BEFORE YOU KNOW KINDNESS

An accidental blast from a hunting rifle forces a vegan animal rights activist, his closet-carnivore wife, his deer hunter brother-in-law, and his preteen daughter to shed their dysfunction and rediscover kinship. Bohjalian's setup pokes plenty of fun at animal rights activists and vegetarians, and when he finally gets to the premise--our kindness to animals begins with the human animal--some readers may feel a bit manipulated (while others may feel warm and fuzzy). Blair Brown reads this family tale with the right combination of energy and empathy. R.W.S. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 05]