CLAM DOWN A Metamorphosis

Anelise Chen narrates her memoir quietly--as if depicting the timidity that led to her reclusiveness after her divorce. She dubs herself "Clam," a name suggested by her mother's oft-sent misspelled texts to "clam down" when she was in a high emotional state. These texts launch Chen's discoveries of truths about herself. Led by serendipity, reading, introspection, and insights, she learns to better understand her relationship with her father, as well as her connection to actual clams in the context of history, literature, art, and science. Chen deftly delivers the various narrative forms woven into the audiobook, which distinguish the first and third person, memoir and clam narratives, and personal reactions and those of her father. Playing this audio at a slower speed allows for better contemplation of this work. S.W. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2025]