THE ARCH AND THE BUTTERFLY

Narrator Peter Ganim's deep baritone creates a tone of mournfulness throughout this entire tale of sorrow. Youssef wrestles with the death of his only son, who was an Islamic jihadist in Afghanistan. Ganim captures a father's disappointment, grief, and indignation in the aftermath of tragedy. Ganim's precise tone, diction, and cadence create the impression that Youssef is utterly in control at an unfathomable moment. This is the deception the writer and narrator expertly weave for the listener, for this is actually the story of an unraveling life, marriage, and fatherhood. The story is told with a depth of feeling that pulls at the heartstrings. M.R. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2015]