FAMILY FAMILY

Those who listen to this audiobook will learn that Tolstoy was wrong when he said happy families are all alike. There are many kinds of happy families, and they appear in all sorts of configurations here. The novel's focus is on adoption and how it is a positive, uplifting choice for those concerned. The liquid, uplifting voice of Patti Murin tells the story of actress India Allwood, who becomes pregnant twice, both times placing her babies in homes of her choosing and then later in life adopting twins. There are many characters in this family chronicle, including teens and children, and Murin presents them believably. The tone of this story is lighthearted, though life's complications are not glossed over. At the end, listeners are treated to an enlightening conversation between the author and the narrator. D.L.G. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2024]