LOST IN THE CITY

Edward P. Jones's collection of short stories about African-American life in Washington, D.C., excels at detail, giving readers a sense of place and time. It gets off to a strong start with "The Girl Who Raised Pigeons," with Keith J. Fernandez's reading making listeners feel like they're actually in the neighborhood and in the shoes of the widower raising his daughter with little help from anyone. Caroline Clay's reading of "Marie," which puts the narrator into the point of view of a feisty elderly woman fighting with Social Security, is outstanding, as is the bittersweet "An Orange Line Train to Ballston," about a divorcée's subway romance that never happens, read in confiding tones by Patricia R. Floyd. J.A.S. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 05/ JAN 06]