BETTER THAN I KNOW MYSELF

Lisa Renee Pitts is a marvel! Her depiction of a large cast of characters is remarkable. She lends distinct, expressive voices to lifelong friends Carmen, Jewel, and Regina but saves her best efforts for minor characters. Randy the rapist bears a mocking tone, Jewel’s mother a haughty one, and Jewel’s father a world-weary, gravelly quality. Pitts’s strong characterizations make it easy to relate to the protagonists’ hopes and struggles. Her narration of the ups and downs of these women’s lives is marred only by the frequent odd pauses in her reading. Still, listeners will find it difficult to turn off their CD players. J.J.B. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 05]