FROM THIS DAY FORWARD

Cokie and Steve Roberts tell the story of their life together with candor, insight and a good bit of humor. They reveal the adjustments, struggles, and growth that have made their partnership work for over thirty years--from their first meeting in college through their courtship and family years. Interspersed with their story are passages narrated by Sandra Burr that relate the stories of other marriages: John and Abigail Adams, slave and pioneer marriages, and some that have ended in divorce. The Roberts's experience as journalists is revealed by their insight into their own story, as well as their willingness to discuss their own mistakes and struggles. Their narration is fresh and immediate, without any hint of rehearsal or overfamiliarity with the material. They always sound comfortable, both with each other and with the listener. Usually they alternate passages of varying length, but sometimes they respond to an observation the other has made, as in a conversation. Their tone is at turns serious, funny, acerbic and self-deprecating. By contrast, Sandra Burr's narration seems overly sweet, perhaps more in contrast to the Roberts' tone. This is a minor quibble in an outstanding production that will be long remembered by the listener. Don't miss this one. M.A.M. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 00]