SOPHIE'S WORLD

Thank goodness for fabulous British narrator Simon Vance. Sophie's World works well as a brief journey through Western philosophy, told in terms of a correspondence between an unknown philosopher named Alberto and a bright, inquisitive 14-year-old named Sophie. However, about the time she starts to wonder if she's a character in someone else's novel, written for a mysterious girl named Hilde, things start to go off the rails. Here's where the great narration comes in. Simon Vance manages to pull listeners along through the dense, dull parts, if only for the pure joy of hearing his articulate voice. It's what gets us through to the next engaging bits. D.G. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 07/ JAN 08]