THE DJINN IN THE NIGHTINGALE'S EYE

Renowned British author A.S. Byatt offers five contemporary fairy tales, with the longest--the title story--taking three of the five cassettes. It deals with narratologist (storyteller) Gillian Perholt, who finds a little bottle in Turkey, removes the stopper and encounters a genie who grants her three wishes. Among other things, they fall in love. These stories will require considerable suspension of disbelief, but they're helped by the commanding narration of Virginia Leishman. Enunciation, some of it on difficult Middle Eastern terms and names, is perfect. Pauses help out. The only quibble is Leishman's occasional failure to differentiate adequately among characters; otherwise, fine work. T.H. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 98]