BLACK FOAM

Youssif Kamal lends his flexible baritone to this ambitious novel about the universal feeling of wanting to belong. He becomes the ever shifting Dawoud, also known as David, Adal, and Dawit, depending on where he is living and trying to fit in. Kamal's narration is smooth and well paced, almost to the point of a silkiness that reflects the more sensual moments of the plot. Listeners will be entranced by this performance. Through Kamal's characterization, we feel empathy for Dawoud as he changes his name, religion, and personality in order to escape a dark secret. We also feel increasing irritation as he endears himself to those around him under false pretenses. This is a surprising story with unique twists. M.R. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2023]