Good Hears

As I have written before I love to be read to. The following are some audio books worth checking out:

True Grit by Charles Portis (read by Donna Tartt)

I was intrigued by the reader on this one when I spied it on the shelf at the library. That Donna Tartt? Author of A Secret History? Yes, it is and she performs it beautifully. From her included audio essay it sounds like her whole family has been obsessed by the book since its 1968 publication and it shows in her performance. The listener gets the idea it's one she really loves and knows well. A Southerner herself, she has just the right accent too. I also agree with her answer to the question why doesn't True Grit get it's due as a classic like Huck Finn? Two words for you-John Wayne. His cinematic Rooster casts a long decidedly non literary shadow (not that the movie is a bad one mind you, it's just the usual story, not as good as the book) which has kept it off of required reading lists it rightfully belongs on. I had forgotten, much like with To Kill a Mockingbird, how funny the book is. Both female protaganists amuse with their stubborn singlemindedness and keen observances of others.

Montana 1948 by Larry Watson (read by Beau Bridges)

This novella was the Livingston County Reads! book last year but I never picked it up till I saw the audio at the library. That Bridges is a total pro does not surprise but this was such a perfect match of book and reader you wanted it to be longer though it was so well written you couldn't imagine anything had been left out. I think Watson's seemingly simple prose was just made to be read aloud.

Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessel (read by Emily Janice Card)

If you are allergic to whimsy you should stay far, far away from this book. Its hypersmart prodigies and cutesy arrangement (each chapter is named after and reflects the themes in a classic book) will only piss you off. If, however, you like cleverness and can remember enough high school hell to be empathetic you should give it a listen. Card reads it well, even bringing to life the many footnotes and voluminious index.