LOST CHILDREN ARCHIVE

Luiselli's knotty metafictional novel about a family road trip and lost children, which includes images and documents as well as multiple narrators and multiple narratives, does not initially seem suited to audio. Smart production decisions and capable narration, however, transform it into a fascinating audiobook that will stay with listeners long after they finish. The protagonist and her husband are audio producers themselves, and the production includes background noises, recordings of different quality, and other elements mentioned in the text. Young actor Kivlighan de Montebello and the author read the bulk of the novel, and both give subtle and nuanced performances; without using distinct voices, they clearly capture the members of the family and imbue the novel's big questions with emotional depth. A moving, thought-provoking listen. E.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2019]