VERB

Prose read by its author often suffers, as listeners must tolerate a lack of microphone skill, less than compelling delivery, and a colorless or overly intense tone. But this duo of CDs is a surprise as the recordings sound unusually fresh and unassuming. Even with its uneven collection of fiction and poetry, VERB provides oases of real entertainment with well-crafted poetry by Tom Lux and Marjory Wentworth and a sexy coming-of-age novella, ALVIN'S WILD RIDE, by Robert Olen Baker, read with fearless, goofy wit. The director and producer must have given the cast some great guidance and comfortable seating, for listeners are treated to authentic, unvarnished renderings of modern works by devoted authors. D.J.B. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 06]