FINN

You might call FINN a prequel to Twain’s classic. In an entertaining and beautifully crafted novel, Clinch imagines what might have happened to Huck’s amoral and violent father before and after Huck escapes his clutches. Told in the present tense, it’s a treasure trove of opportunity for the right reader, and Ed Sala is that. His speech seems that of a middle-aged mid-nineteenth-century American. He modulates his voice for Huck (was he mulatto?); for Finn’s black mistress, Mary; for Finn’s self-righteous and bigoted father, who is a judge; and for Finn’s drinking buddies. Best of all, Sala reads at a pace that lets listeners appreciate the fine descriptions of the Mississippi setting. In an informative author interview, Clinch says he was working toward something that could be read aloud. He succeeded. J.B.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 07]