SLEEPING WITH SCHUBERT

A story as light as a bubble needs a reader who can keep it shimmering in the air. Staci Snell does it beautifully. The premise: Attractive, high-spirited Liza Derbin suddenly (and incon-veniently) finds herself sharing her body with the spirit of Franz Schubert. She's never been a musical genius before; Franz has never been an American, or a lawyer, or a young woman before. Liza has a zany family, a tumultuous love life, and an up-for-anything personality. Snell's performance is full of wit and sympathy for her predicament, and equally deft with the myriad other voices. Except for the publisher's odd claim of "Including the music of Franz Schubert" (30 seconds of the Trout Quintet at the fade-out), this is a thorough delight. B.G. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 04/ JAN 05]