QUEENMAKER

In a novelization based on scripture, India Edghill portrays David, the Bible's giant-slayer, as immoral, selfish, and often cruel. Suzanne Toren speaks the first-person narration of David's first wife, Michal, whom David abandoned the day after their wedding and reclaimed after ten years of her marriage to another man. Toren's solemn tones and pacing convey the harsh struggles of life in Israel circa 1,000 B.C. An odd elongated pronunciation of David's name distracts the listener from the story's flow. However, Toren's differentiation of the many women in the story enhances Edghill's text with subtle shades of character and personality. Male characters show lesser skill, except for David, who sounds real enough to slap. R.P.L. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 04]