SPECIMEN DAYS

The author of THE HOURS has written a work that is actually three New York stories. Each uses the same characters but puts them indifferent eras: the 1890s, the present, and finally 150 years in the future. Narrator Alan Cumming has a fine voice tinged with an Irish brogue that comes in handy in the first story, which takes place on the Lower East Side. The problem, though, is that he reads much too fast, swallows some words, and becomes too excited during the exciting parts. If he would slow down, the book would flow better. The publisher also needs to let us know when we've come to the end of the CD, and what CD we're listening to. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 05]