Barbara Claypole White

Since Prince Harry’s 2017 interview with Bryony Gordon, I’ve been hoping he would talk more about his mental health struggles. He does in SPARE. When a celebrity is open about battles with anxiety and depression, it smashes apart stigma and shame and makes a world of difference to families like mine. It also takes a…

I decided to ‘read’ SURRENDER as an audiobook, and I’m thrilled I did. Bono gives an incredible performance, showcasing an unexpected—and delightful—talent as a mimic. The overall presentation is a unique listening experience with full sound effects, new versions of iconic songs, and Bono singing unaccompanied. In my mind, the audiobook is the memoir version…

If you’ve read the listening guides on my website,  you know that I often write to the music of The Airborne Toxic Event. When I discovered their frontman had written a memoir, I preordered a copy. Then my mother died, I lost my childhood home, COVID hit, and HOLLYWOOD PARK disappeared into the black hole…

One of my favorite audiobooks of 2022 is LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY, narrated by Miranda Raison, Pandora Sykes, and the author. Set in the early sixties, the story introduces Elizabeth Zott—a brilliant, stubborn chemist determined to succeed in a man’s world. Unfortunately every male colleague she encounters has other plans, except for one: Nobel Prize nominee…

I finished THE DISPLACEMENTS over a month ago, and I’m still processing this compelling novel about climate change, substance abuse, and race that also has a unique structure. Within pages, the reader is pulled into the growing monster that is Luna, the world’s first category 6 hurricane. From subsequent interviews with survivors, dispersed throughout the…

People, people, you need to read The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb: a unique debut and a compelling mystery. Ray McMillian is a poor Black kid growing up in rural Carolina with a gift no one but his beloved Grandma Nora appreciates or supports: he’s a talented and passionate violinist. He’s also self-taught. A quiet…

I adore audiobooks, and REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES, narrated by Marin Ireland and Michael Urie, is a gem. From the moment I put in my earbuds and hit play, I was transported into this enchanting, unique story with a touch of the mystical. Michael Urie does an incredible job of bringing the sardonic and rather wise…

Two chapters in, I pronounced THE GUNCLE one of my all-time favorite books. Heartwarming and enchanting, this story is tender and wise. Gay Uncle Patrick (GUP) is an unforgettable hero. The once-famous TV star, still grieving for the love of his life, has retreated into his Palm Springs desert home with only his Golden Globe…

I’ve been a fan of Therese’s work since her debut, SOUVENIR, and this might be my favorite of her novels. Bighearted and full of love, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS has an idyllic setting, characters you want to share a bottle of wine with—or hug—and a contemporary Jane Austen vibe. It’s funny, delightful, and…

WHEN WE LET GO is an emotional page-turner: a story about fear that imprisons you in the past; a story about facing that fear, embracing self-forgiveness, and daring to dream. Avery is running from unbearable trauma and memories she can’t, or won’t, release. Those memories are tangled up with her first love, the guy she…