BY THE RIVER PIEDRA I SAT DOWN AND WEPT

A young Spanish woman is inspired by a mysterious man she has loved since childhood to leave her graduate studies and embark upon a spiritual quest in the Pyrenees. The story springs to life through the expert treatment of Stephanie Zimbalist. The writing itself is compelling, and in the audio format listeners experience the story as if Zimbalist is telling it personally to them. Her accent and spot-on enunciation convey the protagonist's vacillation between skepticism and enthusiasm over the course of this spiritual love story, and flesh out the depths and subtleties of her emotional journey. Occasional musical enhancements do not add much to the story. The music of the narrator's voice is more than enough to satisfy. L.V.B. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2008]