SEPARATE BEDS

Elizabeth Buchan writes convincingly about the lives of contemporary middle-aged, middle-class English women. In SEPARATE BEDS, she tells the depressing but all-too-believable story of Annie Nicholson, whose dysfunctional family is impacted by job losses, festering jealousies, elder care issues, and a custody battle. Narrator Sarah LeFevre presents this story of family schisms and psychological pain in a crisp, straightforward manner. Her characters are well defined, and she moves smoothly from one voice to another, ensuring that listeners are never confused about who is speaking. While her voice has little humor or warmth, it appears that she’s following though on the author’s intent. This novel grimly captures the nuances of family dynamics in today’s stressful times. D.L.G. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2011]