LEONARD BERNSTEIN: A LIFE

Secrest tells all--and it's all fascinating! This is a juicy biography of Leonard Bernstein, the monumental musical prodigy, who captured America's heart with WEST SIDE STORY, excited criticism and praise for his flamboyant conducting style, and shocked everyone with his unconventional ways. It's the kind of book one just can't put down. Kimberly Schraf reads on and on in her pleasant, detached way, and the listener hangs on every word. Her pace is as regular as a musical pulse. Her tone is crisp and restrained. The occasional mispronunciations are annoying, but the subject is so engrossing that one is willing to overlook them. "Lennie" comes to life, and it would be a shame to miss him. L.R.S. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB 97]