EVERYTHING IS POISON

Joy McCullough's narration of her novel written in prose and verse revolves around 16-year-old Carmela Tofana, whose mother, Giulia, finally allows her to apprentice as an apothecary in 17th-century Rome. The story is full of drama as the women who run the apothecary deal with threats after Carmela gives a poison to a woman with an abusive husband. Giulia is blamed and has to flee, and McCullough expresses Carmela's longing for her as she must take on more adult responsibilities. McCullough captures the sense of female solidarity, the tenderness among the women, and the brutality of male domination and abuse. While McCullough's narration doesn't fully embrace the tension of the story or the rhythms of the poetry, the writing itself is evocative and poignant. S.W. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2025]