Strong at the Broken Places

Mel Foster's deep, strong narration gives listeners the stability they need for this emotionally intense audio about five people with chronic diseases. Though each has faced an almost certain death sentence, all have found a power in life. Ben, with muscular dystrophy, realizes a publishing dream, and Sarah, a social worker, is exhausted but not spiritually diminished by Crohn's disease. Foster differentiates the five with fitting portrayals. Denise, who has ALS, has stilted speech that is still robust and resilient. Buzz, a religious man with terminal cancer, has a slow, steady pressing-on voice that reflects his determination. Soft-voice Southern tones portray Larry and his escape from the passions of his bipolar condition to fulfillment in advocating for the mentally ill. S.W. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

August 15, 2008
In this follow-up to his "New York Times" best-selling "Blindsided", cancer and multiple sclerosis survivor Cohen interviews five people representing a range of ages and socioeconomic levels about the effect of chronic illness on their lives and relationships. While Cohen's occasional intervention as commentator pulls listeners' attention away from the interviewees' stories, this professionally produced audiobook otherwise works well as an uplifting, inspirational chronic illness title. Audie® Award winner Mel Foster's ("Finding God in Unexpected Places") well-modulated and flexible voice range reflects the speech difficulties experienced by, on the one hand, an interviewee with a neurodegenerative disease and, on another, a soft-spoken and Southern-accented interviewee with bipolar disorder. Of interest to public, academic, and special libraries serving patients, health-care professionals, and health-care students; purchase where needed. [Audio clip available through www.tantor.com; the HarperCollins hc was "highly recommended," "LJ" 12/07.Ed.]Laurie Selwyn, formerly with Grayson Cty. Law Lib., Sherman, TX

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.