BRIDA

Linda Emond's refined, elegant reading makes Coelho's most recent venture into magical realism a feast for the ears. Brida, a young Irish woman, undertakes a spiritual quest to learn what lies beyond the known dimensions of the universe. At first, Brida approaches a magus, a mysterious loner who lives in the forest, but the magus is a follower of the teachings of the sun, and it soon becomes evident that Brida needs to find someone to teach her the traditions of the moon. As Brida enters the magical world, Emond's performance enhances Coelho's detailed descriptions of the rituals of white witchcraft, its dangers, its mythologies, and its connections to other religions. Emond’s forceful reading elevates the often-pedestrian storytelling to something more profound. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2008]