CRAZY LADIES

A cast of memorable Southern women--six generations--their loves, mistakes and struggles--makes up this entertaining novel, superbly read by the author. West's nuances of dialect are authentic, and she fully creates each character vocally, expressing the full emotional range without ever going too far. In a feat unusual for an author/narrator, she makes it hard to imagine anyone else reading the story better. Beginning in the Depression with Gussie and a deep family secret, the story moves through the decades, developing stories of Gussie's daughters and their children, as well as that of Queenie, the young black woman who comes to work for Gussie in the '30s and becomes part of the saga. West's skill at creating fully believable characters (despite the dramatic events in their lives) makes this a rich and robust novel, wonderfully performed. M.A.M. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 00]