TWO TALES FROM MARK TWAIN

Twain’s work makes for great audio, and these two slightly morbid examples of Twain’s satire are no exception. In “A Dog’s Tale,” a loyal dog is punished (then rewarded) for rescuing a baby from a fire, only to endure watching her own pup killed in her master’s cruel science experiment. Lyssa Browne’s breezy narration is appropriate for the simple-minded dog but doesn’t quite capture Twain’s biting wit. “Cannibalism in the Cars” satirizes the American political system as a collection of men stranded in a snowed-in train car debate and vote on who should be eaten next. Gary Telles hits the mark as he narrates with a subtle but comfortable drawl that pulls the listener into the train car along with the other ill-fated travelers. A.H.A. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2012]