THE CURIOUS HEART OF AILSA RAE

Cathleen McCarron's lilting intonation and Scottish accent beautifully capture the quiet optimism of this heartfelt novel, set in Edinburgh. Ailsa Rae, who is 28, had a congenital heart defect that had her in and out of hospitals all her life. An alluring breathlessness in McCarron's soft voice conveys a tone of confiding when she reads entries in Ailsa's blog, "Blueheart," and also brings out Ailsa's initial physical fragility and self-doubt. McCarron convincingly portrays Ailsa's apprehension and excitement with her new life after her heart transplant. Additionally, this engaging listen imparts information about organ transplants, donors, and recipients who are involved in Ailsa's story. M.F. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2019]