ENVY, OR YIDDISH IN AMERICA & PAGAN RABBI

Cynthia Ozick is one of our most brilliant writers, and these short stories demonstrate why. Although her work is not always accessible, Ozick's brilliant dialogue and character development shine. Ron Rifkin's reading of "Envy, or Yiddish in America" is marvelous. He molds the characters and paces the dialogue, including Yiddish, keeping the listener's ear. Although this is a complex story one might want to re-read, Rifkin somehow manages to keep the listener's attention. Mitchell Greenberg's handling of "Pagan Rabbi" is every bit the equal of Rifkin's. He skillfully brings life to a story that deftly addresses a wide range of issues. And his ability to differentiate characters adds to the performance. D.J.S. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 01]