BEAUTIFUL WILD

Vida Hazzard is arguably a self-centered, scheming heiress, yet narrator Amy McFadden reinterprets her by delving into her intriguing feminist qualities. McFadden's ironic asides show Vida's limited choices aboard a Pacific ocean liner that capsizes and strands passengers on an island. She makes Vida hard to define, while calling out the duplicity of Vida's wealthy love interest, Fitz, using a cocky bravado. Her drawl elicits humor, disdain, or frustration, as Vida's situation demands. McFadden has a talent for embedding different character voices, including that of Vida's other love interest, Sal, into a cohesive narrative, such that no characters seem assumed or out of place. While high-society pettiness, island survival, and a love triangle make for a far-fetched yarn, McFadden ensures that listeners relish the bumpy ride. C.A. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2020]