PEARL OF CHINA

Having written about such strong female characters as Madame Mao, Min now brings us a fascinating fictional account of the life of the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize, Pearl Buck. Buck grew up in China during the turbulence of the Boxer Uprising. Narrator Angela Lin meets the challenge of this epic story by rejecting the use of phony Chinese accents, instead concentrating on giving each character emotional depth and a unique voice. The quality of her singing voice is an added bonus that does much to make this production lush and captivating. Whether she’s tackling a Chinese opera or a gospel hymn, Lin’s voice is sweet and powerful—wonderful to hear. She makes this audio a delight. D.G. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2011]