TOO BEAUTIFUL TO DANCE

Juanita McMahon plays up the maturity of the heroine as the main element of dramatization in Appleyard's story of a middle-aged woman setting out to discover life after her divorce. McMahon's regional British pronunciation may be difficult for American listeners, and her voicings of the older characters in the story are overembellished. As divorcée Sara seeks out a new life in Cornwall, she must also help her daughters reconcile their parents' separation. This family drama never gathers enough momentum to become captivating. Further, Sara's public betrayal by her philandering husband lacks drama, which makes it difficult to take seriously as the event that triggers the action of the novel. R.F. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2008]