CHINA DOLLS

In 1938, Grace, Helen, and Ruby cross paths in San Francisco, each looking for a kind of escape. The novel’s chapters alternate between each woman's perspective, allowing narrator Jodi Long to escape into each personality and experience while keeping characters straight for listeners. The trio find work as “ponies” (dancers) in bustling Chinatown and bond quickly, but questions remain unasked and secrets linger, setting the stage for painful and costly misunderstandings. Long’s performance hinges on her ability to bring emotion to the surface, particularly during sensitive and comic scenes. She's adept at managing an array of personalities while taking special delight in delivering the colloquial language of the 1940s. A perfect blend of history and performance. A.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2014]