George Newbern narrates this provocative novel in a relaxed conversational style that allows Tuil’s breathtaking story to sparkle. Sam Tahar, a wealthy New York attorney, learns that a life built on lies will eventually unravel. He can’t resist wooing Nina, the ex-lover he lost long ago to his former best friend, Samuel, and this uncontrollable hunger triggers an inevitable downward spiral. Newbern’s straightforward dialogue and fast pace sometimes make it difficult for for the listener to identify which character is speaking. But this shortcoming is relatively insignificant because this work stands so strongly on its narrative elegance. It’s a dark story, but Newbern’s performance doesn’t linger on the gravitas. It seems that obsession will destroy only those who deserve it. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
There’s no escape quite like a great book, and December’s best releases offer all kinds. Take a road trip through 16th-century Europe with two wayward relic hunters, tour the mid-twentieth century with a bon vivant hero who always seems to be in the right place at the right time, and lose yourself in the retold love story between […]