First Words

I’ll admit, I approached *First Words* with skepticism. Anthologies can feel like literary potlucks—hit or miss, with too many dishes you’d rather skip. But this one surprised me. The concept is simple: famous writers share their earliest works, complete with typos and adolescent angst. What elevates it is the *performance*. Elliott Gould’s reading of Roy Blount Jr.’s childhood ‘masterpiece’—a meandering tale about a boy and his dog—had me snort-laughing on my commute. His timing is impeccable, turning clunky prose into stand-up comedy. Judith Ivey, meanwhile, brings a tender gravitas to Amy Tan’s juvenile poetry, making you hear the future *Joy Luck Club* in its awkward rhymes. That said, the audiobook isn’t without flaws. The pacing drags in the middle, where a few pieces (looking at you, overlong pirate adventure) test the limits of nostalgia’s charm. And while Kevin McCarthy’s narration is precise, his delivery sometimes feels too detached, as if he’s reading a museum plaque rather than a child’s scribbled fantasy. The production quality varies, too—some tracks sound like they were recorded in a closet, others in a cathedral. But these quirks oddly fit the theme: childhood creativity is messy, uneven, and occasionally brilliant. If you love writers *as people*—not just as wordsmiths—this audiobook is a delight. If you’re looking for tight, professional prose? Maybe skip to the next Conroy title.