DUNEDIN

Nicolette McKenzie's stylish reading and New Zealand accent are delights for listeners. However, though titled, DUNEDIN, only the first and last chapters of the story take place in New Zealand. The main characters, Olive and William Mackenzie, live in modern South London. The narrator’s clear and precise narrative style brings a measure of organization and rhythm to a strangely disjointed tale not quite suited to an audio presentation. Though the flow of the prose and McKenzie's rich, contralto voice are easy to listen to, the story line often becomes confusing, and the inclusion of orphan Jay Pascal adds only more confusion. In this case, if you like Dickensian detail and prose, read the book. S.C.A. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 01]