THE CAGE KEEPER, AND OTHER STORIES

With his gritty narrative style, author Dubus adds a final dimension of realism to the rough men and women who populate this collection of tightly written stories. Both the language and the characters are coarse but totally appropriate for these tales of desperate lives lived on the ragged edges of society. His crusty, sometimes growly, inflections add subtle layers of authenticity to this gallery of hard people and hard times, while his unadorned presentation removes any sensationalism or offensiveness. Situations, including criminality, abuse, and family dysfunction, lose their shock value, thanks to Dubus's unemotional tones and quickly become daily life for these darkly fascinating characters. A persistent theme of hope and a brisk pace lessen the bleak atmosphere of this difficult but rewarding audio offering. M.O.B. 2014 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2014]