WHERE WE BELONG

Marian Caldwell seems to have all the accoutrements of a perfect life—prestigious job, affectionate boyfriend, and luxurious lifestyle. All of this is interrupted when 18-year-old Kirby seeks information on her birth mother and decides she wants to meet her. That birth mother is Marian, who is unprepared for such a development. Narrator Orlagh Cassidy emphasizes the tenderness and emotion in Giffin’s portrayal of a mother and daughter who are getting to know each other. Cassidy makes it obvious when Marian is feeling guilty, nervous, or awkward and when Kirby is feeling upset, intrigued, or vulnerable. Cassidy credibly depicts just how difficult but necessary this mother-and-daughter relationship is for both characters. D.Z. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2012]