DESPERATE JOURNEYS, ABANDONED SOULS: True Stories of Cast Aways and Other Survivors

This long, rambling book is a cross between an anthology and an academic study of people marooned on desert islands and adrift in boats. It's not the sort of book one ordinarily reads straight through at a uniform pace, the mode imposed by an audiobook. The writing is clear, but not distinctive. It's sometimes hard for a listener to tell where frequent lengthy excerpts from historical documents begin and end. Patrick Cullen's reading is serviceable. His sound is undistinguished but comfortable, and he maintains a sense of focus and interest even when the text meanders. J.N. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/JAN 00]