LAELIA

Ruth-Miriam Garnett's epic of three sisters, each in a bad marriage, is part feminist revenge, part morality play, and part country western lyric. What could have been a successful comedy is in reality a lackluster novel. Karen Chilton's mundane reading does little to nothing to elevate this work. Where the story could have been made palpable by an engaging performance, Chilton gives us a droning monotone. The combination of narrative and narration equals a slumber-inducing product. The moral of the novel is to stand by your man, no matter how worthless he may be. This should not be the stance taken by the listener who happens upon this audiobook. P.R. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 06]