T.C. BOYLE STORIES

At once urbane, literate, sophomoric, whimsical and funny, these short stories of T. Coraghessan Boyle promiscuously topple icons of all persuasions. Sex is the leitmotiv: Eisenhower has a clandestine affair with Mrs. Kruschev, a germaphobe makes her boyfriend wear a body condom, a boulevardier chimp makes conquests. Even with the author's wide range of targets and literary devices, the pervading ironic tone offers insufficient variety for listening in sequential sittings. A few at a time is best, especially as delivered by narrator Lewis. He sounds young, a tad awkward, unable to give us the authorial personality. He does understand the jokes and often makes them tell, but rather like our brother who, looking up from his copy of the NEW YORKER, chuckles, "Hey, listen to this," and then reads us the amusing passage. Y.R. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 00]