RIVER OF SMOKE

Narrator Sanjiv Jhaveri keeps up with the myriad historical details of the shipping industry in nineteenth-century India that are a part of this story. While he doesn't convincingly portray female characters, he capably manages the rest of the novel's massive cast. He also excels in his delivery of the rich description that permeates the author's style. At times, his cadence is reminiscent of a more staid volume—nonfiction perhaps. But Ghosh's rambling epic needs the determined and purposeful pace this narrator provides. However, some elements of the production come off as a mishmash, particularly as unimaginative storytelling combines with affected Indian accents and a flat American accent. The large gap between these elements may compromise this title for some listeners. M.R. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2011]