THE MERMAID FROM JEJU

Cindy Kay and Raymond J. Lee provide thoughtful performances in this historical novel about life in post-WWII Korea. Together they present the rich interior worlds of Goh Junja and Yang Suwol, young people struggling with problems universal to adolescents, even as American soldiers fill their country in preparation for the next conflict. In a dreamy, soft style, Kay conveys Junja's family, which is made up of generations of female deep sea divers. Kay and Lee use gentle, pensive voices that capture the story's inner and outer conflicts. Lee goes to extra lengths to portray older characters and lowers his voice and reduces his clarity to mimic dialogue delivered with a mouthful of food. Listeners who are fans of world literature will find much to admire. M.R. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2020]