THE RECENT EAST

Angela Dawe is an outstanding narrator for this expansive audiobook. Spanning three generations, the story begins with 12-year-old Beate's move from East Germany to the U.S. in 1968. As Beate grows up and has her own family, Dawe maintains a powerful performance, infusing this engrossing story with sincerity and energy. Whether Dawe is savoring some of the observant details of the narrative or creating conversations with nuanced tones and accents, the story comes to life early and stays vivid all the way through. Even in the novel's slower moments, Dawe's voice is strong, and her pace is excellent. As a good narrator will do, she lets the story shine with patient grace and confident kindness. This audiobook is definitely worth a listen. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2021]