Hard Choices

The once and possibly future Democratic presidential candidate looks back on her adventures as Secretary of State in this diplomatic memoir. Clinton identifies and reflects upon the many choices that defined her tenure as secretary of state, including nuclear negotiations with Iran and North Korea, the killing of Osama bin Laden, the Arab Spring, and the attack on the U.S. compound in Benghazi that killed four Americans. Clinton narrates parts of the audiobook, and, although her voice is agreeable enough, her tone can be confusing. It often feels as if she is smiling or even laughing in her narration—while the text warrants this sometimes, it also feels more disruptive than enjoyable. Chalfant does a solid job of keeping a consistent and engaging tone throughout much of the production, but feels different enough from Clinton that it can feel a bit disjointed for the listener. A Simon & Schuster hardcover. (June)