STOP-TIME

Robert Fass's new performance of writer Frank Conroy's 1967 memoir has the feel of classic storytelling in the 1930s and '40s. It's a perfect match for the stories unfolding here. It's best to hear these stories in order--they work as a chronological narrative of nostalgic reflections. Amusement parks, train rides, comic books, and yo-yo tricks all make appearances. Yet Conroy's stories also take unexpected and often uncomfortable turns that capture deeper experiences of growing up. Sexual awakening, unwanted advances, and dangerous retreats from the safety of home punctuate Conroy's memories of his time growing into young adulthood. Fass astutely captures these events with an unwaveringly consistent tone. He creates an accessible aural environment, so listeners new to Conroy also can start with this work. S.P.C. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2022]