A DOOR IN THE EARTH

Parveen, the protagonist in this audiobook, is a newly minted college graduate eager to make a difference. Inspired by a flawed American philanthropist, she takes her idealism to the land of her birth: Afghanistan. Roxanne Radja's narration is an understated one. Her voice is consistently gentle and calm, exuding a steadying influence even as characters in the novel endure hardship. Once the story is underway, her delivery is easy to follow and enjoyable to hear. There are narrative sections, however, when the exposition slows down the plot, and Radja's measured calm becomes a bit too quiet. Nonetheless, her performance is appealing, and the audiobook offers a fascinating take on questions of morality and the line between helping others and controlling them. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2019]