Cokie Roberts Pays Tribute to Women of the Era

Journalist Cokie Roberts does some serious talkin’ ‘bout her generation in her audio book, “We Are Our Mothers’ Daughters” (Nova Audio; unabridged nonfiction; four hours; $23.95; read by the author). A 1964 Wellesley graduate, she asks, “What is a woman’s place?” Her answer, though a bit rambling, combines the personal with the political. She talks about female baby boomers like herself, as well as those who came before, including her mother, Congresswoman Lindy Boggs.

Mostly, she tells us about people she finds interesting and conveys her interest to us.

Roberts is bright and humorous and polished, if a bit too perky. Her writing may wander a bit, but it always circles back to her theme of women’s often uncredited role in society. You may not agree with everything she has to say, but her subject matter intrigues for both her personal spin and the biographies of unusual and powerful women.

Energetic and upbeat, Roberts is a spirited narrator with an effective sense of timing. Though her speech has long since lost any trace of her Louisiana childhood, her deep, slightly husky voice is very different from your generic Jane Doe newswoman. Entertaining us with a delivery that is both blunt and droll, she could maintain our interest with her enthusiasm alone.

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The generation that fathered the baby boomers is the subject of a highly popular, if overrated, audio book by another broadcast journalist, Tom Brokaw. Though not without merit, “The Greatest Generation” (Random House Audio; abridged nonfiction; three cassettes; four hours; $24; read by the author) is history-lite that simply does not take us any place new.

This is a collection of inspiring and uplifting stories about people born in the 1920s who lived through the Depression and World War II.

Brokaw writes of everyday citizens and those who went on to become famous, all of whom returned from war ready to contribute to their communities.

The audio highlights only half of the original text, which is not such a bad thing, as it is the repetition in these tales that bores. Though well written, these are all uplifting and short accounts of people who overcame great difficulties and lead highly fulfilling lives.

Black-and-white photos of those highlighted in the text are printed on the inside packaging of the audio book, including a skinny Bob Dole shown during army rehabilitation. These pics are a bonus, as most publishers do not bother with such extras, even when they are included in the printed book.

Although Brokaw shows great reverence for this generation, he writes more enthusiastically than he speaks. He is more than a little robotic, which is enough to make the listener lose interest quickly. A seasoned journalist, he knows when to emphasize his words but does so with such surprising subtlety that he comes across as monotone.

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Born in 1943, Homer H. Hickam Jr. came of age during the Cold War and the space race. His bittersweet and engaging account of that time, “Rocket Boys: A Memoir,” is revealing as an autobiography and a social history. (Simon & Schuster Audio; abridged nonfiction; 4 hours and 30 minutes; $24; read by Beau Bridges.)

The Cold War very much affected people everywhere, even in the small mining community of Coalwood, W. Va. Latching on to national outrage at the launch of the Soviet’s Sputnik satellite was544499817ed determination.

Forming the Rocket Boys, a nerdy but tenacious club, he spent several years teaching himself about aerodynamics, and much later went on to become a NASA engineer.

Though his writing style is a little cliched, Hickam does take an honest look at his parents’ unhappy marriage, his father’s controlling disapproval and the lives of people dependent on coal for their livelihood. The story plays out too precisely, which may be a result of Hickam’s taking a “certain author’s license” with his autobiography. He wrote with the cameras in mind, and it is no surprise that his story was made into the feature film “October Sky.”

An audio book veteran, Bridges is always worth hearing. He easily communicates the enthusiasm and tenaciousness of Hickam and his pals. He relates family dramas and high school heartbreak with just the right touch of pathos.

Although he does not attempt a West Virginian accent, Bridges changes his voice occasionally for minor characters. He does this by slowing or thickening his speech. His only misstep is to attempt a badly dramatized accent for a foreign-born welder.

Rochelle O’Gorman reviews audio books every other week. Next week: Dick Lochte on mystery books.