THIRTEEN MOONS

Charles Frazier's combination of poetic prose and cracker-barrel plainness is tailor-made for Will Patton's familiar folksy voice. Patton plunges listeners into the life of frontiersman Will Cooper, the aged, cantankerous narrator. Patton shines as Cooper reflects on the natural world and somewhat reluctantly tells the story of his life from bound-boy to lawyer, from senator to white Indian chief experiencing the demise of the Cherokee Nation. Frazier's period diction and sense of place are uncanny, but stock characters and his romanticized vision become obstacles. Happily, Patton avoids falling into the "bad" soldier/"good" Indian stereotype. His inflections create subtlety and human dimension on both sides. The book is good. Will Patton's performance is better. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 07]