AMERICA AMERICA

Set in the early 1970s and today, Canin’s novel is equal parts coming-of-age story and snapshot of the later Nixon years, complete with family drama and political scandal. Narrator Robertson Dean brings his soothing baritone voice to this atmospheric work, and the effect is striking. He captures the languorous spirit of the book with subtle inflections and narrates with clear diction, pronouncing every word as if it were the most vital to the story. Dean does not create vivid characters by significantly changing his delivery, but rather by telegraphing their intentions and emotions to us with small changes in pitch and tone. In so doing, he is able to turn the book into a more vibrant, realistic work. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2008]