Bombs Away

It takes a delicate touch to prevent John Steinbeck's BOMBS AWAY from sounding like a piece of jingoistic propaganda. Scott Aiello narrates in a conversational tone, with a dash of cynicism. His delivery works well for Steinbeck's government-commissioned account of the U.S. Air Force in 1942. It's a fascinating snapshot of history at a time when our nation is facing renewed surges of nationalistic fervor. Aiello keeps up the pace, eking intrigue out of some of the drier passages. When he lingers on the more personal and emotional stories, they're given due weight. Z.S. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine