SOY SAUCE FOR BEGINNERS

Narrator Nancy Wu is a sensible choice for the story of a modern woman who is reluctantly returning to the bosom of her traditional family. Wu is capable and consistent as she moves through the details of Asian condiments, which are the center of the narrative. She chooses dramatic inflections to emphasize the accents of the Singaporean characters. The ups and downs of the family are brought to life as Wu differentiates the large cast of characters through small variations in delivery. She also varies her pitch and tone to distinguish between the many male and female speakers. M.R. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2014]