Unauthorized Tom Cruise, Jedi and Sith, psycho pathology, car crashes, and an interview with Garrison Keillor, who talks Minnesota, Willie Nelson, and putting little girls to sleep. "She slept for more than an hour. It was sweet. I seem to have a God-given ability there."
There are few, if any, current actors as famous as Thomas C. Mapother IV, the short and seemingly unremarkable youth whose hidden talent lay dormant in his cocky bravado until his first agent shortened his name to Tom Cruise. The fascinating story of the rise of this middle class boy with an iconic smile to one of the most powerful players in Hollywood is detailed in TOM CRUISE: AN UNAUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY by Andrew Morton. It's all here, from Tom's family roots in Ireland to his being picked-on by romantic rivals in high school, and from his "bizarre" jumping-the-couch scene on Oprah to his being lured by then-desperate cult leaders eager to capitalize on his celebrity. Estranged from his stern father, while doting on his mother, Tom was something of an enigma to his many girlfriends and wives, and remains so to this day. Known for his obsessive focus on career and image, Cruise sought both creative and personal control whenever possible, which was why it seemed so shocking to see him display emotion on Oprah. (The actual event itself seems mild when viewed now on YouTube, since any fan in the audience at the time clearly seems more excited simply by his being there.) As narrated by John Hinch, the audio version maintains interest with just the right mix of anecdotes to embellish the timeline, and a not overly colorful or austere reading. You may not learn much new about Cruise the man if you're a die-hard fan, but the objectivity of the author, who also did books on Princess Diana and Monica Lewinsky, is evident throughout. (MacMillan Audio download from Audible.com; 6 hours unabridged)
Next, actor John Rubinstein's long association with clinical psychologist turned mystery novelist Jonathan Kellerman continues in COMPULSION, a thriller featuring (appropriately enough) psychologist Alex Delaware, along with his own LAPD associate and sidekick, Milo Sturgis. On this outing the pair hunt a serial killer whose M.O. includes stealing luxury sedans in upscale L.A. for murders in the city's seedier suburbs. Ultimately, their manhunt moves from the brokers and hookers of the City of Angels to the even more colorful denizens of the Big Apple, propelled by Rubinstein's intricately honed talent for creating realistic dialogue. Of course Kellerman supplies the obsessively detailed text for this, but it is their paring that gives the listener an almost real-time experience as the investigation proceeds. (Better than the TV series 24 because one must exercise the imagination, too.) On a cultural level, it may be revealing to note that you also learn as much or more about L.A. society as you do about things like crime scene procedures, psycho-pathology, or the habits of compulsive killers. And speaking of associations, it may also be who you know that counts in another sense, too, even if we dismiss the question of whether Dr. Kellerman actually assists the other novelists in his household--wife Faye and son Jesse. (Random House Audio; 10 hours unabridged)
Next, British author Sophie Kinsella is best known for her Shopaholic series, and this time delivers a modern fairy tale with rather stock characters and a predictable twist. Still, REMEMBER ME? is fun at times, as listeners can't help but empathize with "Lexi Smart" through her ordeal and attempts to cope. No, she's not dying. Her dilemma is that, upon being struck on the head during a car crash, she's lost her short term memory. So when she wakes up in the hospital, all Lexi remembers is being a twenty-five year old working girl, and not a wealthy woman with perfect teeth, a millionaire husband, and a glamourous job. Three years from her life are missing. Desperate to remember something about the schemes that seem to be developing around her, Lexi is determined to become "who she seems to be." In an ironic way, this may also be the dilemma of the listener, in identifying what they want from escapist entertainment. "To escape, of course, you ninny," Lexi might say. Narrator Charlotte Parry nails the character, in a contrived and formulaic story that does benefit from a spot-on performance. (Random House Audio; 6 hours abridged)
Of course George Lucas is one savvy storyteller, not only because he licenses his blockbuster concept to certain other selected authors, (who breathe new life into what would otherwise be a dying franchise), but because he maintains effective quality control over all productions, even through distributors. So the performance copyright for STAR WARS: REVELATION (LEGACY OF THE FORCE), while it may be distributed by the largest publisher on Lucas's home world (Earth), is held instead by LucasFilm Ltd.. Which also explains the sound effects present throughout, since few audiobook producers have the time to add such effects and music. This latest production seems designed for radio, and is written by British author Karen Traviss (who penned five previous Star Wars related novels), and features the son of Hans Solo as a Sith Lord named Jacen, while Luke Skywalker's nephew Ben heads an alliance against the dark side. Ben must risk everything to find out if Jacen killed his mother Mara, while Jacen's sister Jaina seeks to learn the dangerous skills of Boba Fett in order to bring her brother back to the fold. Sound familiar? Naturally there's swordplay and hanger deck assaults to keep the storyline moving. Most notable, though, is narrator Marc Thompson, whose versatile voiceovers can also be heard in many commercials and cartoons. (Random House Audio; 6 hours abridged)
Finally, do you remember the movie Dead Poets Society? The new audiobook ENGLISH MAJORS might attract a similar audience, as well as those who love slapstick and a quirky stage show. Included on the two disks taken from A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION are "the Six Minute Hamlet," tributes to Hawthorne, Kerouac & Emily Dickinson, and a "Guy Noir" investigation of an MFA scam. Contributing to the skits are Dave Barry, Calvin Trillin, Meryl Streep, Allen Ginsberg, Billy Collins, Donald Hall, Roy Blount Jr., and the master himself in the final piece, which was recorded at the University Concert Hall in Limerick, Ireland. Garrison Keillor is, of course, best when he's just talking to the audience, describing his life and the residents of that most quirky of all towns, Lake Wobegon, Minnesota. What follows is my email interview with him. (Highbridge Audio; 2 1/2 hours unabridged)
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