THE SOUND OF A WILD SNAIL EATING

Renee Raudman's slow, gentle, almost hypnotic narration matches the meditative quality of this brief memoir. Bailey, all but immobilized by a mysterious viral illness, spends months in bed observing the common woodland snail, first in a flowerpot by her bed and then in an improvised terrarium. Listeners learn about snails and their habits and about Bailey's extraordinary spirit. Raudman's performance is calming without putting one to sleep. She presents observations about snail behavior and the isolation of the very ill with equal detached reflection. This is an audiobook to help you find your place in the universe and come to terms with it, although the author never tells you how to think or feel. F.C. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2015]