LA'S ORCHESTRA SAVES THE WORLD

While Emily Gray’s narration is excellent, this story, spanning the years before WWII and after, may seem a little too charming for the horrors and atrocities of the period. After only a few years of marriage, La, short for Lavender, retreats to a Suffolk farmhouse after being abandoned by her unfaithful husband. As the war intensifies, La joins the Women's Land Army and endears herself to the quirky townspeople with her kindness, which includes organizing a small orchestra. Emily Gray depicts the novel's characters with exceptional energy, clarity, and distinctiveness. Her portrayal of La is especially poignant as it mirrors the title character's maturing outlook on life while struggling with loss and heartbreak. Many listeners will discover that the story lingers longer than they might expect. M.H.N. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2010]