THE AREAS OF MY EXPERTISE

It's hard to imagine this quirky almanac in audio, with all its lists and visually enhanced, completely artificial arcana. After hearing it perfectly read by the erudite goofball who wrote it, however, it seems unlikely there could actually be a print version. Hodgman is a deft performer. His audio adaptation is gravy to dry humor. His earnestly ridiculous prose is meant to be absorbed though the ears, metered precisely by the cadence of his own voice. The audio has its own extras, such as the made-up state songs of the 51 states (yes 51, but not D.C. or Puerto Rico). This audio is not for everyone, but it's desirable for any collection short on offbeat humor or aurally enhanced arcana. D.J. 2007 Audies Award Finalist © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 07]