THE AWAKENING

Chopin's classic feminist novel was once considered scandalous for its depiction of a woman's sexuality, and the work still has enormous potency. The story concerns Edna Pontellier, a young woman of the Louisiana bourgeoisie at the end of the nineteenth century, who confronts the realization that her conventional marriage and even her children do not bring the satisfaction she believes is her due. Without moral judgment, Chopin portrays Edna's attraction to another man, which leads her to the abandonment of her family but not the fulfillment she craves. Shelly Frasier's reading is thick with languor and sensuality as she creates an Edna who feels all but physically present. M.O. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 05]