THE DISCOMFORT OF EVENING

Genevieve Gaunt's performance of this audiobook--soft-voiced, delicately accented, hauntingly matter-of-fact--suits the 10-year-old narrator, Jas. There is an innocence to Gaunt's tone that adds to Jas's unsettling tale of loss and struggle. The plot unfolds on a Dutch dairy farm, and Jas shares every detail of farm life without hesitation. Somehow, a child's voice sharing the nuances of mucky life and gruesome death becomes overwhelming and too much to take for long stretches. There are thoughtful details for Gaunt to relate, but those moments often seem like bridges to the next disturbing scene. All in all, this title will appeal to the listener with a strong constitution: Gaunt is an able performer, but this title is not for the faint of heart. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2020]