FIVE QUARTERS OF THE ORANGE

Fans of the author’s CHOCOLAT will be delighted to find her back in France, with a tale infused with the names, fragrances, even the recipes Framboise prepares in her creperie in the town of Les Laveuses on the Loire. She has returned to the village where she grew up after many years’ absence, depending on no one’s recognizing her as the daughter of a presumed (and despised) Nazi collaborator. There is much that strains credulity here, yet the writing is lush and persuasive; the performance by Diana Bishop is impeccable and delightful. B.G. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 03]