GOOD GRIEF

When 36-year-old Sophie Stanton finds herself a widow, she copes the only way she knows how--by falling apart and surviving on ice cream. When her erratic behavior costs Sophie her job, she packs up, sells her house, and moves to Ashland, Oregon, to find herself and lose her grief. Amanda Foreman reads Sophie's struggles and triumphs with a solid sense of humor and tolerance, and captures beautifully the whiny nature of Sophie's rants, insecurities, and break-downs. The story itself moves slowly, but Sophie's self-pity, tiresome at times, is bearable thanks to Foreman's sympathetic performance. Foreman also shines when delivering the dialogue of 13-year-old Crystal, rife with attitude and self-destructiveness. A solid abridgment and happy ending make this a worthwhile listen. H.L.S. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 04/ JAN 05]