NORTHERNMOST

Edoardo Ballerini and Lisa Flanagan bring poetic pacing and a sense of coldness--both physical and emotional--to performances that are true to this audiobook. Ballerini portrays Odd Einar, a sealer who is stranded alone for two weeks in the Arctic in 1897 before being rescued and arriving home in the middle of his own funeral. Ballerini's deep voice and tinge of an accent perfectly capture Einar's epic survival, followed by the emotional maelstrom of reentering his old life. Flanagan portrays Greta, a descendent of Einar living in northern Michigan in 2017. Flanagan imbues Greta with a steely resolve and a slight edge to her voice that also feel appropriate. The stories come together as Greta travels to Hammerfest, learns about Odd Einar, and falls in love. A.B. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2020]