SHADOWS OF BERLIN

Suzanne Toren's performance is a tour de force. In 1955, in New York City, Rachel, a Jewish refugee, is plagued by guilt for her actions during WWII. She has "episodes" that land her in a straitjacket at Bellevue. Her supportive American husband, Aaron, believes that having a child is their duty to the future. Rachel's reasons for denying them this joy are always clear, thanks to Toren's lush voice and understated delivery. Toren's every word rings true, every powerful emotion tugs at the heart, and her Yiddish is faultless. When Rachel is visited by the ghost of her mother, an artist, or menaced by her personal guilt, Toren's nuanced presentation is fully credible. As this novel questions whether the past can be redeemed by the future, Toren is simply outstanding. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2022]