MAMA

Mildred "Mama" Peacock is passionately engaged in the struggle to raise her five kids and survive a brutal husband, poverty, bad breaks and alcohol. Marjorie Johnson's breathy, close-to-the-mike delivery quickly establishes intimacy in the first heartrending scene. Her vocal agility and range draw the listener into the story of an African-American family's desperate and heroic gamble against the odds. Johnson's performance celebrates the diversity of the novel's characters, as well as their strength. From the first sentence, Johnson grips listeners' hearts and holds on until they reach the final page. L.R.S. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/MAR 99]