A SON OF THE CIRCUS

John Irving presents his usual cast of eccentric characters—from circus performers (including dwarves) to a screenwriting doctor, from a missionary trying to find himself to a policeman trying to solve a string of murders. What results in this magnificent novel is more than a sum of its parts, and it lives up to Irving's quirky yet endearing style. David Colacci's smooth reading matches Irving's tone, which varies from ribald to sarcastic to playful. Colacci negotiates a variety of voices and accents with aplomb, yet remains in the background, never thrusting himself in front of the text. The combination of this fluent reading and this wonderful book is magical. K.M. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2008]