WOES OF THE TRUE POLICEMAN

Bolano's novel seems more like an unfinished group of stories revolving loosely around the relationship between a Chilean professor and a young man he meets. At best, it's challenging. At worst, it's a stream-of-consciousness jumble. Armando Duran's narration is clear; his pronunciations in Spanish and English are pleasant to hear. Much of the late author's book relies on introspective descriptions rather than dialogue. Duran manages to use effective accents for the characters as he yields themes of frustration, sadness, and loneliness. But whether he salvages this novel is a decision left to the listener. M.B. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2013]