LIFE AFTER LIFE

Jill McCorkle's LIFE AFTER LIFE explores the theme of second chances in the setting of the Pine Haven Retirement Center. Sadly, this enchanting novel is not well served by its audio production. Narrator Holly Fielding does little to differentiate the characters. In particular, she gives a Southern accent to only one character in the North Carolina nursing home. More grating, however, are the deep, audible breaths and long pauses Fielding takes at seemingly every punctuation mark. The pauses don't extend the length of the audio, however, because she rushes her reading of the text itself and provides little inflection. All in all, this is a disappointing listen. J.L.K. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2013]