DELANCEY A Man, a Woman, a Restaurant, a Marriage

One challenge of performing memoir is maintaining the authenticity of the author's voice. Narrator Caroline Shaffer meets the challenge with an informal, conversational tone that allows listeners easy access to this personal story of how opening a pizzeria affected the author’s marriage, self-image, and eating habits. Shaffer handles the occasional foreign word with aplomb, and her minimalist approach to characterizations works well. The memoir includes a handful of recipes, and—although listeners won't likely cook from the audiobook—their inclusion provides insight into the author's life. This honest assessment of the ups and downs of following a spouse's dream and building a business will have wide appeal. C.B.L. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2014]