THE LANGUAGE OF SECRETS

Screenwriter Dianne Dixon’s first undertaking as a novelist is a convoluted story of families broken by secrets. Rebecca Lowman narrates the story in a detached voice that does nothing to bring the characters to life. As Justin moves back to California to reconnect with the family he was removed from, the story also flashes back to Justin’s mother’s earlier years, focusing on the mistakes she made that eventually led to the loss of her child. Part of the problem is the story itself—too many threads, too many unappealing characters, and too many poorly written sentences. But the narration exacerbates the problems. Lowman’s uninspired delivery makes it difficult for the listener to keep track of time, place, and characters. An intriguing premise is poorly executed on all sides. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2010]