BLUEBACK

Many people find the Australian accent the most congenial in all of the English-speaking world. Unfortunately, that is the high point in this audiobook, which seems unlikely to please either adults or children. Winton, a Booker Prize nominee not long ago, has returned with an ecological tale that suffers from simple-mindedness and a distinct lack of story. It concerns a young Australian boy named Abel and his mother, who live on a beautiful bay threatened by polluters and greedy fishermen. "Blueback" is the gigantic grouper who becomes Abel's lifelong friend and guide to underwater life. For a title character, he is one silly, uninvolving creation. Wemyss is a gentle companion, but he's a long way from being able to compensate for the sins of the author. M.O. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/MAR 99]