THE USES OF ENCHANTMENT

Heidi Julavits slips back and forth between past and present to tell the circuitous story of Mary Veal as she returns to West Salem, Massachusetts, for her mother's funeral. Mary mysteriously disappeared as a teenager, only to reappear two weeks later with no explanation for what had happened. Shelly Frasier stays in control of the story's changes in chronology, narration, and dialogue. She excels when portraying Mary's aunt and Mary's manipulative therapist. Frasier's voice remains steady even through detailed psychological analyses and discussion of Freudian theory as Mary tries to come to grips with her past and her less-than-perfect family. Frasier keeps the pace moving and brings a much needed depth to ordinary characters struggling with their disordered history together. H.L.S. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 07]