CHARMING BILLY

If you're prone to crying or misting up at a sad tale well told, don't drive while listening to this book. Billy Lynch had a hard life, which led to hard drinking, which killed him. Between all that is a wonderful story. Narrator Roses Prichard expertly inhabits the book and uses her quirky, high-pitched voice to make it both wrenching and fascinating. She doesn't need to use character voices because her voice is so enchanting. It has a childlike quality at first, but it ages with the book until Prichard becomes the adult bearer of tragic tidings. She even gets to sing, which she also does well. It's hard to stop listening to both McDermott and Prichard--but have tissues ready. R.I.G. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 99]