OBJECTS OF MY AFFECTION

Lucy Bloom, a-down-on-her-luck author of a book about de-cluttering, is hired by the frustrated son of an eccentric, famous artist who is a serious hoarder. Xe Sands delivers this book in a bored-sounding voice, which, at first, is irritating but quickly becomes the perfect tone for this funny, poignant look at loss, enabling, family, forgiveness, and love. Sands's use of tonal differences, pacing, and slight accents for the characters is especially effective with Lucy and the artist, Marva. But it is Sands’s distinctive tone and cadence that ultimately capture the listener's interest and make the audio experience so enjoyable. A.C.P. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2012]