DANCING ON THE EDGE OF THE ROOF

By the time Juanita, age 42, abruptly leaves the cramped Ohio project apartment she shares with her trifling adult son and daughter, both she and the listener are well aware that this is an extraordinary journey we are about to embark upon. The combination of Lizan Mitchell's sassy joie de vivre and an exemplary range of character voices brings this 2003 Mahogany Book Club Book of the Year vividly to life. Mitchell's performance is spot-on, making us laugh, shed tears, and cheer on our heroine and her journey of self-discovery, which leads to Paper Moon, Montana. The listener will empathize with this late-bloomer, who just wants to see what else the world has to offer before she's too old to care. P.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 05]