ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603010093
SECTION: BOOKS PAGE: F-4 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: BOOK REVIEW
SOURCE: REVIEWED BY CAROL DALHOUSE
PRIMARY COLORS. By Anonymous. Read by Blair Underwood. Random House Audio Books. Abridged. $18.
Remember Bill Clinton's campaign for the presidential nomination in 1992? Then you don't need a plot summary of "Primary Colors." It's a thinly disguised retelling of those events - the inside story of "the come-back kid." You don't have to be a political junkie to identify the alter egos of Bill and Hillary, Mario Cuomo, George Stephanopoulos, et al.
"Primary Colors" is full of political lingo - the press corps becomes the scorps - and quick-witted turns: "Like a good liberal, he gave me my racial space." Unfortunately, all the suspense lies outside the plot; it is a who-wrote-it, rather than a who-done-it. That word Anonymous just under the title has us all mesmerized and has launched a huge manhunt both inside the beltway and at cocktail parties everywhere. My guess? Garry Trudeau. The quick thrusts of humor, the short takes, the odd mix of cynicism and naivete smack more of the political cartoon than of the political novel - but what do I know?
"Primary Colors" is a fluffy souffle, best consumed as quickly as possible, before all that hot air cools and it falls flat. Listen to the version on tape. It's the perfect way to take it in before your next power breakfast or cocktail party. Blair Underwood (late of L.A. Law) is a proficient narrator. His reading style is a bit over-excited and there are several misplaced emphases, but his diction is clear and his voice is pleasant. Get it while it's hot!
Carol Dalhouse is a graduate of Hollins College.
The way it was
LENGTH: Short : 40 linesby CNB