All in Audiobook

Wandering Stars – Tommy Orange

Expectation: A study in modern Indigenous life in California told through interwoven stories.

Reality: A powerful but uneven exploration of Native American identity that falters a bit as both a sequel/prequel to “There There” but shines with a stellar audiobook narration.

The Vanishing Half – Brit Bennett

Expectation: A searing exploration of race and class told from the perspective of twin sisters who live on opposite ends of the color line. 

Reality: Structured to be palatable for the masses, it’s entertaining enough but far from the powerful story I expected given the near universal acclaim it has received.

Come & Get It – Kiley Reid

Expectation: A racially-charged exploration of college life in the Southern United States. 

Reality: A dissection of capitalism from the perspectives of different students, professors and resident advisors delivered with biting commentary and razor-sharp dialogue.

Fellow Travelers – Thomas Mallon

Expectation: A steamy political thriller about two up and coming politicos balancing a clandestine, queer love affair under the specter of the Lavender Scare.

Reality: Essentially a nonfiction novel with unlikable characters and flat development. Do yourself a favor and skip it in favor of the limited television series. 

North Woods – Daniel Mason

Expectation: A straightforward historical fiction journey through a remote area of New England.

Reality: A dark, but accessible fairytale filled with ghosts – both literal and figurative – that excels at making the reader care about the dozen or so characters we meet. It was one of the more creative novels I read this year. 

A Fever in the Heartland – Timothy Egan

Paced like a thriller – there’s short chapters and each has a clear focus – Egan stays rooted in basics and not minutiae. There’s detail on the inner workings of the KKK, state and national politics, “Roaring 20s” culture and immigration panic to provide a contextual foundation, but the author keeps everything aligned to his thesis: how Indiana served as a microcosm for a growing wave of racism in northern states, and the resisters who fought it.