THE YEAR OF IMPOSSIBLE GOODBYES

Sookan, a 10-year-old North Korean girl, tells the story of her life under Japanese rule and then under Russian rule at the end of WWII, concluding with a harrowing attempt at escape to the South. Moore delivers a dramatic performance that evokes the terrible ordeals that many North Koreans had to endure. With a clear, young voice, the narrator draws the listener into Sookan's experience, while giving other characters voices that are thoroughly convincing. This is a fine performance of a beautifully told tale that provides insight into the history of an Asian country torn apart by foreign powers. S.S.R. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 99]