THE RAPTURE OF CANAAN

A pubescent girl tells of her unwed pregnancy and its aftermath among the denizens of a small, rural, fundamentalist community lead by her martinet grandfather. Reynolds's deceptively simple, lyrical prose convinces you that you are hearing the thoughts of a very bright girl. Impersonating the narrating character, Hayden is triumphant, seemingly as genuine and artless as her character. Her personality wins the listener over immediately; she fully inhabits her role and keeps you riveted throughout. She and Grammy-winning director Charles Potter skirt the mawkishness of some passages, unfortunately also toning down some of the drama and misreading the emotional subtext of other scenes. But these gaffes are minor. Guitar music (uncredited) is used sparsely with supreme taste for regional flavor and emotional thrust. Y.R. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT 97]