WHALE

Cindy Kay is easy on the ears as she delivers this imaginative story of lively villagers who remain in a sleepy South Korean outpost as most of their country forges into 21st-century modernity. Through detailed narrative, Kay switches between the actions of two wildly different women. From the scheming mother, Geumbok, to her mute daughter, Chunhui, Kay establishes easily identifiable individuals. When Chunhui is released from prison, Geumbok's ambitions rise, and so does Chunhui's ability to talk to elephants. Listeners will be lulled by Kay's lyrical delivery of life in this unusual village where bees can be controlled by the whistle of a one-eyed woman. This venture into magical realism in a new setting is enhanced by its experienced narrator. M.R. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2023]