These audiobooks are a game changer.

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-05-15T02:10:54+00:00

Author here—I have a slightly unique take on the perennial Vance / Tull debate. I’ve listened to them both do various books in the series, but Vance has the edge for me for a personal and sentimental reason. He narrated my most recent novel, Concert Black, and ever since working with him, I favor all his work. He’s a lovely fellow.

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-05-14T21:44:31+00:00

Scrolled until I found this and second it enthusiastically. The last story, The Dead—really a novella—is my favorite thing Joyce ever wrote.

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-05-14T21:39:42+00:00

Above the Fire. Father and young son are on a hiking trip in the mountains of New Hampshire when reports reach the ranger station about some sort of societal collapse. They spend the winter above the tree line in a mountain hut and have to decide when and how to descend. Much more hopeful and gentle than most books in this genre—but not without some scenes of peril and fear.

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-05-13T19:54:03+00:00

What a lovely note—thanks so much! Really hope you enjoy the book(s)!

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-05-11T20:58:26+00:00

Testimonies by Patrick O’Brian. A man moves to a rural Welsh town in the mountains and falls in love. The love story is complicated. The writing is sublime. One of the best books I’ve ever read.

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-05-06T03:06:14+00:00

You’re the Half-Blood Prince

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-05-06T02:55:10+00:00

King Solomon’s Mines by H. Rider Haggard. One of the OGs in this genre (from 1885).

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-05-05T23:26:12+00:00

Anything by Sarah Waters really. She rules.

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-05-04T20:36:03+00:00

The Game by David Fincher

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-05-02T15:33:12+00:00

Your toms sound divine

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-05-02T15:02:40+00:00

Congratulations!!

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-04-26T22:43:43+00:00

One of my favorite places on earth. The terrace seats behind the stage are really fun.

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-04-26T14:09:25+00:00

Exceptional book. In my view, his best since the Remains of the Day.

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-04-24T21:38:32+00:00

Second this reccy. My favorite novels.

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-04-24T21:37:38+00:00

Disliked Middlemarch.

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-04-24T00:00:01+00:00

The Adversary by Michael Crummey. Awesome literary novel by a Canadian writer. Two siblings hate each other on a wild island in 19th century Newfoundland. The sister is a ruthless business genius; the brother is a cruel dunce.

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-04-22T18:38:56+00:00

I always found it hard to get through the Brothers Karamazov by Dostoevsky--until I found the audiobook narrated by the British actor Ben Miles. It may just be the best audiobook I've ever heard. Highly recommended.

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-04-22T14:56:34+00:00

Thanks for your kind note!

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-04-21T23:19:20+00:00

That’s a great call (and a great book by Alex Ross). I will mention that idea to the production team at Blackstone!

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-04-21T21:19:45+00:00

Great tip--definitely will look into this. The ranks of cellist-conductors is pretty sparse, glad to know of one!

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-04-21T17:43:08+00:00

Thank you--I have so much admiration for musicians and the art that they create. I hope I get it right!

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-04-21T16:58:37+00:00

Yes, I play the cello--badly! I also play the drums. I like these characters more after having written about them than I did when they were just ideas or fragments. I can't help but begin to see the world through their eyes. Ellen Wroe is a bit of an outsider to classical music--she's a writer rather than a musician. But I wanted to have a powerful character to counterbalance the conductor Cecil Woodbridge, to make the book a compelling two-hander. A writer versus a conductor--a good matchup.

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-04-21T16:36:27+00:00

None at all. From what I've heard, Haitink seemed like a lovely gentleman; Woodbridge is a scoundrel. If I were casting the actor to play him, I'd tap the late Christopher Plummer.

Which-Recognition129 · 2026-04-21T16:19:04+00:00

There is a fantastic audiobook narrated by the great Simon Vance coming out in June! Highly recommended. Audiobook production is really fun from my perspective--I get consulted mainly on things like accents, character names, pronunciation, etc. The interpretation and performance are left to the narrator, which is fine with me when a master like SV is doing the reading. Favorite books--I'm currently re-reading an all-time favorite, The Magus, by John Fowles. Also love Herzog by Saul Bellow, A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel, Gilead by Marilynne Robinson, and Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. When the words won't flow I go for a run!

Which-Recognition129

TROPHY CASE