THE IMPRESSIONIST

There are a number of moments in this audiobook that will make the listener gasp, and those moments are a large part of what makes this novel worthwhile. The title character is Pran, but his actual name changes many times through the twists and turns of his journey. His life thrashes from nobleman to outcast, from foster child to British heir. Set against the vivid backdrops of India in turmoil and Britain's Oxford, the novel skims along, giving the reader a picture of history and culture by showing the "Impressionist" view of it. The author's reading is adept and appropriate: Pran's reaction to the world involves a certain distance from it, and Kunzru's performance is unobtrusive and clear. L.B.F. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 02]