THE GLASS BEAD GAME

Hesse's long philosophical novel takes the form of a biography that recounts the coming-of-age and spiritual crisis of the leader of a community devoted to a game combining music, mathematics, philosophy, meditation, and other disciplines. In a way, the pseudo-biographical form fits David Colacci's narration because he sounds like a nonfiction reader. He's an effective one, with a good voice, and fine pacing and expressiveness. But he's no actor, and when the novel is actually novelistic and he must provide voices and dialogue, they’re unconvincing—he still sounds like a reader of nonfiction. One misses a certain music that a good actor might have brought to enliven this already-dry book. Still, Colacci is skilled and able, if not inspiring. W.M. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2009]