Various has narrated 73 audiobooks on Listento.it by 96 authors, with an average listener rating of 4.6★ across 1,174 ratings. The most-rated is Beastie Boys Book.
The Color Master
Summary
The best-selling author of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake returns with a wondrous collection of dreamy, strange, and magical stories. Truly beloved by listeners and critics alike, Aimee Bender has become known as something of an enchantress whose lush prose is "moving, fanciful, and gorgeously strange" (People), "richly imagined and bittersweet" (Vanity Fair), and "full of provocative ideas" (The Boston Globe). In her deft hands, "relationships and mundane activities take on mythic qualities" (The Wall Street Journal). In this collection, Bender’s unique talents sparkle brilliantly in stories about people searching for connection through love, sex, and family - while navigating the often painful realities of their lives. A traumatic event unfolds when a girl with flowing hair of golden wheat appears in an apple orchard, where a group of people await her. A woman plays out a prostitution fantasy with her husband and finds she cannot go back to her old sex life. An ugly woman marries an ogre and struggles to decide if she should stay with him after he mistakenly eats their children. Two sisters travel deep into Malaysia, where one learns the art of mending tigers who have been ripped to shreds. In these deeply resonant stories - evocative, funny, beautiful, and sad - we see ourselves reflected as if in a funhouse mirror. Aimee Bender has once again proven herself to be among the most imaginative, exciting, and intelligent writers of our time.
©2013 Aimee Bender (P)2013 Random House Audio
Animals and Other Stories
Summary
This radio series is a collection of short pieces reflecting on life, love, and death among the species. It contains monologues, montages, portraits, and dreams. Some are funny, some are strange, some enlightening, some sobering: "Hide and Seek": Animal trainer and behaviorist Ken Decroo tells the story of the first time he talked to a chimpanzee and the chimp talked back. An aural metaphor ends this piece. "Noah's Ark": A strange blend of Beethoven and speculation about the thoughts of cattle at the moment of death. (Caveat: contains some graphic description of the slaughtering process) "Snakes": A montage meditating on the worth, or worthlessness, of the legless reptile. Civilized and primitive man collide...In discussing the snake, the human is revealed. "Treeline": Vietnam veteran Jim McMullen tells of the time he shot a blackbird outside his hometown, and was compelled to destroy his weapons for good. "Michi Belle White and the Birds": A portrait of a California woman who takes in sick wild birds and fills her house with them. "Killer Whales": A brief sound essay on the derivation of this whale's name, its seductive behavior toward the producer's wife, and its penchant for making repulsive noises. "Subtext: Communicating with Horses": An animal psychologist searches for the source of one horse's ennui. The horse responds with a story of dislocation and lost youth. "Reflections of Fathers": a.k.a. "Bugs and Dads," this piece is about John May's insect museum, his love for his father, and the reflections of all fathers in all children. "Dog's Dreams": A meditation on the longtime relationship between man and dog. What are our dreams about each other...and our nightmares? "Cross my Path": Leo Grillo can't stand to see an animal suffer. So he's got about 300 stray dogs and cats, and if he can't find homes for them, he keeps them until they die of natural causes.
©2000 Jay Allison
Voices of the Faithful
Summary
"A willingness to go is all they have in common," exclaims Beth Moore, about her friends on the front lines who are spreading the gospel around the world and who contributed to this audiobook. This devotional features incredible stories of God's faithfulness in the face of uncertainty and danger, written by hundreds of missionaries worldwide.
©2005 Beth Moore and International Mission Board (P)2019 Thomas Nelson
New Testament
Summary
The NRSV has received the widest acclaim and broadest support from academics and church leaders of any modern English translation. Rooted in the past, but right for today, the NRSV continues the tradition of William Tyndale, the King James Version, the American Standard Version, and the Revised Standard Version. Equally important, it sets a new standard for the 21st century. The NRSV stands out among the many translations because it is "as literal as possible" in adhering to the ancient texts and only "as free as necessary" to make the meaning clear in graceful, understandable English. It draws on newly available sources that increase our understanding of many previously obscure biblical passages. These sources include new-found manuscripts, the Dead Sea Scrolls, other texts, inscriptions, and archaeological finds from the ancient Near East, and new understandings of Greek and Hebrew grammar.
©1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. (P)2006 Oasis Audio LLC
To Obama
Summary
President Barack Obama received 10,000 letters a day from his constituents. This is the story of the private and profound relationship with letter writers that shaped his presidency. Their voices combine to reveal a diary of a nation. Every evening for eight years, at his request, President Obama was given 10 handpicked letters written by ordinary American citizens - the unfiltered voice of a nation - from his Office of Presidential Correspondence. He was the first president to interact daily with constituent mail and to archive it in its entirety. The letters affected not only the president and his policies but also the deeply committed people who were tasked with opening and reading the millions of pleas, rants, thank-yous, and apologies that landed in the White House mailroom. In To Obama, Jeanne Marie Laskas interviews President Obama, the letter writers themselves, and the White House staff who sifted through the powerful, moving, and incredibly intimate narrative of America during the Obama years: There is Kelli, who saw her grandfathers finally marry - legally - after thirty-five years together; Bill, a lifelong Republican whose attitude toward immigration reform was transformed when he met a boy escaping MS-13 gang leaders in El Salvador; Heba, a Syrian refugee who wants to forget the day the tanks rolled into her village; Marjorie, who grappled with disturbing feelings of racial bias lurking within her during the George Zimmerman trial; and Vicki, whose family was torn apart by those who voted for Trump and those who did not. They wrote to Obama out of gratitude and desperation, in their darkest times of need, in search of connection. They wrote with anger, fear, and respect. And together, this chorus of voices achieves a kind of beautiful harmony. To Obama is an intimate look at one man’s relationship to the American people, and at a time when empathy intersected with politics in the White House. Full list of narrators includes: Macleod Andrews, Paula Christensen, Michael Crouch, Donna Coltharp, Sheryl Cousineau, Shane Darby, Ramon De Ocampo, Robert Fass, Lauren Fortang, Kyla Garcia, Heba Hallak, Marnie Hazelton, Lacey Higley, Tom Hoefner, Hillary Huber, Bobby Ingram, Marjorie McKinney, Thomas Meehan, Bob Melton, Alex Myteberi, Adenrele Ojo, Bill Oliver, Christine Reisman, Tara Sands, Vicki Shearer, Marc Thompson, and Emily Woo Zeller.
©2018 Jeanne Marie Laskas (P)2018 Random House Audio
Jeff Shaara's Civil War Battlefields
Summary
Travel through a pivotal time in American history. Jeff Shaara, America's premier Civil War novelist, gives a remarkable guided tour of the 10 Civil War battlefields every American should visit: Shiloh, Antietam, Fredericksburg/Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, New Market, Chickamauga, the Wilderness/Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg/Appomattox. Shaara explores the history, the people, and the places that capture the true meaning and magnitude of the conflict and provides: Engaging narratives of the war's crucial battles Intriguing historical footnotes about each site Photographs of the locations - then and now Detailed maps of the battle scenes Fascinating sidebars with related points of interest From Antietam to Gettysburg to Vicksburg, and to the many poignant destinations in between, Jeff Shaara's Civil War Battlefields is the ideal guide for casual tourists and Civil War enthusiasts alike.
©2007 Jeff Shaara (P)2007 Books on Tape
I Am Abraham Lincoln
Summary
We can all be heroes. That’s the inspiring message of this lively biography series from New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer. “Kids always search for heroes, so we might as well have a say in it,” Brad Meltzer realized, and so he envisioned this friendly, fun approach to biography - for his own kids, and for yours. Each audiobook tells the story of one of America’s icons in an entertaining, conversational way that works well for the youngest children, those who aren’t quite ready for the Who Was series. Each entry focuses on a particular character trait that made that role model heroic. For example, Abraham Lincoln always spoke up about fairness, and thus he led the country to abolish slavery. This audiobook follows him from childhood to the presidency, including the Civil War and his legendary Gettysburg Address. This engaging series is the perfect way to bring American history to life for young children, and to inspire them to strive and dream.
©2014 Brad Meltzer (P)2019 Listening Library
Nationally Recognized Features from Texas Monthly
Summary
In partnership with Texas Monthly, the following nationally recognized features are now available in a bundle as an audio download: "Still Life" by Skip Hollandsworth "Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, Wives" by Mimi Swartz "The Innocent Man, Part One" by Pamela Colloff "The Innocent Man, Part Two" by Pamela Colloff "The Witness" by Pamela Colloff "Still Life" by Skip Hollandsworth is the tragic story of John McClamrock, a high school football player paralyzed during a violent tackle, paralleled with an ongoing story of courage, perseverance, and a mother's fierce love. "Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, Wives" by Mimi Swartz is a poignant snapshot of the history of the battle for women's health care, focusing on the depletion of family planning funds by Texas' state legislature. "The Innocent Man, Part One" by Pamela Colloff explores the case of Michael Morton, who, in 1986 in Austin, Texas, was wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife and sentenced to life in prison. "The Innocent Man, Part Two" by Pamela Colloff details the 25 years that Michael Morton spent imprisoned and the attempts to clear his name and solve what had really happened. "The Witness" by Pamela Colloff profiles Michelle Lyons, whose job for more than a decade was to observe the final moments of death row inmates.
©2018 Pamela Colloff, Skip Hollandsworth, Mimi Swartz (P)2018 Random House Audio
I Am George Washington
Summary
We can all be heroes. That’s the inspiring message of this New York Times best-selling biography series from historian and author Brad Meltzer. Learn all about George Washington, America’s first president. George Washington was one of the greatest leaders the world has ever known. He was never afraid to be the first to try something, from exploring the woods around his childhood home to founding a brand new nation, the United States of America. With his faith in the American people and tremendous bravery, he helped win the Revolutionary War and became the country’s first president. Each entry in this series is a biography of a significant historical figure, told in a simple, conversational, vivacious way, and always focusing on a character trait that makes the person a role model for kids. The heroes tell their life stories in first-person present tense, which keeps the books playful and accessible to young children. And each book ends with a line of encouragement and a direct quote.
©2019 Brad Meltzer (P)2019 Listening Library
I Am Amelia Earhart
Summary
We can all be heroes. That’s the inspiring message of this lively biography series from New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer. “Kids always search for heroes, so we might as well have a say in it,” Brad Meltzer realized, and so he envisioned this friendly, fun approach to biography - for his own kids, and for yours. Each audiobook tells the story of one of America’s icons in an entertaining, conversational way that works well for the youngest children, those who aren’t quite ready for the Who Was series. Each entry focuses on a particular character trait that made that role model heroic. For example, Amelia Earhart refused to accept no for an answer; she dared to do what no one had ever done before, and became the first woman to fly a plane all the way across the Atlantic Ocean. This audiobook follows her from childhood to her first flying lessons and onward to her multi-record-breaking career as a pilot. This engaging series is the perfect way to bring American history to life for young children, and to inspire them to strive and dream.
©2014 Brad Meltzer (P)2019 Listening Library
I Am Lucille Ball
Summary
"We can all be heroes" is the message of this biography series from number-one New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer. “Kids always search for heroes, so we might as well have a say in it,” Brad Meltzer realized, and so he envisioned this friendly, fun approach to biography - for his own kids, and for yours. Each entry tells the story of one of America’s icons in a vivacious, conversational way that works well for the youngest nonfiction listeners, those who aren’t quite ready for the Who Was biography series. Each book focuses on a particular character trait that made that role model heroic. For example, Lucille Ball could make any situation funny. By making people around the world laugh, she proved that humor can take on anything. This engaging series is the perfect way to bring American history to life for young children, providing them with the right role models, supplementing Common Core learning in the classroom, and best of all, inspiring them to strive and dream.
©2019 Brad Meltzer (P)2019 Listening Library
Past Perfect, Present Tense
Summary
Though Richard Peck is best known as a novelist, he has been writing rousing, provocative, and thoroughly entertaining short stories throughout his career. "Priscilla and the Wimps", his first, is perhaps the most-read children's short story of all time. Others have inspired his award-winning novels: A Long Way from Chicago and A Year down Yonder began with a tale called "Shotgun Cheatham's Last Night above Ground", and "The Electric Summer" was the jumping point for Fair Weather. Compiled for the first time, here are all of Richard Peck's stories: eleven previously published tales and two brand-new ones. He has also written engaging notes about the stories, an informative introduction about the genre, and tips on how to write short stories, including "Five Helpful Hints" that will be a valuable aid to aspiring authors. Vibrant and varied - from comic to supernatural, from historical to modern-day romantic - there's something for everyone in the collected stories of Richard Peck.
©2004 Ricahrd Peck (P)2012 Listening Library
The Great Treehouse War
Summary
Kids vs. parents! An epic treehouse sleepover! An awesome group of friends! An exciting new book from National Book Award finalist Lisa Graff. Winnie’s last day of fourth grade ended with a pretty life-changing surprise. That was the day Winnie’s parents got divorced, the day they decided that Winnie would live three days a week with each of them and spend Wednesdays by herself in a treehouse smack between their houses, to divide her time perfectly evenly between them. It was the day Winnie’s seed of frustration with her parents was planted, a seed that grew and grew until it felt like it was as big as a tree itself. By the end of fifth grade, Winnie decides that the only way to change things is to barricade herself in her treehouse until her parents come to their senses - and her friends decide to join her. It’s kids versus grown-ups, and no one wants to back down first. But with ten kids in one treehouse, all with their own demands, Winnie discovers that things can get pretty complicated pretty fast! Even if they are having the most epic slumber party ever. In the newest novel by beloved National Book Award finalist Lisa Graff, kids have turned the tables on their parents, and all the rules have been tossed out the window. But does Winnie have what it takes to hold her ground and keep everyone happy? This story, with a pitch-perfect middle grade voice and zany yet poignant situation, is perfect for fans of Sharon Creech, Louis Sachar, and Jack Gantos. Featuring Ariana Delawari as Winnie, alongside a full cast of narrators: Michael Crouch, as Lyle Robbie Daymond, as Joey Lauren Fortgang, as Jolee Felicia Leicht, as Tabitha Sunil Malhotra, as Aayush Kathleen McInerney, as Greta Cassandra Morris, as Squizzy Tara Sands, as Brogan and Logan and also featuring an ensemble cast
©2017 Lisa Graff (P)2017 Listening Library
Learning Is Fun Collection
Summary
Listen and relive exciting tales from Highlights, now on audio! Learn about five successful Americans and the teacher who encouraged them and how to use a balloon to predict the weather, along with other stories about learning. Stories include: "Being Inspired by Teachers" by Marty Kaminsky, "Find the Crescent Moon" by Ken Croswell, PhD, "Get to Know a Million" by Stephen Whitt, "Hot Lava Under My Feet" by Chris Dietel, "How Do You Measure Up?" by Janet Slingerland Hammond, "Inventing Tiny Ears" by Harry T. Roman, "It’s Showtime!" by Stephany Loberg, "Let’s Look at Shadows!" by Bunny Schule, "Lighter than Air" by Linda K. Stanek, "Who Is a Hero?" by Marty Kaminsky, and more!
©2021 Highlights Magazine (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing and Highlights for Children
Dark Dreams
Summary
With heart-stopping stories by Zane, Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes, Joy M. Copeland, Robert Fleming, Terence Taylor, Francine Lewis, Brandon Massey, and 12 other established or up-and-coming writers, Dark Dreams is a must-have contemporary anthology for fans of the supernatural.
©2004 Brandon Massey (P)2004 Recorded Books, LLC
I Am Billie Jean King
Summary
Billie Jean King is one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Learn about this amazing woman athlete in the 17th entry in the New York Times best-selling series of biographies about heroes. This friendly, fun biography series focuses on the traits that made our heroes great - the traits that kids can aspire to in order to live heroically themselves. Each book tells the story of one of America's icons in a lively, conversational way that works well for the youngest children and that always includes the hero's childhood influences. This entry features Billie Jean King, the world champion tennis player who fought successfully for women's rights.
©2019 Brad Meltzer (P)2019 Listening Library
I Am Walt Disney
Summary
The 18th book in the New York Times best-selling series of biographies about heroes tells the story of Walt Disney, who made dreams come true. This friendly, fun biography series focuses on the traits that made our heroes great - the traits that kids can aspire to in order to live heroically themselves. Each book tells the story of one of America's icons in a lively, conversational way that works well for the youngest nonfiction listeners and that always includes the hero's childhood influences. This volume features Walt Disney, who makes dreams come true for himself and countless kids around the world. Audiobook Cast of Narrators: Saskia Maarleveld Oliver Wyman Jonathan Davis Graham Halstead Donté Bonner Robin Miles Danny Campbell MICKEY MOUSE and other Disney works copyright © Disney. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
©2019 Brad Meltzer (P)2019 Listening Library
I Am Harriet Tubman
Summary
Harriet Tubman's heroic and pivotal role in the fight against slavery is the subject of the 14th entry in this New York Times best-selling biography series. This friendly, fun biography series focuses on the traits that made our heroes great - the traits that kids can aspire to in order to live heroically themselves. Each audiobook tells the story of one of America's icons in a lively, conversational way that works well for the youngest children and that always includes the hero's childhood influences. This audiobook focuses on Harriet Tubman's brave heroism as part of the movement to abolish slavery. As one of the key players in the Underground Railroad, she helped enslaved African Americans escape and find freedom.
©2019 Brad Meltzer (P)2019 Listening Library
WWII Airmen
Summary
These amazing accounts of airmen recorded during the war include stories of air combat, music of the time, and recordings made on bomb runs over Europe and Japan. Eagles over Europe: Introduction; AAF intro; Bomb run over Germany, A-26; Lt. Gilman, AT-9 trainer; Lt. Anderson, AT-7 trainer; Jack the Ripper air raid; Song of the Bombardier; RAF pilot: Bostonize; Rescue over the North Sea; Lt. Anderson, A-20; Bomb run over Italy, B-25; Lt. Ace White, P-38 P-51 team in Germany; P-47 ground attack; Last dog fight over Germany; Eulogy for Dick Bong; Airman's escape; Song: "I'll Be Seeing You"; German cities damage report; Song: "Haleluia"; A farmer returning home Silver Wings over the Pacific: 22. C-54 loading for the Pacific 23. Wind-powered laundry; 24. Cpt. Reed, B-17; 25. Lt. Glendening, B-24; 26. Lt. Kohn, A-20; 27. What's in a name? P-61s; 28. Lone Wolf Mission, B-25; 29. Song: "Spirit of the Air Corps"; 30. Chinese-American P-40 pilot; 31. Low-altitude bomb run, A-20; 32. Song: "Hail to the Squadron"; 33. Bomb run over Formosa, B-24; 34. Medal of Honor: Eugene Irwin; 35. Bomb run over Japan, B-29; 36. Visit with wives of crew; 37. Song: "Head in the Clouds"; 38. Loading two-millionth bomb; 39. Tokyo damage report; 40. Song: "Blue Skies"; 41. Dropping the first atom bomb
©2000 Multiple Authors (P)2012 InAudio
Magic for Beginners
Summary
Perfect for fans of George Saunders, Karen Russell, Neil Gaiman, and Aimee Bender, Magic for Beginners is an exquisite, dreamlike dispatch from a virtuoso storyteller who can do seemingly anything. Kelly Link reconstructs modern life through an intoxicating prism, conjuring up unforgettable worlds with humor and humanity. These stories are at once ingenious and deeply moving. They leave the listener astonished and exhilarated. Includes an exclusive conversation between Kelly Link and Joe Hill Read by Mark Bramhall, Cassandra Campbell, Danny Campbell, Robbie Daymond, Kirby Heyborne, Rebecca Lowman, Arthur Morey, Lorna Raver, and Meera Simhan
©2005 Kelly Link (P)2014 Random House Audio