DEATH BY WATER

Paul Boehmer effectively delivers the latest title in Oe's series about his literary alter ego, Kogito Choko. Choko is trying to piece together the circumstances of his father's death and complete his magnum opus while juggling the weight of regret, the need for clarity, and the singular power of family ties. Boehmer uses distinct tones and emphasis to navigate the collection of Japanese names and terms; his cadence, however, takes a bit of getting used to. The care he gives his enunciation is necessary with such content, of course, but the result is sometimes a bit stilted. None of this actually makes the title unenjoyable; it simply reminds listeners that they're listening to a text in translation. N.J.B. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2015]