AUTUMN Seasonal Quartet, Book 1

Ali Smith's moving, dreamlike novel, the first in a planned quartet, is made even lovelier by narrator Melody Grove's consummate narration. Smith weaves the friendship of a young woman and an old man, the tragic life of a British pop artist, and the Brexit vote into a complex narrative that explores isolation and unexpected connections. Grove never loses the plot's twisting thread, confidently guiding the listener as the story moves from the present day to 1960s London to WWII France. She imbues her performance with warmth and humor that help ground the story, and her slight variations in tone and accent make the characters easily discernable. E.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2017]