A GAMBLER'S ANATOMY

In a rich, soft voice, narrator Mark Deakins portrays the handsome and "possibly psychic" professional backgammon player Bruno Alexander. This spirited story by bestselling novelist Lethem is perfectly delivered by Deakins, who uses his bass voice with authority to guide the listener through European palaces, where beautiful people inhabit opulent rooms filled with cut glass and cigar smoke. Deakins's delivery turns empathetic as Bruno learns he has a life-threatening illness that brings him back to the U.S. for a long-shot operation to remove a tumor from behind his face. As Bruno confronts his past and finds his view of life challenged by his fateful diagnosis, Deakins's voice reflects his struggle with a compassionate tone. R.O. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2016]