HER FEARFUL SYMMETRY

Once again, Niffenegger proves herself to be a master storyteller, carefully enveloping her listeners in an unlikely plot. Bianca Amato's skillful narration takes twins Julia and Valentina from their Chicago home to their late aunt's flat near London's Highgate Cemetery. Amato outfits Julia with a confident American accent, while portraying Valentina, aptly nicknamed "Mouse," as meek and trapped by her relationship with her sister. Eccentric neighbors Robert and Martin play an integral role as secrets are revealed and "Mouse" finds an effective, if otherworldly, way to free herself from Julia's death grip. Listeners will applaud Niffenegger’s skill in bringing plausibility to the unthinkable and Amato's range of accents and pacing. J.J.B. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2009]