NPR Driveway Moments Moms: Radio Stories That Won't Let You Go

NPR Driveway Moments

by National Public Radio, Peter Sagal

Stories from the National Public Radio archives celebrate moms and motherhood. Stories so compelling you'll stay in your car to hear them through--even if you're sitting in your own driveway. "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! "host Peter Sagal captures your attention with colorful tales for and about moms. Heard in "All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, News & Notes," and other NPR programs, these stories and more are for moms, moms-to-be, and anyone who has ever known or had a mother.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Humor, Parenting

120 pages, Audio CD

First published January 3, 2009

Reviews

[ChapterOne]

This is why I love NPR! I love love love it when I'm driving to work and something like this happens to be on on NPR radio. I stay on the parking lot and wish it was not 8:30 yet.

This is a heartwarming collection of stories about motherhood. Some will make you smile and some will make you tear up a little. Lord knows I am not a perfect mother. I make many mistakes. But I feel so freaking blessed and honored that I am one.

5 stars

[emily!!]

I shed a tear

[C]

Amy Borkowsky's mother's messages were the FUNNIEST answering machine messages I've ever heard. Her mother is such a nutty worrywort, and it had me rolling. This was so much better than I thought it would be. Some of the essays were extremely touching and inspiring.

[Rose Rosetree]

Sweetly encouraging to listeners. In this collection, the subject is mothers, motherhood, mothering.

Suppose that you're driving in nasty traffic and wish to uplift yourself. Dependably!

Here's a CD set for you.

FIVE STARS for an excellent collection of stories, smoothly narrated.

PERSONALLY, I WOULDN'T CALL THIS COLLECTION OF "DRIVEWAY MOMENTS" GREAT

But it is a crowd pleaser.

The storytellers had varying degrees of skill, as I noted wryly.

More than anything, this audiobook made me appreciate more than ever the elegant-and-meticulous storytelling of Nina Totenberg. Especially I think of her memoir,"Dinners with Ruth."

[Heather]

I enjoyed this compilation, especially the first story about the phone messages the mother leave her daughter. I will have to read her book.

Here are a few moments I loved:

"I allow in my life the possibility of unexplainable things to happen, like premonitions, dreams that are very powerful and that somehow clear the way for a lot of stuff. ....Why stick to what we think is real? We think that reality is what we can control, that's reality. But there's a lot that we can't explain or control that also happens on many levels. I'm interested in that, as a writer and a woman." ~Isabelle Allende

[Theresa Jehlik]

This collection of vignettes from NPR covers the mom experience from absurdity to conflict to tears. The stories range from Isabel Allende talking about her late daughter to a mother remembering her trip to China to pick up her newly adopted 6-year-old son to a grown daughter sharing answering machine messages that dispensed wildly funny and often confusing advice. There's something for everyone in these essays devoted to moms.

[Jenn]

I always love NPR in their gift of collecting diverse and rich storytelling. This was no exception brining takes from Oliver Sachs and Isabel Allende, among many others. There were sweet stories of tamale recipes, grief and love filled stories of loss, and a few pieces that had me laughing out loud. I appreciated that this told some of the stories of the challenges of motherhood but feel that there is often a hole for those with absent (emotionally or physically) mothers.

[Don]

This was a short audio collection of NPR stories relating to mothers and highlighting the love, care, and sacrifices that are involved in all that they do for their children. Definitely a heartwarming and sometimes humorous set of stories that will make you appreciate anew the mother(s) in your life!

[Marie Horning]

A compilation of short stories about motherhood. Told by mothers, grandmothers, sons and daughters. It was heartfelt, funny, sometimes sad, very touching.

[Chris]

A fun quick listen. I love NPR!

[ErinJ]

I love NPR. But this was only okay. A few really good ones and a few really “meh” ones.

[patrice]

I get stuck in the driveway listening to NPR a lot. This is a charming collection of vignettes. I only wish each story was a little bit longer.

[Cheri Flake]

The beginning is a pants wetter. I cried at the end, with the soldiers mommies.

[Kim]

This was a fun, short audio adventure. It was great to hear all of the various story tellers whether it was about someone's mom or being a mom. The voices were not all easy to hear, but the heartfelt and funny moments came through clearly.

[Bayneeta]

I liked these more than the National Parks one--more human interest. Funny stories, sad stories, all pretty short. And this one was two disks, where the Parks one was only one.

[Angela]

So perfect for the workday.

[Meredith]

Very entertaining audio book. Some stories are hilarious, some very moving and got me pchlempt.

[Beth E]

An enjoyable and lighthearted set of recordings about moms. What more can you say? Some stories made me laugh. Some made me cry. And all made me happy to be in the club. A mom.

[Glenda]

Memorable stories!

[Patricia]

Funny, sweet and sometimes sad. Great listen for Mother's Day.

[Teresa]

As expected, a good mix from NPR that ranged from funny to heartbreaking.

[Anais919]

Lovely, funny stories for and about Mothers!

[Marca]

Lots of fun - audio from NPR's Peter Sagel.

[Julie]

Fun vignettes, stories about mothers