IN MY FATHER'S DEN

Listeners must "tune" their ears to the thick New Zealand accent narrator Humphrey Bower brings to this story of a schoolmaster implicated in the brutal murder of his prize student. It is, however, wholly worth the effort. Bower is a magnificent storyteller--a voice that immediately draws in the listener and holds attention. Maurice Gee, an acclaimed New Zealand author, explores themes of puritanism and repression and the loss of rural life through flashbacks to the childhood of two brothers. Bower captures the rivalry among the family and friends, and the deep-rooted psychological tangles. The excellence of the reading combined with the exotic locale, unfamiliar words, and the intriguing accents makes this a challenging but satisfying listening experience. R.F.W. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 07]