THE CLOISTER

The true love story of Abelard and Heloise has a significant impact on the lives of Father Michael Kavanagh and Rachel Vedette, a Jewish woman, in this audiobook written and narrated by author James Carroll. Carroll's voice is solemn and temperate, and his delivery is slow yet perfectly paced for this engrossing novel. Father Michael meets Rachel in The Cloisters, where she has retreated after her experience in France during the Holocaust. She reveals to him how her father once studied the connection between Abelard and Jewish scholars. Carroll's precise yet relaxed delivery helps the listener absorb his words. Because of Abelard and Heloise, both of the modern characters grow to understand more about themselves. D.Z. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2018]