THE TALIBAN CRICKET CLUB

Murari’s novel is reminiscent of THE KITE RUNNER—except this Afghan protagonist is female. Narrator Sneha Mathan brings to life the feisty heroine at the center of an unlikely power struggle revolving around feminism, sports, politics, and religion. Mathan capably renders a wide cast of characters, though to those familiar with the region the heavy accent used for some of the males sounds overdone in places. Mathan’s delivery of dialogue is appropriately paced and captures the liveliness and dark humor of the story. Listeners will find this work enjoyable and culturally informative. M.R. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2012]