NOTHING LIKE IT IN THE WORLD

The American can-do attitude is on vivid display in this history of the building of the Transcontinental Railroad in the 1860s. Blasting through the Sierra Nevada Mountains and spanning the Great Plains, this monumental effort was the largest building project since antiquity. Johnny Heller paces the story well, using his voice to give a sense of the excitement, drive, and optimism surrounding this project. However, Heller's voice has a muffled quality that obscures a good deal of his interpretation. He seems to be hurrying along, racing against his breath, then pausing at the end of each phrase. The effect is distracting, especially since this is an exciting story of entrepreneurial and public spiritedness. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 05/ JAN 06]