WILD LAVENDER

Kate Hood’s clear and gentle voice is ideal for narrating the journey of Simone Fleurier. Belinda Alexandra’s heroine becomes the listener’s personal guide through a tumultuous slice of place and history, provincial and urban France before and during WWII. Besides giving Simone the authentic tone of a maturing young woman, Hood also provides believable voices for male characters, ranging from the gruff uncle to the urbane André. The descriptions of the Provençal countryside are as compelling as the details of the European music halls, where Simone rises to fame. This twenty-hour romantic escape is conveniently presented on two CDs, although an MP3-compatible player is required. R.F. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 05/ JAN 06]