HOMESTEAD

Ariel Blake soothingly narrates this desolate tale of Marie and Lawrence as they come together and navigate an abrupt new marriage, loss of their first child, and homesteading in the rugged Alaskan wilderness during the 1950s. Blake convincingly recounts Lawrence's stoic presence, which is attributed to his brief but painful time in the Korean war and his deep sense of duty. Listeners can also hear desperate longing as Blake recounts how Marie wants to connect with her hardworking but distant husband, believing doing so is the key to a successful marriage. They bring to the marriage their own needs, which don't always match up with what their spouse can offer. The marriage of Marie's sister, Sheila, and her husband, Sly, further illuminates the novel. L.J.C.A. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2023]