THE HEIGHTS

Ask Tim Welch and Kate Oliver, the married couple in THE HEIGHTS, if they’re selfish, and surely the reply would be an emphatic no—they care about the kids, their careers, their marriage! Ultimately, though, this novel’s conflicts arise as a result of selfish, perhaps profoundly human, streaks in both characters, alternately voiced by Peter Hedges and Amy Ryan with considerable skill. Although the novel occasionally struggles to be as hip as the title’s Brooklyn community, the story and its performers still create an absorbing contemporary drama. Will Tim and Kate split up? Will the awkward Bea, performed so earnestly by Alison Pille, save Mr. Welch, her favorite teacher, or bring about his downfall? All these questions create a perfect summer listen. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2010]