SYRIA'S SECRET LIBRARY Reading and Redemption in a Town Under Siege

In terms of both content and narration, this audiobook is a fine example of how compelling nonfiction can be. The story comes from BBC reporter Mike Thomson, who used mainly Skype and WhatsApp to interview a group of Syrians who are risking their lives to run a secret library in the war-torn city of Darayya. Narrator David Rintoul offers a commanding and erudite voice to Thomson's journalistic work. He skillfully captures the narrative's inherent sense of humanity, hope, and resilience during the worst of times. Audiophiles and bibliophiles will surely appreciate this true story of how books and reading are essential parts of any culture. A.T.N. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2019]