THE MURMUR OF BEES

Xe Sands and Angelo Di Loreto narrate a Mexican novel that evokes the magical realism made famous by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. They tenderly tell the story of Simonopio, an abandoned baby who is swarmed by bees before he is found underneath a bridge. Sands and Di Loreto bring to life the men and women of the town, who are amazed the baby survived the bees and the elements. Listeners are immersed in their confident handling of the story, especially its magical elements. The narrators' hushed, sweet tones fully convince us that the baby grows into a boy who can see the future. For the Moraleses, the adoptive parents, their son is both a gift and a mystery. Happily, their mysterious gift and the story's outstanding narration make for a wonderful listen. M.R. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2019]