THE NATURAL

If you saw the classic baseball movie of the same name and have not heard the audiobook, you are in for a surprise. Roy Hobbs breaks into the Majors in his 30s and is immediately confronted by challenges on and off the diamond. Narrator Fred Berman is great--he uses varied tones and accents that fit the range of personalities Roy meets. The Judge, the team owner, is a pompous figure whose air of indignation comes across in every word. Pop is a crusty, frustrated manager with a slight drawl. Red, his coach, has a slower, more deliberate, high-pitched tone. Gus, a gambler, has an untrustworthy air about him. With meticulous, consistent attention to each voice, Berman gives identities to everyone in Roy's life. It enhances this dark-edged classic. M.B. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2021]