WASHINGTON SQUARE

This work is certainly a period piece, taking place in late-nineteenth-century New York, and its themes of morality, dignity, and responsibility place it outside the realm of most fiction being written today. Still, this story of a woman, Catherine Sloper, choosing her fiancée over her father despite the terrible consequences is absorbing, and ranks as one of the author's best efforts. Lorna Raver doesn't just read this book; she inhabits it. Her voice is clear and includes a hint of huskiness that serves her well when creating male characters. It also allows her to alter her pitch ever so slightly to perfectly capture the females. Raver uses pauses for dramatic effect and narrates as though every word deserves its place on the page. R.I.G. 2010 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2009]