THE DEARLY BELOVED

Narrator Kathy Keane invites listeners along as seminarians Charles and James meet Lily, an avowed and potentially unlikable atheist, and Nan, who is gentle and supportive. These are the women they believe are destined to be their partners in life. Relationships between the characters are developed slowly, letting listeners get to know them. Keane especially draws listeners in as the characters ponder the nature of faith. The story allows her to couple the book's elegant writing with masterful portrayals of the four leads and the people who surround them, though the work focuses on the two women. Keane is especially skilled in her portrayals of Lily and Nan as they deal with heartbreak, their husbands, and each other over decades. E.J.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2019]