The Cloud Forest

Peter Matthiessen chronicles the wildlife and cultures he encountered during a lengthy trip through South America. His eloquent prose and unique descriptive talent make one think one is hearing a novel. First published in 1961, this book reveals some outdated attitudes, as when the author calls the indigenous people "savages" and describes children as having a "dirty-brown color." The baritone voice of narrator Stefan Rudnicki booms at a crisp pace. He capitalizes on the author's tendency to exploit alliterative phrases and pronounces the abundant scientific names with ease. However, to read a book about South America, a narrator should have a better ability with Spanish names and places. Also, audiobooks have no graphics, and that's disappointing in view of the extent to which flora, fauna, and geography dominate the account. J.A.H. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine