THE BALLAD OF THE SAD CAFE

This collection's major work--the haunting title novella--is an outstanding example of Southern Gothic. We learn of solitary, sour, Miss Amelia; and her cousin, a hunchbacked dwarf; and Amelia's rascally former husband. Peter Whitman gracefully conveys the moodiness, pain and struggles of these anguished and self-defeated characters through his steady pacing, authentic accents and sympathetic gender depictions. Unfortunately, Whitman is unable to arouse the listener's interest in any of the accompanying six short stories, which are undeveloped and poorly read. E.E.L. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: MAR 95]