A Widow's Story

Oates's memoir is a brave, unvarnished story about the death of her husband and the life she tries to resume in the aftermath. As the author recounts her story, her magnificent literary talents shine. Narrator Ellen Parker captures the mood of the book without making it morose. Her voice is clear and gentle, and she reads with the near-perfect diction we would expect of Oates. Surprisingly, though, Parker's delivery is not emotionally expressive. She keeps her voice in a tight range that suggests a monotone, but her pauses, intonation, and pacing make the story compelling and fresh. We know what will happen, but we want to let Parker guide us through to the end. R.I.G. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine