HOW TO PRONOUNCE KNIFE Stories

Narrators James Tang and Kulap Vilaysack capture diverse emotions in this moving collection of stories about the lives of new immigrants. In the title story, Tang brings out a Laotian girl's complex emotions after her father wrongly instructs her on how to pronounce the word "knife." Tang's spot-on syntax and versatile range of voices are also highlighted in "Chik-A-Chee" and "Randy Travis." Vilaysack's narration is equally dynamic and evocative. Her plainspoken portrayals of an 8-year-old girl who is getting candid life lessons from her great-grandmother in "Ewwrrrkkl" and a young woman who works as a worm picker in "Picking Worms" convey chagrin, pride, and unspoken tenderness. Sensitive and expressive, Tang and Vilaysack's performances showcase these unobtrusive yet powerful stories. M.F. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2020]