FROG

By and large, Graeme Malcolm does justice to this Chinese novel. The work is involved and emotional enough to require an experienced narrator who relates the pathos behind each plot event, especially considering that many listeners will have nothing more than a passing understanding of the culture in which the story takes place. Malcolm delivers a powerful performance, but it's not consistently paced. Speaking too quickly near the beginning of the audiobook, he then slows down and evens out within the first hour. The narration pace continues to fluctuate but never for very long. This inconsistency doesn't prevent comprehension or reflection, but it does mar the listening experience. N.J.B. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2015]