EVERYTHING AND A KITE

Why is it that stand-up comedians' audiobooks do so well? Ray Romano's Everything and a Kite is performed perfectly. It nearly defies the typical translation of text to spoken word by sounding as though he's making it all up as he goes along. In his trademark baritone he offers quiet asides, long pauses as he seems to think about how that last bit just came out, general appeals to the listener as though he were right there in the room. Romano stresses (among other things) the joke of his book, the fact that he may very well be too stupid to write at all. He even frets about the book's title, which--don't worry--does get explained. R.A.P. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 99]