PLUM WINE

At first, Linda Stephens's soft, melodic voice sounds incongruous with the character of Barbara, the young American woman who dominates this novel of 1965 Japan. The story, set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, in a lush landscape overshadowed by Hiroshima, makes one expect harshness and tension. Yet the longer one listens, the more Stephens's voice seems in harmony with the protagonist's frustrating naïveté. While it has received lavish praise, Davis-Gardner's third novel glosses over events that are much deeper than they first appear. The longer one listens, the more Barbara's thoughts and actions strain credibility, and the book's mystery plot is never fully developed. Ultimately, this is "easy listening," suitable for a long drive or lazy afternoon. R.R. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 07]