HER

Zigman's novel features a cast of neurotic characters. Narrator Elise is paranoid about the presence of her fiancé's ex-fiancée, and fiancé Donald seems afraid to let his ex, Adrienne, go. Even super-beautiful Adrienne is insecure and clingy, and the waves of self-involved tension even radiate out to include Elise's friends. Ilana Levine gives a solid performance, clear and appropriately ironic, but it cannot detract from the fact that the 6-hour audiobook is about 3 hours too long. Elise's fearful rants become redundant and tiresome after the first chapter, and there seems to be no motivation for her grating behavior. What should be humorous scenes of pseudo-obsession--Elise's "drive-bys" past the competition's house, late night forays into Donald's desk drawers--just seem pathetic after the third time she does them. And she's only getting started. L.B.F. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 02]