THE GAZEBO

True love is so rare in this world, and Grayson tells us a wonderful, heart-rending tale of love between Claire Swift, born into a working-class family, and Martin Rayfiel, scion of a rich hat manufacturer. The story is delivered on cassette to Abby Reston, the local newspaper editor, and switches from past to present. Linda Stephens narrates with flowing words and emphasizes events with clipped phrases. But she never relaxes into that background mode that lets the reader forget her presence. Perhaps that is due to the novel's curious point of view. The character of Martin Rayfiel uses the third person to unfold a fifty-year love story that holds more sorrow and separation than anyone should endure. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/JAN 01]