The Perfume Burned His Eyes

Author and narrator Michael Imperioli draws on his acting skills to elevate this coming-of-age drama about a young man and his friendship with rock god Lou Reed. It's New York in the mid-70s, and Matthew is moving with his mother to a posh apartment building in Manhattan. Imperioli lets the grit and grime of the streets infuse his delivery. With a tone of innocence and wonder in his voice, Imperioli portrays characters of the downtown music scene like the tragic temptress Veronica and Reed's transgender girlfriend, Rachel. For Matthew, Reed becomes a transmogrifying figure, resulting in a scene in which Imperioli portrays the boy maniacally writing down lyrics Reed wrote on a wall and left behind when he moved. R.O. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine