EVERYMAN

Philip Roth’s extraordinary book examines the decline and death of a Jewish advertising executive. Though its subject matter--human deterioration and death--may not seem like the first choice for the morning commute, the narrative is compelling and, in the hands of narrator George Guidall, thoroughly listenable. Guidall conveys the full spectrum of Roth’s palette--fear, bewilderment, anger, humor, denial, and acceptance--with a transparency that’s present in the best audiobooks. It’s as if you are inside the author’s mind. From the opening funeral scene to (some four hours later) the unsuccessful surgery at the end, this is great literature that seems to become more universal in spoken-word format. R.W.S. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 06]