WAKING THE TEMPESTS

Some twenty years after journalists Hedrick Smith and Robert Kaiser gave us their views of the people of the U.S.S.R., journalist Eleanor Randolph gives us her view of life in Russia since the disintegration of the Soviet Union. This work has the strength and weakness of most such works by journalists--it has breadth, but little depth. Randolph's anecdotal accounts are fascinating but merely scratch the surface. Barbara Caruso reads in a soft, understandable and engaging voice. Her Russian is creditable but may grate on practiced ears. M.T.F. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 98]