COLLECTED EARLY WORKS

This audio collection is difficult to describe--and even harder to resist. Zora Neale Hurston's range as an author is showcased by some supremely talented narrators whose voices radiate innocence, experience, and all the stops in between. Bahni Turpin's skills are at their best in "Drenched in Light" as she repeatedly transitions between grandmother and granddaughter without missing a beat. "Spunk" features Cary Hite's capable rendition of a tense love triangle. While the full-cast performance of "Color Struck" is absorbing and well done, it is Kenya Brome's treatment of "Sweat" that will keep listeners on the edge of their seats. While the pacing sometimes moves too quickly to allow the power of a performance to sink in, overall this is an excellent collection. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2023]