BRIEF INTERVIEWS WITH HIDEOUS MEN

The name of this collection of stories is slightly misleading, given the talent and likability of the cast of narrators who bring the late Wallace's work to life. Each of the performers, including actors John Krasinski, Will Forte, Malcolm Goodwin, and Bobby Cannavale, delivers a powerful reading that is as imaginative as the collection itself. Foster offers a plethora of unique stories that make fast-paced shifts in their topics and references—from adolescent fantasies revolving around the 1950s TV show "Bewitched" to a heinous kidnapping. Krasinski, who directed the film adaptation of the book, is especially fine, reading with a stern, intellectual edge that is at once witty and unabashed. As a whole, each narrator complements the unique work he delivers. L.B. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2010]