THE COLOR OF WATER

In this touching homage to his mother, James McBride paints a portrait of growing up in a Black neighborhood as the child of an interracial marriage. Although raised an Orthodox Jew in the South, McBride's mother abandoned her heritage, moved to Harlem and married a Black man. A wonderful sense of realism is offered by the dual-voiced narration. André Braugher's earnest presentation is matched perfectly with Lainie Kazan's character-rich representation of the headstrong matriarch. The result is not only a duet of victory over racial intolerance, but also a very personal celebration of familial bonds. R.A.P. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/MAR 00]