The John Cheever Audio Collection

This remarkable treat for lovers of audio books is as tastefully and elegantly packaged as it is performed by a first-class lineup of narrators. The tone is set by Benjamin Cheever, who reads his father's preface to The Stories of John Cheever. The 12 selections here are culled from that landmark volume, and, while there is bound to be disappointment that one story or another was not selected, there is nothing disappointing about any of the readings offered here. In fact, they are exceptional, from Meryl Streep's portrayal of marital tension and denial in "The Enormous Radio" to Peter Gallagher's take on "O Youth and Beauty!" and Blythe Danner's tone for the pathetically sad ending of "The Chaste Clarissa." The inclusion of Cheever's readings makes for a deeply personal, resonant finale to a truly superb production.