LEFT NEGLECTED

Protagonist Sarah Nickerson is difficult to like at first because she’s one of those whiny Type A personalities who seem to have their high-achievement lives perfectly managed. But that all changes in an instant, and Sarah is forced to come to terms with some unique circumstances. Narrator Sarah Paulson reads in an assured, lively voice that complements the story and keeps it interesting. One of Paulson’s biggest challenges is to make the main character believable and sympathetic, and she mostly succeeds. She eschews character voices by using inflection and pacing to let listeners know who is speaking. Further, she hits all the right emotional notes, moving from euphoria to despair in a seemingly effortless second. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2011]