RED HOOK ROAD

It’s jarring to hear town and place names mispronounced, along with a Maine accent that sounds fake. Here it’s especially unfortunate as this title is in every other way a fabulous story and a superb performance. Two families, one born in Maine, the other cultured intellectuals from New York with ancestral roots (and a great summer house), are brought together by love and tragedy. Narrator Kimberly Farr’s performance captures the passion and emotional depth in these struggling characters with a multilayered, nuanced delivery that reflects the thoughtful process the characters undergo as they evolve with their changing roles. Despite a few flaws, this “Vacationland” story is the quintessential escape. D.G. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2010]