THE BODY ARTIST

This bestselling novella is strange--obscure, poetic, lean, earthy, more than slightly warped. The artist of the title meets up with a kind of autistic savant who resonates with her past. She explores him literally and figuratively, and that's what takes up most of the pages. Performance artist Laurie Anderson delivers this fare in a detached, lulling near-whisper, thus emphasizing intimacy and sensuality. One's attention easily slips away from her voice, so concentration becomes an effort. Y.R. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 01]