ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 21, 1996 TAG: 9604230019
SECTION: BOOKS PAGE: 4 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: BOOK REVIEW
INTO THE WILD.
By John Krakauer. Read by Campbell Scott. Random House Audio Books. $18.
Audio books are one of the guilty pleasures available to commuters. This one, "Into the Wild," read ably by actor Campbell Johnson, covers the discovery of the starved corpse of Chris McCandless in Alaska and the circumstances by which this graduate of Emory University found his way to an abandoned city bus deep in the Alaskan bush. As this reading was abridged, I fear the parts left out were those which delved deeper into McCandless' personality. This book would be better served by an unabridged reading. One technical flaw - the two cassettes have long silent passages at the end of each side; common practice in audio readings appends a short message to advise the listener to flip the cassette over and begin listening at the same point. This practice prevents the anxiety of wondering if more is forthcoming on the current side.
- LARRY SHIELD
THE MAKING OF AN AMERICAN CAPITALIST.
By Roger Lowenstein. Read by James Lurie. Random House Audiobooks. Abridged. $18.
The rich baritone of James Lurie gives businesslike authority to Roger Lowenstein's biography. Warren Buffet began his entrepreneurial life as a paperboy in Omaha and rose to become one of this century's most successful investors. His first purchase, made while he was in high school, was Nebraska farmland. But companies were his important focus. The tape details his loyal adherence to Berkshire-Hathaway, his acquisition of The Washington Post, his anticipation of Coca-Cola's global growth and his guidance of Salomon Brothers through scandal and legal problems.
Those with an interest in today's markets who are too busy with business (or car pools or golf) to read the 473-page book, will find this exploration of Buffet's life and strategies a worthwhile investment of time.
- MARY ANN JOHNSON
PRIMAL FEAR.
By William Diehl. Read by Will Patton. Random House Audiobooks. $18.
The book, "Primal Fear," has been made into a movie starring Richard Gere, which is playing in Roanoke. The story is a lesson in pure evil. The gruesome murder of a popular archbishop is followed by a trial which pits a vengeful female prosecutor against a devious, no-holes-barred defense lawyer.
On the audio tape, an abridgement that leave no obvious holes in the narrative, Will Patton effectively varies voice and intonation according to character, an element important to this story in particular. This one will get you a good way down the road.
- MARY ANN JOHNSON
Larry Shield trains dogs and horses in Franklin County.
Mary Ann Johnson is the book page editor.
LENGTH: Medium: 59 linesby CNB