THE UNCONSOLED

Ryder, a concert pianist, is in a European town he cannot name, to give a performance he may not have scheduled, for people he may not have known before. Therein lies just a bit of the puzzle in this Ishiguro novel, one that falls well short of his Booker Prize-winning Remains of the Day. For those willing to stay through this inexplicable and sometimes tiresome muddle, David Case provides a most skillful reading. He fully becomes the officious hotel manager, his stupid son, the obsequious bellhop, his troubling daughter, and numerous other confused and confusing characters. Case manages alterations in age, gender, education and place of origin with great effectiveness. In sum, he is very good. Ishiguro's novel, however, is an acquired taste that many may choose to avoid. T.H. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/MAR 99]