueron más que todo sobre el viaje en carro en sí mismo, las mueblerías, y la deliciosa comida de desayuno. Luego vino la película de 1985 Witness, y mi leve obsesión con cualquier cosa amish se solidificó. Cualquiera que fuera la razón, fui arrastrado inmediatamente al debut de David Williams, al cual él se refiere como: ficción amish posapocalíptica. Soy también fan de la novela epistolar, entonces esta historia contada en una serie de entradas de diario escrito por el granjero amish, Jacob, despertó mi interés. Sin intentar simular un acento amish, el narrador Eric Michael Summerer captura hermosamente el afecto calmo y la humilde piedad de Jacob. Cuando la agitación que ha golpeado el mundo exterior finalmente llega al umbral de Jacob, su reacción y las consecuencias finales son absolutamente fascinantes de seguir.