KISS CARLO

Narrator Edoardo Ballerini's soft intonation sets the mood for this delightful story of postwar Italian-Americans in the Philadelphia suburbs. Ballerini's range of voices and accents distinguishes the characters and gives personality to both males and females. His delivery deepens the listener's connection to the plot, which centers on family dynamics, the theater world, romance, and friendship. Author Trigiani's well-loved humor and ability to capture the characters' culture take the spotlight in this celebration of all things Italian, including colorful language and culinary specialties. Ballerini's enthusiasm for the audiobook is contagious, even as he is sometimes too ardent. He tones down his performance, however, when the story turns to more complex themes such as ethnic differences and the difficulties of departing from society's expectations. C.B.L. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2017]