POPULARITY
This week, we're sharing some of our conversations about audiobooks on our 2024 Best Audiobooks list. Today's episode features host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Kendra Winchester discussing JAMES by Percival Everett and read by Golden Voice narrator Dominic Hoffman. JAMES won the 2024 National Book Award for Fiction, and Hoffman's captivating narration earned it a spot on AudioFile's list of Best Fiction Audiobooks of 2024. Listen in to Jo and Kendra's conversation to learn more about this fascinating audiobook. For a deeper dive into Dominic's narration, don't miss Jo's interview with him here on our podcast. Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio. Explore the full list of 2024 Best Audiobooks on our website. Today's episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
James Baldiwn's three-act play about the power of religion to shield people from the outside world has a cast that is quirky, protective, gossipy, dogmatic, and spirited. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Michele Cobb discuss this full cast performance that honors Baldiwn's narrative and enhances it by capturing the intensity and emotions of the play. This is a story of the highs and lows of passionate people who are trying to survive the best way they can. Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile's website. Support for our podcast comes from Hachette Audio, the publisher of CONNIE, this behind the scenes look into Connie Chung's life, read by Connie Chung herself. Find out more at Hachette Audio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
One of our Audiobook contributors Sara Hillis joins us for another Audiobook review. James McBride's The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store begins with the unsettling discovery of a skeleton in a well in a small town. This eerie opening to the Chicken Hill area of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, creates a sense of mystery as the narrative then shifts back nearly 50 years to delve into the town, its secrets, and its inhabitants.
Alan Minskoff tells host Jo Reed that what makes Golden Voice Dominic Hoffman such a fine narrator is the clarity of his delivery and his vocal agility. He sounds like he is inside Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'s, brilliant mind, and he moves adroitly from the author's knowing perspective to “signifying” in the style of African American folklore. Through this work, subtitled “Writing the Race,” historian, filmmaker, and PBS host Gates gives the listener a distinct frame through which to view African American history. This fine audiobook adds to the Harvard historian's exceptional body of work. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile's website. Published by Penguin Audio. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile's website. Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dominic Hoffman joins host Jo Reed to tell listeners about his career in acting and in audiobook narration and being named a 2024 Golden Voice narrator. Dominic tells Jo about how his experience on stage informs his audiobook narration, and the unique challenges of serving both the author's intent and the audience's listening experience. They discuss his narrations of James McBride's audiobooks, including THE HEAVEN AND EARTH GROCERY STORE, which he says was “as fun as it was challenging,” with its many accents and its nuanced story. Dominic explains his initial reluctance to narrate JAMES, by Percival Everett, and his appreciation of the new perspective that the book offered. Read reviews of Dominic Hoffman's audiobooks at our website. Visit AudioFile's website for a full list of AudioFile's Golden Voice narrators. Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AudioFile Magazine is proud to announce Dominic Hoffman as a 2024 Golden Voice narrator. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Robin Whitten discuss Dominic's many talents, including his skill with bringing characters and stories to life for audiobook listeners. Listen to hear more about what makes Dominic a Golden Voice, his many accolades, and more. Essential listening: DEACON KING KONG by James McBride, read by Dominic Hoffman JAMES by Percival Everett, read by Dominic Hoffman I CAN'T BREATHE by Matt Taibbi, read by Dominic Hoffman THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE by James McBride, read by Dominic Hoffman THE LAST DAYS OF PTOLEMY GREY by Walter Mosley, read by Dominic Hoffman Visit AudioFile's website for more on Dominic Hoffman, and for a full list of AudioFile's Golden Voice narrators. Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AudioFile Magazine's Golden Voice narrators are the stars of the audiobook universe. Today host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Robin Whitten are announcing the new Golden Voice honorees for 2024: Dominic Hoffman, Kate Reading, and Robert Petkoff. AudioFile Magazine has bestowed the Golden Voice honor on 50 audiobook narrators; it's an accolade that honors those who have made significant contributions to the audiobook art form. We're celebrating the iconic skills these narrators bring to their performances, and listeners can be assured that when they pick up an audiobook narrated by any of the Golden Voices, they will have an exceptional listening experience. Robin and Jo will be honoring each of the new Golden Voices in turn this week, and we'll have full interviews with each of the new Golden Voices this month, starting with Dominic Hoffman's on June 7 — be sure to follow our podcast so you don't miss it! Visit AudioFile's website for a full list of AudioFile's Golden Voice narrators. Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dominic Hoffman narrates this reimagining of ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN, but this time Jim tells his own story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Kendra Winchester discuss this inventive story. When Jim learns he's going to be sold to someone downriver, he flees, leaving behind his wife and daughter. Hoffman's performance captures the varying tone of Jim's dialogue, highlighting the shifts in his vocabulary and rhythm. With its subtlety and attention to detail, Hoffman's narration reinforces Jim's character and narrative arcs as Jim takes back his agency in life. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile's website. Published by Random House Audio. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile's website. Support for AudioFile's Sound Reviews comes from Hachette Audio, and the audiobook edition of RELENTLESS by Luis A Miranda Jr, featuring a foreword read by none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda. To find out more about this, and any other Hachette Audio productions, please visit www.hachetteaudio.com, or @HachetteAudio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Episode 208, which features a fantastic author spotlight with Sara B. Franklin. Her new biography, THE EDITOR: HOW PUBLISHING LEGEND JUDITH JONES SHAPED CULTURE IN AMERICA, is a must-read. It is not hyperbole to say that everyone reading and eating today has been touched by Judith Jones's work, and Franklin's writing is a delight to read. We had a great Biblio Adventure to Brooklyn with Aunt Ellen. Our goal of making it to THE RIPPED BODICE Bookstore has been achieved, and it was worth the wait! Many of our listeners were avid followers of or found us through Jenny Colvin's podcast, READING ENVY: I'll have what you're reading. Jenny passed away in May of 2022. We miss her, and know that many of you do, too. To honor her memory, we are joining our BookTube friend SHAWN BREATHES BOOKS (formerly Shawn the Book Maniac) and doing something we think Jenny would love – reading books together! We are each choosing one book from Jenny's Goodreads lists. The plan is to read the book by July 1st, Jenny's birthday. We would love for you to join us by reading along with one of our selections or choosing a book of your own. We have a conversation thread on our Goodreads page, and we've created the hashtag #illhavewhatyourereading to use on social media. Let's keep Jenny's love for books alive in our hearts and our reading. In other reading news, you might remember from our last episode that Emily expressed her desire to read Monica Wood's THE ONE-IN-A-MILLION BOY. And guess what? It magically appeared in one of her beloved Little Free Libraries. Isn't it a delightful feeling when such serendipitous moments occur? Emily loved the novel. She also read two short stories, “Ernie's Ark” by Monica Wood from the collection ERNIE'S ARK: THE ABBOTT FALLS STORIES and “Chapter Two” by Antonya Nelson in BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES 2013, edited by Elizabeth Strout. She savored THE PARIS NOVEL by Ruth Reichl, while Chris unexpectedly found herself engrossed in another book by Cal Newport, DEEP WORK: RULES FOR FOCUSED SUCCESS IN A DISTRACTED WORLD. Both Chris and Emily have been captivated by JAMES by Percival Everett, especially the audiobook narrated by Dominic Hoffman. Everett's narrative is a brilliant reinterpretation and expansion of THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN, and Hoffman's performance is simply outstanding. Chris has completed her second reading of MOBY-DICK, an endeavor that was as equally challenging and rewarding as her first encounter with the book. As always, we also talk about what we're currently reading and hoping to read soon. Happy Listening and Happy Reading! Emily and Chris
Dominic Hoffman fully inhabits the characters in McBride's fresh, vital, and beautifully written historical novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Emily Connelly discuss this latest audiobook from the National Book Award-winning author. The story takes place in the 1930s in Chicken Hill, a predominantly Black and Jewish neighborhood in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Hoffman varies his accent and intonation for the large cast of characters who impact each other's lives, from Chona, the owner of the titular grocery store to Dodo, a 12-year-old Deaf boy. Hoffman gives a mesmerizing performance as McBride explores themes of racism and antisemitism, the immigrant experience and the human experience, and the consequences of acts of evil and kindness. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile's website. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel's epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Deesha Philyaw and Dawnie Walton introduce “Tumble,” an audio short story by Sidik Fofana about two women, Neisha and Kya, and a childhood fight with long-term consequences. The story is performed by Jade Wheeler, and it's one of eight linked stories from Fofana's 2022 debut collection, STORIES FROM THE TENANTS DOWNSTAIRS. This audiobook excerpt comes to us from Scribner / Simon & Schuster Audio—our thanks to them for sharing it with Ursa Short Fiction listeners. As Philyaw noted in her recommendation of “Tumble” in Electric Lit: “What happens to a dream deferred thanks to the cruel betrayal of a former childhood friend? What do justice, empathy, and forgiveness look like within a community when traumatized, violated people turn around to traumatize and violate those closest to them?” Listen to the story, then come back next week for our conversation with Sidik Fofana. Support our show by becoming an Ursa Member: https://ursastory.com/join/ Reading List “Tumble” (Electric Lit, recommended by Deesha Philyaw) STORIES FROM THE TENANTS DOWNSTAIRS audiobook (Simon & Schuster Audio) About the Author Sidik Fofana is a New York City public school teacher, was a 2018 fellow at the Center for Fiction, and was named a “Writer to Watch” by Publishers Weekly. He is the author of the 2022 collection STORIES FROM THE TENANTS DOWNSTAIRS, in which he introduces readers to the residents of Banneker Homes, a low-income residential building in Harlem, where a looming rent increase affects everyone in different ways. Tenants young and old who weave in and out of each other's lives. Sidik earned his MFA from New York University. And he lives with his wife and son in New York City. More from Deesha Philyaw and Dawnie Walton: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies (Deesha Philyaw) The Final Revival of Opal & Nev (Dawnie Walton) *** Episode editor: Kelly Araja Associate producer: Marina Leigh Music: “Fifth Avenue,” by Phury Audio excerpt courtesy of Simon & Schuster Audio from “Tumble” found in STORIES FROM THE TENANTS DOWNSTAIRS by Sidik Fofana, read by Jade Wheeler. Audiobook also read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Nile Bullock, Sidik Fofana, Dominic Hoffman, DePre Owens, André Santana and Bahni Turpin. Copyright © 2022 by Sidik Fofana. Used with permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://ursastory.com/join
Narrator Shayna Small joins AudioFile’s Robin Whitten to discuss her co-narration of Lesa Cline-Ransome’s historical picture book OVERGROUND RAILROAD. Shayna shares why she finds narrating audiobooks for children to be so important and about working on productions full of rich sound effects. Listen and discover a new family favorite. Published by Live Oak Media. 2020 Best Children’s & Family Listening Audiobooks: BEFORE THE EVER AFTER by Jacqueline Woodson, read by Guy Lockard KING AND THE DRAGONFLIES by Kacen Callender, read by Ron Butler OVERGROUND RAILROAD by Lesa Cline-Ransome, read by Shayna Small, Dion Graham, Lesa Cline-Ransome [Note] ¡VAMOS! LET'S GO EAT by Raúl the Third, read by Gary Tiedemann WHEN STARS ARE SCATTERED by Victoria Jamieson, Omar Mohamed, read by Faysal Ahmed, Barkhad Abdi, Robin Miles, Ifrah Mansour, Bahni Turpin, Hakeemshady Mohamed, Sadeeq Al, Dominic Hoffman, Christine Avila, Dion Graham, and a Full Cast For the full list of AudioFile’s 2020 Best Audiobooks, visit audiofilemagazine.com Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of FRANKENSTEIN, a breathtaking full-cast original audiobook performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Julie and Ashleigh talk about Grady Hendrix's new podcast Super Scary Horror Homeschool, as well as a tortilla press. We dial in senior vice president of digital strategy Matt Schwartz to discuss finding catharsis in horror films during uncertain times. Editorial director Tricia Narwani interviews Chuck Wendig to discuss coincidental premonitions and the unique process of writing his novel Wanderers, now out in paperback. Our audiobook excerpt this week is from Wanderers by Chuck Wendig, read by Dominic Hoffman and Xe Sands. For more nerdy books and discussion, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @DelReyBooks. And be sure to sign up for our newsletter at RandomHouseBooks.com/DelReyNewsletter.
As 2019 comes to a close, we take a look back at our favorite audiobooks from 2019 and what we are looking forward to in 2020. Round 1 (2019): Mark: Tiamat's Wrath (Written by: James S. A. Corey / Narrated by: Jefferson Mays) Shachi: When Less Becomes More (Written + Narrated by: Emily Ley) Gilbert: The Toll (Written by: Neal Shusterman / Narrated by: Greg Tremblay) Scott: The Starless Sea (Written by: By: Erin Morgenstern / Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman, full cast) Round 2 (2019): Mark: Bayern Agenda (Written by: Dan Moren / Narrated by: Victor Bevine) Shachi: My Life as a Goddess (Written + Narrated by: Guy Branum) Gilbert: Alone on the Wall (Written By: Alex Honnold, David Roberts / Narrated by: Andrew Eiden, Will Damron) Scott: This is How You Lose the Time War (Written by Amal El-Mohtar, Max Gladstone / Narrated by: Cynthia Farrell, Emily Woo Zeller) Round 3 (2019): Mark: Girl, Stop Apologizing (Written and Narrated by: Rachel Hollis) Shachi: The Deep (Written by: Rivers Solomon, Daveed Diggs, William Hutson & Jonathan Snipes / Narrated by: Daveed Diggs) Gilbert: The Secret Commonwealth (Book of Dust, Volume 2) (Written By: Philip Pullman / Narrated by: Michael Sheen) Scott: (Written Seanan McGuire / Narrated by: Cynthia Hopkins) Round 4 (2020): Mark: The Aleph Extraction (Written by: Darn Moren /Narrated by: TBD): May 12, 2020 Shachi: Phantom Lady: Hollywood Producer Joan Harrison, the Forgotten Woman behind Hitchcock (Written by: Christina Lane / Narrated by: TBD): February 4, 2020 Gilbert: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Written By: Suzanne Collins / Narrated by: TBD) : May 19, 2020 Scott: The Relentless Moon (Written + Narrated by: Mary Robinette Kowal): July 14, 2020 Additional Picks: Mark: Expanse #9, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Auberon, Embrace Your Weird Shachi: The Splendid and the Vile Gilbert: Talking with Strangers Scott: Storm of Locusts, The Sinister Mystery of the Mesmerizing Girl, Stormlight Archive #4
Immerse yourself in this love letter to the power of stories. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed about becoming swept up in Erin Morgenstern’s latest audiobook. Listeners meet Zachary Ezra Rawlins, new media graduate student and son of a fortune-teller, as he discovers a mysterious book tucked away in the school library. Zachary travels into fantastical realms, and all the rich details come to life with Dominic Hoffman’s clear narration. Interwoven tales, impressively delivered by multiple performers, feature pirates, key collectors, story acolytes, and owl kings. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com. Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from Paperback Classics, a new imprint from Oasis Family Media, bringing the best pulp and vintage paperbacks to audio, including 1960s cult-classic series Dark Shadows and Flash Gordon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
An audio review of Erin Morgenstern's latest lyrical fantasy novel The Starless Sea, narrated by Dominic Hoffman. Published by Penguin Random House Audio. The Starless Sea [Libro.fm] / [Overdrive] / [Audiobooks.com] / [Audible] Thank you to the Libro.fm ALC Program and Penguin Random House Audio for providing a review copy of The Starless Sea. Other referenced works: The Night Circus [Episode 1] /[Libro.fm] / [Overdrive] / [Audiobooks.com] / [Audible] Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore [Episode 33] /[Libro.fm] / [Overdrive] / [Audiobooks.com] / [Audible]
Harvard Professor and PBS regular Henry Louis Gates, Jr., explores how people of color navigated their lives, identity, and culture from the period of Reconstruction to the rise of segregation and the Harlem Renaissance. Dominic Hoffman gives a natural and compelling narration of Gates’s complex meditation on black identity in a racist America. Published by Penguin Audio. Read the full review of STONY THE ROAD at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine contributor Jonathan Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
No one writes a teen love story quite like Nicola Yoon. Before being swept away by Natasha and Daniel on the big screen in THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR, listen as Bahni Turpin, Raymond Lee, and Dominic Hoffman narrate this story of a whirlwind one-day romance set in New York City. Natasha is desperate to keep her family from being deported back to Jamaica when she meets Daniel on his way for a college interview — one he has no interest in actually doing. Natasha and Daniel’s relationship builds as the hours tick closer and closer to deportation. You won’t be able to put this audiobook down. Published by Listening Library. Read the full review of THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFile Magazine’s newsletter. On today’s episode are host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine Assistant Editor Emily Connelly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Reid, Mike, and Blayne are joined by Dominic Hoffman from Mile High Radio to preview all the Western Conference teams ahead of the MLS Fantasy season. They start out by recapping the big and little changes to to the 2019 MLS Fantasy game (& a Mike Rant!) and get into the the team previews. Just like with our Eastern Conference preview, we do this ETR style and give 5min per team. Enjoy Intro - 0:32 Game Changes - 2:30 Western Teams Preview - 20:25 Plugz - 1:21:10
On this episode, we talk to an incredible actress Celia Maurice - a veteran actress who studied with Meisner and won the 2015 TBA Award for best actress. Along with learning about Celia's upbringing and her foray into the theater world, we talk about the NFL protest, the state of the Bay Area theater, and her working with the Pear Theater (www.thepear.org). Birthday shoutouts: Joe Besecker; John Fisher; Allison Crocket (old Ellingtonite); Ruben Grijaliva; Dominic Hoffman; Lorraine Olsen; Lance McGee; Steven Pauley; Melvign Bagiola and Alan Manalo (two fantastic filipino actors); and Tanya Schaffer.
Reid and Mike are joined by Dominic Hoffman from burgundy wave to breakdown Round 24 before diving into the massive Round 25 DGW. They cover the joy of having Piatti as a captain, console Dominic about the coaching change in Colorado, talk about the stress travel puts on Fantasy choices, and try to decide what value Giovinco has. There's a lot to cover before the early kickoff, so be sure to get comfy before you listen. Enjoy
Reid, Mike, Jason, and Blayne are joined by special guest Dominic Hoffman from Burgundy Wave to break down all the unexpected moments from Round 11 and Preview DGW Round 12. There are a lot of promising players to pick from, but are any of the SGW players worth picking over their DGW counterparts? Tune in to find out.
This special broadcast features: Thomas Cokenias (Wyatt Cooke), Norman Gee (Eban Carter), and Danielle Thys (Emma Cooke), for Dominic Hoffman's "Emmitt & Ava," currently up at the Fireside Theatre and Beverly Hills Playhouse in San Francisco, Friday-Sunday, August 12-14. For tickets visit: www.bhpsanfrancisco.com. Discount tixs at Goldstar.com The Carter and Cooke families have both experienced recent losses. Eban's son, Emmittt and the Cooke's daughter, Ava, have died. They were in a horrible car accident. The two victims are young, 19 and 20. The Cookes do not know Emmitt; however both Eban and his son, Evan (Eric Reid), know Ava, Emmitt's girlfriend. Both Emmitt and Ava are visual artists, one black, the other white. While race is certainly an element in the work, what is more explored is the nature of grief and loss and how one articulates this when it is still inexplicable. When Eban returns to the Cooke home after their daughter's funeral, he asks a favor. It is this favor that brings into the forefront, hidden prejudices and denial. Excellently portrayed by the cast, we are pleased to invite them to the show this morning to talk about Hoffman's "Emmitt & Ava."