IMPERFECT BIRDS

The age-old conflict between parent and child takes a distinctly contemporary turn in Lamott’s latest novel. Elizabeth, an emotionally fragile mother with a history of alcoholism, must help her daughter, Rosie, navigate similar perils. Susan Denaker’s composed performance makes this family drama difficult to ignore. Rather than using overwrought tones to depict the friction between mother and daughter, Denaker devises distinct voices for each character and delivers them evenly, allowing for quieter, more likable characters—like the ironic James, Elizabeth’s husband—to temper the strife. Denaker’s calm adds depth to these relationships, and the manipulation and power struggles that go with them. More than anything, this audio performance asks, “What would you do?” L.B.F. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2010]