"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]
Trade Ed. Random House Audio 2023
DD ISBN 9780593741795 $22.50
Library Ed. Books on Tape 2023
DD ISBN 9780593741801 $95.00
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