AFRICAN SILENCES

John MacDonald reads aloud as many people probably read in their heads when confronted with such dry text. He speaks flatly until the writing stirs emotion, then he sounds genuinely engaged. The facts of Africa's ravaged natural and political landscapes are compelling, but no drama is added by this performance. MacDonald renders dire observations in the dispassionate style of a narrator on PBS, only without the pictures. While readers/listeners who enjoy Matthiessen or nature journals in general may appreciate it, this presentation is most likely too sterile to attract a wider audience. D.J. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: MAR 94]