THE MANSION OF HAPPINESS A History of Life and Death

Jill Lapore has written an engaging and enlightening book on historical American attitudes toward life and death, and it deserves attention. Lapore, a regular NEW YORKER contributor, writes for the educated general reader. But perhaps her producers felt her subject needed some enlivening. Coleen Marlo is a skilled performer, but she infuses every phrase with expression—here a roll of the “r,” there a breathy Jackie Onassis whisper. She’s an electric keyboard to Lapore’s acoustical guitar. Her rendering is serviceable, and after a time one grows accustomed to its unrelenting expressiveness. But for this title, the recommendation is for the written text. D.A.W. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2012]