Tales of Two Americas

This audiobook is heartbreaking and infuriating. It is also an absolute must-listen. The collection features 36 poems, short stories, and essays by a host of well-known writers, each addressing the complicated interconnected issues affecting America today: income inequality, racism, homelessness, immigration, police violence, and more. Narrators Teri Schnaubelt and Corey Snow alternate selections and smoothly transition between personal stories and those that are more journalistic. Of particular note are Richard Russo's "American Work," addressing the overlooked difference between jobs and work; Rebecca Solnit's "Death by Gentrification," which focuses on police violence and the impact of gentrification; and Ann Patchett's "The Worthless Servant," which looks at homelessness and the difficulty of putting down roots. This powerful collection gives a voice to those who are marginalized and, in small ways, offers hope to our divided nation. K.S.M. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine