THE SHADE OF MY OWN TREE

After years of physical abuse Opal Sullivan leaves her husband and begins a journey of self-discovery. Sheila Williams is a master of these stories of African-American women who persevere. Patricia Floyd takes on a cast of strong and proactive female characters who encourage, cajole, and guide the heroine from misery to triumph. The main character sounds like someone we all know and can relate to, which helps us empathize with her plight, not just feel sorry for her. This marvelous performance keeps the listener engaged with Opal, compelling us to stick with her to the end. A lesser narrator would have lost us at the first backhanded slap. P.R. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2008]