CARN

In the Irish town of Carn, near the Northern Ireland border, lonely women search for greater meaning and dependable love in the angry ethos of their violent, tribal, misogynistic world. Donal Donnelly sings a strange lullaby of grief in lovely Irish rhythms, tones and textures, which remind the listener of the mellifluous prose sounds of James Joyce himself. (Donnelly is the inspired interpreter of Recorded Books's acclaimed unabridged ULYSSES.) The pace is slow. Not a syllable is missed; every word is a song of its own. When Donnelly simply says the names of Sadie Rooney and Josie Keenan, we hear his sympathy and start to flesh out their existence through his deep understanding. Since Donnelly's artistry makes the book better in performance than it could ever be in print, silent readers will be left far behind. P.W. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award [Published: MAR/APR 98]