BIRDSEYE The Adventures of a Curious Man

Kurlansky’s brief, vivid biography of the man who almost single-handedly started the frozen-food business depicts a life of constant inquiry, discovery, and adventure. Jon Van Ness’s voice is somewhat scratchy but amiable, and his pacing is fundamentally good, though he makes frequent, awkward hesitations. In other ways, though, he doesn’t match the book’s level of professionalism. He incorrectly weights many phrases, changing their meaning, and incorrectly accents many words. His pronunciation is sloppy throughout. Van Ness gets in the way of this book rather than enhancing it. It deserves better. W.M. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2012]