Audiobook Sample
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- Title: This Is How It Always Is: A Novel
- Author: Laurie Frankel
- Narrator: Gabra Zackman
- Length: 11:07:05
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 24/01/2017
- Publisher: Macmillan Audio
- Genre: Fiction & Literature, Literary Fiction, Family Life, LGBTQ+
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
There’s a particular magic that happens when a book finds you at just the right moment in your journey. I was winding through the mountain roads of Guatemala when I first pressed play on “This Is How It Always Is”, the audiobook version of Laurie Frankel’s extraordinary novel. The story unfolded alongside breathtaking vistas, each curve in the road mirroring the emotional turns of this family’s transformative journey. It reminded me of those evenings in Oaxaca, listening to abuelas weave tales that were at once deeply personal and universally human.
Frankel’s novel is that rare creation that manages to be both profoundly specific in its details and expansively inclusive in its themes. At its heart, this is the story of Claude, a five-year-old who dreams of being a princess, and his family’s evolving understanding of identity, love, and acceptance. But to call it simply a story about a transgender child would be like calling the Grand Canyon simply a hole in the ground – technically accurate but woefully inadequate to capture its depth and majesty.
Gabra Zackman’s narration is nothing short of revelatory. She brings each character to life with such nuanced distinction that I often forgot I was listening to a single narrator. Her portrayal of Claude captures all the wonder and confusion of childhood, while her rendering of Rosie, the mother, carries the weight of parental love and fear in equal measure. The audio production quality is impeccable, with just the right pacing to let Frankel’s lyrical prose breathe without losing narrative momentum.
What struck me most about this listening experience was how Frankel explores the concept of storytelling itself. The fairy tales woven throughout the narrative serve as both refuge and revelation, much like the oral traditions I’ve encountered in my travels. There’s a scene where Penn, the father, tells Claude an evolving bedtime story that particularly resonated with me – it reminded me of how, in many cultures I’ve visited, stories aren’t fixed artifacts but living things that grow and change with each telling.
The novel’s greatest strength lies in its refusal to simplify complex emotional terrain. Frankel doesn’t shy away from showing the messy, uncertain process of becoming – whether that’s Claude becoming Poppy, the parents becoming allies, or the siblings becoming protectors. There were moments when I had to pause the audiobook simply to sit with what I’d just heard, much like I’ve paused on mountain trails to take in particularly stunning views.
If I had any critique, it would be that some of the medical and psychological details occasionally feel slightly over-explained, though this might actually benefit listeners who are less familiar with transgender experiences. And while Zackman’s performance is generally superb, there were a few moments where her vocal choices for younger characters edged toward caricature.
Compared to other works in the LGBTQ+ and family fiction genres, “This Is How It Always Is” stands out for its warmth and accessibility. It shares DNA with novels like “The Argonauts” by Maggie Nelson in its intellectual engagement with gender, but maintains the emotional accessibility of something like Celeste Ng’s “Little Fires Everywhere”. The audiobook format adds an intimacy to the experience that print can’t quite match – it feels like being let in on family secrets rather than observing them from a distance.
For potential listeners, I’d recommend allowing yourself to be fully present with this one. Don’t multitask. Listen while walking or sitting somewhere you can give the story your full attention. And be prepared – this isn’t always an easy listen, but like all the most meaningful journeys I’ve taken, the challenges make the destination that much more rewarding.
With stories to share and roads yet to travel,
Marcus Rivera
