ONE AMAZING THING

Nine individuals are trapped inside an Indian consulate when an earthquake hits an unnamed American city. To make the situation more bearable, they pass the time by telling stories about important moments in their lives. Of the three narrators, Purva Bedi is the strongest, and her portrayal of characters with Indian accents adds color to the narrative. The two other narrators perform adequately, but they narrate only the odd chapter, and their presence doesn’t really seem necessary in this relatively short book. While the deliberate pace seems a bit slow at times and the characters’ stories are not equally satisfying, one can’t help but keep listening to find out what happens next. A.E.B. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2010]