WIFEDOM Mrs. Orwell's Invisible Life

"It's hard to live in someone's blind spot." This refrain is part of Funder's uniquely crafted audiobook about the life of Eileen O'Shaughnessy, George Orwell's wife. Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood is a capable narrator with a bright tone and considerable skill with voices and accents. The audiobook takes on many roles--O'Shaughnessy biography, author's memoir, and social commentary--all requiring a nimble narrator who can navigate the transitions and excerpted material. Parkes-Lockwood does a fine job, but the text may not be best suited to the audiobook format. Jane Slavin's role offers only a subtle shift when she assumes O'Shaughnessy's voice, and it becomes fatiguing to follow the various genres despite the dual delivery. Immersing oneself in a print version may be preferable for all but the most avid listener. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2024]