HIGH SPIRITS

Coral Peña's narration of these short stories is both contemporary and timeless. The disconnections of the Dominican diaspora are palpable in the tales of the Belén family, as the varied time periods and locations of the stories are not always immediately apparent. Peña convincingly delivers Beléns of different ages and backgrounds as members of the family spread throughout the U.S. and back to the Dominican Republic. Family ties are both a strength and a stress, frequently at the same time. Magic creeps into some of the stories, which draw emotionally on the memoirs and family lore of the author. Peña's even and reverent tone is a steady guide through a fragmented world. S.T.C. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2022]