BRIDGE OF CLAY

Author Zusak narrates his long-awaited novel as if he has spent time with his characters in real life. In his gentle Australian accent, Zusak lingers over his well-chosen words, accenting their rhythms. His quiet tone belies the power of his story. Matthew, the eldest, tells the tale of the five Dunbar brothers. Much of his focus is on Clay, the fourth, who is "the best of us." Zusak's storytelling range is immense. Skillfully, he weaves together the life and death of the boys' musical mother and her early escape from Eastern Europe. There's Clay's love of the girl next door and the boys' relationship with their estranged father. These strands intermingle with bits of THE ILIAD and THE ODYSSEY and imagery that will make listeners stop, rewind, and listen again. S.W. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2018]