COLD MOUNTAIN

Charles Frazier delivers a soulful reading of his novel, which won the 1997 National Book Award. He tells the tale of Inman, a wounded Confederate soldier who leaves his hospital bed to make his way home. An internalized odyssey weaves lives of Inman and Ada, his prewar sweetheart, who struggles alone with the farm on Cold Mountain. Frazier offers few characterizations in voice, but his elegant language takes center stage. His slow pace suits the story and allows listeners to savor each image but occasionally lacks energy that might liven the images he describes. Frazier is steady and relentless, echoing the sense of purpose and destiny of this characters. His writing reveals the fluidity of a storyteller, and the audiobook becomes a natural extension of his skill. R.F.W. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 98]