City of God

When a cross stolen from a neighborhood church appears on the roof of a nearby synagogue, the mystery provides an opportunity for speculation on the existence of God and the nature of the universe--"profound, disastrous, hopeless infinitude," or cosmic comedy? Doctorow's style shifts from pithy philosophical theory to parodied analysis of popular song lyrics, from scientific extrapolation to Frank Sinatra to movie possibilities. Nick Sullivan delivers Doctorow's finely crafted lyric prose with intelligence and energy. He layers each character, providing distinctly different vocal textures for all, including Thomas Pemberton, the soul-searching Episcopal priest and Joshua and Sarah Green, both rabbis. CITY OF GOD offers a narrative challenge that Sullivan negotiates with finesse, making its complex "metamystical" ramble approachable and, even better, enlightening. S.J.H. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine