ESSENTIAL FITZGERALD Berniece Bobs Her Hair

This story was written by a man, but it is surely a woman's story, with its feminine battle over the significance of a hairstyle. Hearing the story is a fine way to truly understand Fitzgerald's gift for writing dialogue. Blythe Danner gives a stellar performance as the narrator and voice of its several characters. Danner is uncanny in her ability to modify her tone and pronunciation to perfectly portray the worldly Marjorie and her anxious-to-please country cousin, Bernice. The listener's only complaint is that the story takes only an hour to tell, not only for the power of Fitzgerald's storytelling but also for the sheer pleasure of enjoying Danner's lovely voice. R.F. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 07]