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Ann Liang’s second hit of the year
A Song to Drown Rivers is a captivating retelling of the legend of Xishi, one of Ancient China’s four famed beauties. There’s a tinge of fantasy here, but it’s mostly one part love story, one part historical spy thriller. Xishi is trained to enact revenge on the neighbouring Wu kingdom by making their ruler, Fuchai, become so obsessed with her that he ignores his duties as king. She’s both beautiful and clever, so she’s well-suited for the task. The only problem is that she loves someone else, and her broken heart is not easily ignored. Listeners will be well cared for in the hands of veteran narrator Natalie Naudus. —Melissa B.
What’s wrong with the world today?
I’m so excited to hear Malcolm Gladwell's latest audiobook, Revenge of the Tipping Point, which revisits and reframes his groundbreaking concepts from 25 years ago. The promise of gripping stories about everything from bank robbers to forgotten TV shows, combined with Gladwell's unique insights into social phenomena, has me eager to press play as soon as it hits my library. I'm particularly intrigued by how he'll explore the dark side of what he calls “contagious phenomena” and what new perspectives he'll offer on issues like the COVID pandemic and the opioid crisis. With all of the technological, political and social developments that have happened in the past two and a half decades, Gladwell’s newest listen couldn’t have come at a more critical cultural moment. —Rachael X.
Al Pacino brings the heat, the love and the voice
Quick, who’s your favourite Pacino? A brilliantly understated antihero like Michael Corleone, or the extravagantly operatic Tony Montana or Vincent Hanna? Dearest to me – at least until his epic moment on stage at this year’s Oscars – is Dog Day Afternoon’s Sonny. Touchingly, “Sonny” was also what Al’s beloved mother called him, back when he was a South Bronx street kid in the 1940s. Sonny Boy, Pacino’s hotly anticipated memoir, takes us back to those days, from growing up in a fractured Italian American family, to his creative awakening in New York theatre, to his dizzying rise and long career at the heights of cinema. His boyhood friends – whose lives were destroyed by crime and drugs while Al, thanks to his mother and grandmother especially, was spared – used to call out “Sonny” and “Pacchi” from the sidewalk, waiting for him to come down and play. Now, the world waits for his voice and story, for the man behind the roles that live in our hearts. Here he is at last, and as Pacino himself might have it, no further preamble is needed. —Kat J.
Sometimes it’s hard to let your hair down and enjoy the simple things in life. The Energy Curfew Music Hour gives you permission to do just that in this alternate reality where the power grid goes down weekly and we all live electricity-free for 24 hours. I was lucky enough to experience this musical variety show live, and the power of music and alluring vocals brought everyone in that room together. This audio version doesn’t disappoint! I relived the joy, cosiness and connection all over again. From captivating musical performances by Kacey Musgraves and my new fave, Madison Cunningham, to the heartfelt moments and genuine laughs with Punch Brothers, I was reminded that pure happiness comes from the power of connection. Go off the grid and experience this one – it’ll fill your heart with song and delight. —Caitlyn L.
Another gem from a master Midwestern storyteller
I fell in love with Louise Erdrich's novels beginning with the beautifully eccentric The Master Butchers Singing Club from 2003, and have enjoyed her prolific output ever since. She's adept at seamlessly weaving together compelling narratives and urgent issues of the day, from wealth disparity to climate change, from the impact of fracking on the Dakotas to the marginalisation of Indigenous communities. Erdrich continues this trend in The Mighty Red, a layered and tender portrait of a North Dakota farming community reeling from the 2008 financial crisis, navigating betrayals and young love, and reckoning with the ghosts of a recent high school tragedy. Rich in character development and beautifully narrated by Marin Ireland, The Mighty Red is another standout addition to Erdrich's oeuvre. —Sarah U.
Though Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny likely needs no introduction after news of his 2021 imprisonment and untimely death earlier this year, his posthumous memoir is sure to bring even more revelations and headlines. There are very few figures of recent history whose sacrifices will have as large an impact as Navalny’s, and I’m sure this audiobook will not only honour and memorialise his life’s work, but also help to inspire the next generation of activists to follow in his path. While there’s still very little known about the topics covered or the performance of the audiobook, I’m confident that it will become one of the most important memoirs of the year. —Michael C.
Well, well, well, I just finished The Sequel and my head is delightfully spinning. The Sequel is the sequel to The Plot. Writer Jean Hanff Korelitz is very brava because in this thriller she has put the “isty” in twisty. I lied for this book. “Oh, I have to make a call, let me get back to you later,” I said to a dear friend. I pressed play and listened to the last few chapters out loud. I’m liking books within books these days. The Plot was about an award-winning book, Crib, which was plagiarised from an aspiring writer’s work. Inside The Sequel there’s another book, The Afterword. Every character is a character, and they are whole people, some not so nice. Anna Williams-Bonner, the main character, is the ultimate antihero, one tough broad. Narrator Julia Whelan’s home must be filled with flowers – here are some more! —Yvonne D.
Raccoon gossip and other “little weirds”
There is nowhere I would rather curl up to marvel at the wonderful weirdness of the world than alongside the soul-soothing whimsy of Jenny Slate’s writing. In her latest, the actress and comedian paints another stunning portrait of life’s “little weirds,” this time illuminating the primal sensations of wildness that guided her through the strange and significant journey to becoming a mother. Lifeform contains raccoon gossip and other pockets of wisdom from creatures of all kinds. Plus, a chorus of familiar voices – Vanessa Bayer, Will Forte and George Saunders! – join Slate (and her delightfully helium timbre) in elevating this enchanting full-cast listen. Come and rest awhile in its radiant warmth. —Haley H.
When the cult-favourite sci-fi western Wynonna Earp was cancelled three years ago, fans were devastated. But the beloved TV series has roared back to life in 2024, first with a 90-minute streaming revival and now with this ferociously entertaining Audible Original. Venture back to the weird Wild West of Purgatory with Wynonna – the great-great-granddaughter of preeminent lawman Wyatt Earp – as she once again takes on the untamed lands and supernatural beasts of the Ghost River Triangle. The TV cast that viewers know and love returns for this genre-blending, demon-hunting romp with a yee-haw flair, including star Melanie Scrofano, Tim Rozon as the ageless Doc Holliday, and Dom Provost-Chalkley and Katherine Barrell as fan-fave newlyweds Waverly Earp and Nicole Haught. Ignited by the immersive power of Dolby Atmos, this one-shot from show creator Emily Andras packs a punch rivalling a Peacemaker’s blast. —Alanna M.
Finding freedom, joy, peace and fun with Miranda Hart
It was a few years ago that I binge-watched several seasons of the long-running TV series Call the Midwife, and Camilla “Chummy” Noakes (played by Miranda Hart) quickly became a character who felt like a friend. Hampered by acute shyness, Chummy was nonetheless an adept midwife (if I were to have a baby in a London tenement, I’d want her by my side). Similarly, I welcome the sage advice offered by Hart in this revealing, informative and very funny memoir. It’s prescriptive in the most useful of ways. She shares the “treasures” she’s collected – practical tools learned from scientists, neuroscientists, therapists and sociologists who have helped her to heal physically and emotionally. She’s done the work and is here to help us, her fans, navigate our own journeys to health. —Tricia F.
An incredible return to a familiar world
I have been counting down to the release of Heir by Sabaa Tahir for months. Her previous YA fantasy series, An Ember in the Ashes, is one of my all-time favourites, and knowing that Heir would re-enter that same intense and richly realised world had me giddy with anticipation. The story follows Aiz, an orphan on the run with uncontrolled powers; Sirsha, an outcast given an impossible task; and Quil, the reluctant heir to the Martial Empire. Tahir has done what she does best – created layered characters in a high-stakes world, making it nearly impossible for you to hit pause. The full-cast narration, which has always been a feature of Tahir’s audiobooks, only serves to elevate the adventure. —Katie O.
A sexy start to a new sport series
A soccer romance from Ana Huang? Yes, please! The Twisted and Kings of Sin author scores big time with her first sport romance, the story of a Premier League footballer who falls for his rival’s sister, a former prima ballerina. While I don’t come across it often, I really love duet-style narration – where each performer reads the dialogue and action of their character across all chapters – and here, narrators Shane East and Stella Hunter make Huang’s sexy banter truly shine, volleying back and forth to create the most delicious romantic tension. Their charming accents and smooth delivery of swoony heartfelt words had me pining for Asher and Scarlett to find their happily ever after. I can’t wait to hear what Huang has for us next in this sporty series. —Margaret H.
Reflecting on the dark early days of the pandemic
The legendary English playwright David Hare reopened the West End theatre scene following the COVID-19 pandemic with a personal one-man show about his own experience fighting the disease while the government scrambled only to spectacularly fail in their response. While Ralph Fiennes took to the stage back in 2021, Hare performs his own work here, providing a nuanced delivery filled with exasperation, rage and even humour. Beat the Devil took me back to the early days of the pandemic in a way I never could have predicted I would want. There's an almost delicious quality here; I was riveted by morbid nostalgia. You recognise this world, and you are grateful it is now history, but you also can't look away, driven by a need to revisit a shared trauma. Moving and heartfelt, bracing and funny, this is a concentrated time capsule that everyone should listen to. —Emily C.
A Portrait of the George as a George
I was eager to get into this one when I heard about it several months ago, but when it came across my desk, I have to admit that I balked a little at starting it after reading the descriptions of George as “a young man brimming with potential but incapable of following through,” and “sweet yet noncommittal,” and “charmingly funny one minute, sullenly brooding the next.” Not to blow up my own spot too much, but it felt like I might be wading into some territory that hits a little too close to home. But The Book of George is so much more than that. Sure, George is all of those things, but Kate Greathead gives great depth to him and the others in his life. It’s not an indictment of the man or men like him, it’s an empathetic and funny portrait of a character who, aside from everything else, is just a guy moving through the world the best way he knows how. —Aaron S.
Take me to your local municipal leader
I’ve been deep in horror listening as we approach Halloween, so right now I’m looking for short, escapist entertainment to break up the haunts and horrors. What a perfect time for John Scalzi’s latest release, an audio exclusive narrated by Amber Benson. I was thrilled to see Amber return to Scalzi’s work: Like his frequent narrator Wil Wheaton, she has nerd cred combined with a certain effortless cool that permeates her performance and strikes the perfect note for this particular brand of irreverent humour. Billed as Parks and Rec meets Federation of Planets (a spot-on description), Constituent Service is delightfully bite-sized workplace satire – and anyone who has ever worked in municipal services or customer service will get a special little joy out of listening. —Sam D.
A perfect match or a perfect trap?
In this chilling thriller, readers are thrust into a heart-pounding narrative that explores the dark side of modern dating. Sydney Shaw, like many single women, has had her share of dating nightmares. But when she meets her new boyfriend – a handsome, successful doctor – things finally seem to be falling into place. The romance feels too good to be true, and as it turns out, it just might be. The backdrop of a serial killer stalking women adds a chilling dimension to the plot. The novel excels at tapping into universal fears about dating, particularly the vulnerability that comes with opening yourself up to someone new. The slow reveal of the killer’s identity is masterfully handled, with just enough red herrings to keep readers guessing until the final, heart-stopping twist. —Dawn G.
Saying goodbye or starting over?
Saying Goodbye follows David and Vanesa, who are on the brink of separation. After five tumultuous years of marriage, they can barely stand to look at each other. But in a last-ditch effort to salvage their relationship, they find themselves in couples therapy, where they must confront their shared past. The story unfolds through a series of flashbacks that trace their journey, starting with their fateful meeting at an “End of the World” party. Filled with betrayal, humour and emotion, this multicast Original – which features music by bachata artist Romeo Santos – kept me hooked while I rooted for David and Vanesa to discover that the spark they once shared may not be extinguished after all. —Patty R.
More listens we're looking forward to this month
