Loud and Clear

Somewhere among these fine collected essays, previously published in THE NEW YORK TIMES, is one on speeches that translate well to print. Turn that around and you have this production--a selection of Quindlen's musings on the pleasures and absurdities of today's society which, with the help of a superb reading, become audio gems. With a clear voice and an unhurried pace, Kathe Mazur picks up on Quindlen's joy in her children, her ache for her long-dead mother, her outrage at the notion that Christmas spending can ease the pain of 9/11, and her puzzlement that "family time" must be scheduled. Although the essays have a definite point of view, Mazur avoids a preachy tone, as does the author. Only the difficulty in relocating a specific column mars this terrific listening experience. J.B.G. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

February 23, 2004
Bestselling author Quindlen (One True Thing
; A Short Guide to a Happy Life
; etc.), a veteran reporter and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for commentary, couldn't have picked a more apt title for her latest collection of columns from Newsweek
and the New York Times
. Whether or not readers agree with Quindlen's opinions on everything from youth culture to gun control, these razor-sharp musings will open avenues of debate and discussion long after the book is closed. Quindlen is at the top of her game when she turns her eagle eye on the tiny threads that make up the fiber of domestic life. After all, "The world of children and child-rearing is social history writ small but indelible, whether it's the minutia of Barbie dolls and Power Ranger action figures or the phenomenon of books like Harry Potter
or The Cat in the Hat
. It's a shared experience, not just for the children but for their parents, and a snapshot of where we were then." The only weak link in this memorable book is the scant connective tissue between sections. Quindlen divides the essays by theme—heart, mind, soul, voice and body—and while the individual pieces shine, the overviews of each topic provide thin explanations for why they are grouped this way. Overall, however, this is not a matter of great concern. Quindlen's columns speak for themselves, loud and clear. (On sale Apr. 6)

Forecast:
Although all of these essays have been previously published, the book should still attract an enormous number of buyers. National TV and radio interviews in New York and Washington, D.C., as well as print ads and a chapter sampler promo, will ensure high visibility.