DAVE BARRY IS NOT MAKING THIS UP

When you have to pull off the road because you're laughing too hard to drive, you might be listening to Dave Barry, the syndicated columnist known for seeing the quirky side of life. Johnny Heller captures the mood from Tape One, on the oddities of natural childbirth. He maintains the pace through space alien visitations, boating to Bimini, and science experiments involving flaming toaster pastries. He transitions easily into and out of the two serious essays in the book, conveying compassion for Elvis fans as convincingly as he does the horror of a parent's discovering the injury of a child. Heller talks too fast sometimes, runs together a few words, and mispronounces some, but so what? It's exactly how it would sound coming from the lips of anyone telling these stories without a text. R.P.L. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 03]