A Rope and a Prayer

David Rohde, a NEW YORK TIMES correspondent in Afghanistan, was kidnapped in 2008 by the Taliban and held for seven months in Pakistan. His wife, Kristen Mulvihill, worked for his release. They tell both sides of the story, each reading his or her own part. Narration by the people who lived the events provides authenticity and immediacy, but both read in something of a monotone. Rohde's voice is nasal and not especially appealing, and he swallows words. Mulvihill's voice is stronger and more listenable, but her delivery often seems perfunctory. The book is informative and sometimes dramatic but also occasionally dull and repetitious. (Too many incidents are told from both points of view.) The authors' readings do not overcome these weaknesses. W.M. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine