SPOONER

Pete Dexter is lucky to have the fine Tom Stechschulte reading his newest book, a Mark Twain-esque tale of the haphazard lives of two men. Stechschulte's voice, as clear and plain and broad as the prairie, beautifully captures the laconic humor that permeates the intertwined stories of Warren Spooner and his stepfather, Calmer Ottosson. Stechschulte doesn't people the audio with lots of different voices; instead he offers just enough variation to keep conversations understandable and focuses on the melody of Dexter's narrative. This is a reading that makes you want to kick off your shoes, lean your chair back to the tipping point, and listen awhile. A.C.S. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2009]