Boy Swallows Universe
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- اطلاعات
- نقد و بررسی
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نقد و بررسی
Stig Wemyss's performance of this unique audiobook is brisk and bold. His gorgeous Australian accent takes some getting used to--largely due to his fast pace--but once the listener is immersed in the story, any confusion largely disappears. What makes this production a challenge is the prose itself. Dalton sweeps from poetic meanderings to clear narrative at a moment's notice. The invested listener is the most likely to acclimate to the all-consuming style; this is not an audio performance for a casual or distracted listener, though. Once the story takes off, Eli's coming-of-age account is distinctive and appealing, thanks in large part to Wemyss's skill and enthusiasm as a narrator. His high energy and keen understanding of the characters bring the production to life. L.B.F. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
Starred review from February 11, 2019
Dalton’s splashy, stellar debut makes the typical coming-of-age novel look bland by comparison. The novel tracks bright, confused young narrator Eli as he moves through the ages of 12 to 19 in the 1980s in a seedy suburb of Brisbane. Eli’s best friends are his older brother, August, an electively mute genius with premonitions of the future, and former felon Slim, his babysitter and a notorious, frequent escapee from a heavily guarded prison. Eli loves his parents, but they’re a mess: his mom and step-dad deal heroin, and his dad is a depressed, panic-stricken alcoholic. The novel follows Eli as he nearly gets caught up in dealing drugs himself, discovers a secret room with a mysterious red telephone in his house, breaks into prison to wish his incarcerated mom a merry Christmas, and avenges the wrongs done to his family—all while pursuing his dream of becoming a journalist. In less adept hands, these antics might descend into whimsy, but Dalton’s broadly observant eye, ability to temper pathos with humor, and thorough understanding of the mechanics of plot prevent the novel from breaking into sparkling pieces. The author shapes Eli into an appealingly credible hero capable of shaping a future for himself despite a background that doesn’t bode well for him. This is an outstanding debut.
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