THE LONELY HEARTS HOTEL

Narrator Julia Whelan's refined, feminine voice might seem a strange choice for this moody, peculiar novel heavily laced with violence and vulgarity. But Whelan's pleasant style is perfectly suited to the almost magical, scintillating tale of Pierrot and Rose. Abandoned in an orphanage as babies, they perform an eccentric musical act during their adolescent years--but are separated as young adults, each making his or her way in the dark side of the city during the Great Depression. In the midst of describing their miserable lives, Whelan shines in her understated delivery of Heather O'Neill's rich and delightful similes. This is a beautifully rendered novel, simultaneously menacing and vibrant, and Whelan's unobtrusive narration does it full justice. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2017]