ARIA

Narrator Neeky Dalir lends her soft voice and gentle pacing to this coming-of-age fiction debut, which revolves around an Iranian woman entangled in romance and politics. Aria was abandoned by her parents as a baby. Growing up in a series of households, she is abused and neglected. But then she falls in love with her friend, Hamlet, who sweeps her into the political upheaval taking place in Tehran. Dalir is compelling as Aria. She perfectly portrays the character in different stages of her life--from an unruly young girl to a benevolent woman. While the work's many timelines overlap, Dalir skillfully maneuvers all of them to provide a clear listening experience. Listeners will find themselves rooting for Aria. A.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2020]