EVENING CLASS

It's easy to imagine the longing of winter-bound Dubliners for a few hours a week of vicarious "dolce vita" in night school Italian class. Getting us to care for this village in miniature is less simple, but the author manages it with a few deft strokes. Maeve Binchy's old-fashioned storytelling is well served by her cousin Kate's empathetic portrayals of both minor and major characters. Her light, lilting voice takes on weight to delineate the gruff porter, Laddy, and stiffens to represent the wealthy, repressed Connie. She's at ease with Italian inflections, as well, crucial for the scenes set in the classroom and when the class travels to Italy. Sentiment is the universal language of this tale, and it will be difficult for most listeners to bid these charmers "addio" without a lump in the throat. T.M. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JAN 98]