The Gingerbread Girl

April 28, 2008
Em has become a runner. Maybe it's to get away from her unheroic and all-too-sensitive husband, the memory of her baby, who died, or maybe even her passive life. Inevitably, her training provides the endurance she needs to escape the sadistic and psychopathic tendencies of the man named Pickering. While not venturing into new territory, King's novella has all of his trademark tension, violence and catharsis with a spackling of misogyny. Mare Winningham's determined tone adds to Em's strong character, and she also provides good pacing and tension that flows well with King's style. Her straightforward reading doesn't overdramatize the intense moments; instead, she lets King's words create those anxious moments. Her matter-of-fact vocalization of Pickering makes the villain even more chilling than King's text. Winningham's portrayal of this character will stick with listeners long after the end.

King's novella focuses on a woman named Em, who retreats to the sunny beaches of Florida to escape the tragedies of her former life. Narrator Mare Winningham relates the story with honesty and sincerity, capturing the melancholy and sadness that abounds in Em's mind. Her gripping delivery is the stuff that great performances are made of. Winningham brings the protagonist to life while still managing to capture the strong sense of foreboding that so often permeates King's tales. Similar in many aspects to King's recent novel, DUMA KEY, this story relates the inner workings of the human mind in such a way as to make the horror a very personal matter. The result is a captivating experience sure to ignite the senses of the listener. L.B. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine