My audiobook listening is almost wholly aimed at escapism and diversion, something to help me get through the drudgery of an afternoon beating back the knotweed attempting to take over my backyard. Not that the occasional classic or chewy nonfiction doesn't sneak its way onto my playlist, but the audiobooks I listen to have to be more than just a little bit fun.
A juicy combo of mob thriller and Dickensian saga, this novel begins with a Mercedes plowing through a homeless encampment in Delhi, then traces the origins of the car's driver-a low-caste rural boy who, through a series of fortunate misfortunes, ends up as a bodyguard to the son of a fabulously wealthy crime family. Age of Vice is a bit too long in the way some Victorian novels are, a flaw in terms of art, but a pleasure for anyone who longs to immerse themself in an expansive yarn. Athavale handles the huge cast of characters with a low-key dexterity that delivers a seamless experience.
Penguin Random House Audio released new recordings of most of Borges' work this year, much of it narrated by Castulo Guerra. There's an earlier, abridged version of Collected Fictions performed by George Guidall, and the comparison is fascinating. Guidall's Borges is crisper and emphasizes the master's ironic side. Guerra's soft, almost slushy voice features better Spanish pronunciations and plays up Borges' melancholy romanticism. Both are well worth a listen, and having so much of Borges' work available on audio is one of the unanticipated treasures 2023 brought.
#Audiobooks #Escapism #Novel #Mob thriller #Dickensian saga #Delhi #Borges #Penguin Random House Audio
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