THE FAMILY ORCHARD

Polly Draper and Fritz Weaver bring to life six generations of a talented Jewish family. With impeccable diction Weaver handles the historical parts while Draper gets the juicier personal sections. Her soft, expressive voice wraps itself around the text, which is quite sensual in places. We enjoy vicarious love affairs, tastes, touches, and smells as we go back and forth in time with two highly skilled narrators. From the story of Esther, the nineteenth-century bride who has weekly assignations with a baker, to Eliezer, who marries a Boston baker's daughter, you won't want to miss a word. A family tree provided on the packaging is helpful, and the solo cello music that begins and ends each side completes this unique listening opportunity. J.B.G. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 01]