The Eastern Stars

Two things mean economic freedom in the town of San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic--sugar cane and baseball. The latter is the focus of Mark Kurlansky's portrait. He describes how baseball rescues some young men from a life of poverty and how the game has shaped the entire community. While he goes into sometimes-unneeded depth when explaining the history of the community, his eye for detail in describing the village offers a vivid portrait. The author explores both the success stories and the seamy underside of exploitation. Ed Sala offers an engaging narration that is reminiscent of a grizzled former ballplayer spinning yarns about his playing days. His occasional slips on Spanish pronunciations can be forgiven, as his throaty voice gives the reading a character to match the material. R.C.G. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine