SWEET ROSIE O'GRADY

Life in Liverpool at the onset of WWII is fun and rewarding, according to Joan Jonks, who demonstrates her Pollyanna vision through the eyes and mouths of best friends Molly and Nellie, matriarchs of two perfect families, struggling and happy during the Blitz. Because of repetitious material, the author's vision would be best served by an abridged recording. The narrator, Lynda Rooke, has a fine voice and is able to wander through the sameness of the plot with skilled control. However, she makes unfortunate choices in vocal personification for many of the characters, whose raucousness sounds like constant yelling. This assault on the ears makes the 12-cassette production seem even longer. J.P. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 00]