THREE APPLES FELL FROM THE SKY

This folkloric tale is ultimately a story of human resilience in the face of unbelievable hardship. Narrator Anoush NeVart recounts the disasters and personal tragedies that beset an isolated village in the Armenian highlands. Her delivery is straightforward and largely dispassionate as she chronicles war, drought, insect infestations, famine, mudslides, and the deaths of so many children. There are moments of mordant humor--as when Anatolia, age 58, thinks she is dying and prepares to meet her end in a highly organized and methodical manner. NeVart's creation of numerous voices makes the characters seem real, and she delivers accents typical of Eastern Europe. The story is not all doom and gloom. These are characters living stoically and determinedly amid the dwindling but caring population of their community. D.L.G. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2020]