THE SYLVAN PATH A Journey Through America’s Forests

Gary Ferguson is a poet naturalist trying to share a passion with the general reader. This recording doesn’t do very well by him. Yuri Rasovsky’s January “Yurika!” column arrived just in time to explain why. Rasovsky discusses the importance of giving the author/narrator of a book a distinctive character. Rob McQuay seems doggedly determined not to, in spite of Ferguson’s lyrical style. When someone other than the author speaks, McQuay displays ample ability to voice a character, but he renders the author himself with perfunctory blandness. Occasional misplaced stresses suggest that he isn’t even paying much attention to what the words mean. Ferguson deserves a more enthusiastic advocate behind the microphone. J.N. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 98]