In the latest story collection by Richard Ford, men wander—often confused and uncertain—through a maze of unrealized hopes and unfulfilled ambitions. Stephen Mendel narrates with a gravelly monotone and deliberate cadence that draw the listener in—though they also cause individual stories to run together without many distinctions between the narrating characters. Where the Irish characters Ford is known for appear, Mendel bites into the appropriate accent with relish. Female voices are rare and often noticeably nasal. Listeners in the mood to get lost in contemplation and considerations of the heart at a certain age will find much to reward them here, while others may find the lack of forward momentum frustrating. N.M. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

In the latest story collection by Richard Ford, men wander—often confused and uncertain—through a maze of unrealized hopes and unfulfilled ambitions. Stephen Mendel narrates with a gravelly monotone and deliberate cadence that draw the listener in—though they also cause individual stories to run together without many distinctions between the narrating characters. Where the Irish characters Ford is known for appear, Mendel bites into the appropriate accent with relish. Female voices are rare and often noticeably nasal. Listeners in the mood to get lost in contemplation and considerations of the heart at a certain age will find much to reward them here, while others may find the lack of forward momentum frustrating. N.M. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine