THE RETURN JOURNEY

The short stories in Maeve Binchy's new collection all deal with travel and/or distance, both literal and metaphorical. Each of the characters experiences some sort of leaving and returning--not only from and to friends or family, but also themselves. Fionnula Flanagan's soft voice gives the strongest support to the female characters, and her feathery Irish accent adds particular flavor to the stories that deal with or are set in Ireland. The stories are all investigations of human experience, and Flanagan's voice reflects these revelations well. She seems well suited to Binchy's thoughtful prose. R.A.P. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 99]