THE UNKNOWN TERRORIST

How could a pole dancer be mistaken for a terrorist? Richard Flanagan makes a pretty convincing argument in his novel, THE UNKNOWN TERRORIST. It's a harsh story about the power of the Aussie media and a government determined to keep its people scared and compliant. Despite the sad story of Doll, the misunderstood stripper, narrator Humphrey Bower delivers an engaging performance with words that are delightfully unfamiliar. Doll's body is "at sixes and sevens with itself." Her boyfriend listens to "duff music." When she gets scared, she says, "Fix me up with a butamine," a medicine used for heart attacks. And c'mon, who doesn't enjoy an authentic Aussie accent? M.S. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2008]