THE ARSONISTS' CITY

Leila Buck's dexterous performance captures the members of the Nasr family. Although they are scattered around the world, their former home in Beirut remains their touchstone. After the death of their patriarch, son Idris--now the head of the family--decides to sell the beloved house. Not surprisingly, objections abound. Buck is especially successful at conveying the competing loyalties of the many family members. She carefully attends to the details of Lebanon's tumultuous past that are woven throughout the story as she depicts the confusion, doubt, and longing of the intergenerational characters. Listeners who are fans of world literature will find much to admire as they lean in to find out if the family will lose the tie that binds them. M.R. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2021]