PEARL

In this "inspirational romance" it's the 1880s. Rather than endure an arranged marriage, the smart and devout title maiden leaves her father's Chicago mansion to teach school on the rude prairie--taking up residence in a boarding house that used to be a bawdy house. The author steers clear of sensationalism and remains optimistic through clear, simple, rosy prose describing impossibly good people in a well-researched milieu. For this listener, narrator Alexandra O'Karma's puckered, anemic quality irritates and renders the story blander than it may appear on paper. Others, more eager to consume such fare, may find her perfect for the task at hand. Y.R. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 05]