PRECIOUS OBJECTS

Alicia Oltuski has a fresh, appealing voice, and her youthful tonality works well in this memoir of growing up in the Diamond District of New York City. Both the district and the history of the diamond trade are shrouded in mystery. One fascinating element of the story is Cecil Rhodes—of Rhodes Scholar fame and the namesake of Rhodesia—who was a ruthless, racist imperialist who nearly single-handedly controlled the De Beers diamond mining operation. This book is full of interesting history surrounding the jewelry trade, along with Oltuski's own take on how "precious objects" have affected her own family and Jewish culture. Oltuski's delivery is charming and upbeat and keeps the story moving. D.G. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2012]