FORGOTTEN AMONG THE LILIES

Jim Luken's delivery is unfailingly clear and professional. Since author Ronald Rolheiser moves among many topics, addressing everything from existential aspects of the human condition to the nature of sexuality, Luken's clarity is useful. However, it is not enough to make him an appropriate narrator for the material at hand. Rolheiser repeatedly engages his topics personally, writing about deeply emotional issues and going out on somewhat of a limb as he speaks from his experience as a priest and the challenges he's faced when dealing with pain or sexuality. At those points, self-exposure and compassion would be essential in making the delivery really powerful, but Luken remains merely professional. G.T.B. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 06]