DOGS AT THE PERIMETER

Thien's novel explores the trauma of war through the experiences of some who survived the murderous Cambodian Khmer Rouge regime, and some who did not. Janie, now an adult living in Montreal, struggles with memories of her shattered Cambodian childhood. When a friend disappears to find his brother in Cambodia, Janie feels she must follow. There are some books that are better in the printed form, and this is one. The story is told in fragments and travels back and forth between times and places. It's extremely difficult to follow in the audiobook format. In addition, narrator Michi Barall's performance is, alas, underwhelming. She speaks maddeningly slowly and inserts odd pauses, distracting the listener from the complicated story. G.S.D. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2017]