ON THE DIVINITY OF SECOND CHANCES

This delightful novel of a family turning crises into opportunities is given a Rolls-Royce production, with each character performed by a different actor as the narrative point of view shifts from Grandma Pearl, to Phil, then Anna, then their three grown children—and, from time to time, even to the moon. Anna's voice is particularly elegant; Phil's warm and appealing; Olive, the banker daughter, and Forrest, the runaway son, are both artfully performed; and pistol-toting, tap-dancing Pearl provides splendid comic relief. Younger daughter Jade, at the heart of the book, has a regrettable flat quack to her voice, but it would take far more than that to diminish the many pleasures of this listening experience—and the big-hearted charm of the author's vision. B.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2009]