IRVING BERLIN: A DAUGHTER'S MEMOIR

The immigrant who becomes "America's songwriter" and the heiress-author he marries doggedly protect their three daughters from family tragedies, religious prejudice and the Great Depression. Barrett gracefully unites her fond memories with the hardships she learns about later. Mary Peiffer reads with generally upbeat, but undramatic, style. Peiffer adds little emotional color especially in her flat voicings of quoted dialogue. Her restraint, however, lets the story itself engage the audience without the risk of skewing the author's intent. The listener's sense of discovery is heightened by Peiffer's lively pacing, and, overall, her technique yields a pleasant, sensible approach to a nonfiction presentation. D.J. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB 96]