THE WOLF, THE WOMAN, THE WILDERNESS

Having raised a wolf cub in an island cabin, the author makes the painful decision to return her to the wild. How she accomplishes this is but one part of Teresa's story; mixed in are memories of her Osage-Italian upbringing, mystical encounters with animals and her thoughts on the meaning of freedom, death, wildness, etc. Of the three title elements, Martino predominates. This is poetic, highly personal writing, and O'Malley's clear reading ensures that not a word will be missed. On the other hand, she doesn't bring out much of the narrative's emotional intensity. It's obvious that Teresa is a woman with an unorthodox lifestyle who prefers the company of animals to that of most humans. J.B.G. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 98]