THE EGG AND I

Narrator Heather Henderson's straightforward, upbeat approach is just right for this reissue of Betty MacDonald's back-to-the-land memoir, which was a 1945 bestseller. Newlyweds Betty and Bob move from Seattle to the rural Olympic Peninsula to fulfill Bob's dream of owning a chicken farm. Yes, a chicken farm. And a house with no heat, electricity, or indoor plumbing. Soon, they welcome two children into the mix. It wasn't easy, but the adventures and tribulations were pretty funny. Henderson narrates with a wry tone and a gift for the deadpan that's well suited to smoking wood stoves, leaking roofs, and quirky neighbors. Despite some dated and stereotyped descriptions of those neighbors, this is a fun listen. A.C.S. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2015]