Foggy Mountain Breakdown

Multiple narrators bring a variety of delivery, vocal tone, and accents to seven short stories set in southern Appalachian locales. The narration is clear, often slightly accented, with easily distinguishable characters. Soft, sometimes melancholy, jazz music serves as breaks between stories. The last story, about a mystery writer and a fan, has two narrators and is exceptional. The fan's characterization is reminiscent of a gangster; the mystery writer sounds crisp and businesslike in the beginning before she evolves into a warm, gentle personality--who ends up in a shocking situation. An additional story, about Clutey Campbell's senior group and its Wicca spells, is laugh-out-loud funny. This production is great for quick trips. G.D.W. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine