CHARLIE BROWN'S AMERICA The Popular Politics of Peanuts

Blake Scott Ball uses subtlety and understatement, much like "Peanuts" creator Charles Schulz himself did, to paint a thoughtful portrait of Schulz's life and the political commentary he quietly placed in his renowned comic strip and later animated television specials. Sadly, Johnny Heller's delivery style is more like that of an anchorman. (Think: "Here now--the news!") It does not suit the narration challenge at hand. This work requires a nuanced performance. Schulz's life is well chronicled, including information on his wide circle of friends and admirers, including Ronald Reagan. But the audiobook is an opportunity lost. The narrator should have been more appropriately matched to the subject matter. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2021]