BEACH MUSIC

Conroy’s story is told through the narrative of Jack McCall, who is initially running from, then returning to his South Carolina family, friends and painful memories. The tale begins in Italy and treats us to some wonderful descriptions of both Rome and Venice. It moves to South Carolina, where rich dialects abound. Regional accents and foreign nationalities give particular challenge to the narrators. Current action and recollections of years past interweave, to keep the listener mesmerized, though at times a bit skeptical. Conroy’s novel demands an interpreter who can do justice to the rich characters and consummate storytelling. Frank Muller delivers a stunning performance, reaching deep inside Conroy’s characters. He enhances the text and gives an interpretation of powerful emotional content. Muller ultimately captures the story and elevates it to a magical level only the rarest of audiobooks achieves. He charges each scene with emotion, carves each character, using not only words, but inflection and nuance. Conroy himself likes Muller’s style, calling him “a prince of language.” R.F.W. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 95]