SUSANNAH'S GARDEN

Laural Merlington's clearly enunciated voice breathes life into Macomber's moving novel about mid-life expectations. Fifty-year-old Susannah Nelson returns to her hometown to help her newly widowed mother, Vivian. Vivian's high-pitched, halting voice reflects her age and sometimes confused mental state. At the same time, Susannah faces the demands of being a wife and mother. Her daughter's breathy, impatient tones highlight her immaturity, and her husband's deep voice is tinged with the sadness he feels over the state of their marriage. In her hometown Susannah must come to terms with herself and her life, along with the disappointments of her past. Merlington expertly fills Susannah's voice with hopefulness as she faces her ghosts and looks forward to the future. S.M. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 07]