THE LAND OF THE MANGO SUNSETS

Nicole Poole uses sad, strained tones to express Miriam’s dissatisfaction with her life. Lacking a career, unhappily divorced, and estranged from her grown sons, Miriam longs to play a major role in New York City’s charity events and to have a man in her life other than her gay renter. But her situation changes when she returns to her South Carolina roots. Poole pampers listeners with the soothing Southern accents of Miriam’s mother, lets them savor descriptions of breathtaking sunsets, and has fun with the playfulness of a retired banker who nicknames the heroine “Mellie.” Mellie returns to New York transformed, and Poole responds to the shift by making her tone upbeat. Poole also adds irony to express Mellie’s new sense of humor and stronger backbone, and balances this with a palpable warmth. S.W. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2009]