THE EX-WIVES

Three ex-wives, several ex-lovers, and a score of children, some of whom he didn't know he had, keep aging actor Russell Buffery playing the most complicated role of his acting career--family man. It's the one part he's never perfected, and the one he wants most to master. Diana Bishop brings a lighthearted sense of fun to this extended soap opera, enlivening the numerous characters with twists of tongue and turns of tone. Buffy’s long-lost daughter, Celeste, ties the story and its characters together, and it's her voice that receives the most attention. While Moggach’s plot frequently slides over the ledge of too much information, Bishop's upbeat performance keeps the book from falling totally into an abyss. R.P.L. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 01]