The House on Beartown Road

When Elizabeth Cohen finds herself single and raising her toddler alone in upstate New York while at the same time caring for her father who has been stricken with Alzheimer's disease, she does what any former reporter would do. She writes about it. Bernadette Dunne's voice is pleasant and articulate, but it doesn't match the despair in this memoir of loss. Surprisingly, the voice Dunne performs the best is that of Cohen's father. She captures his confusion and gruffness, convincingly portraying his age and infirmity. In contrast, the way she performs the baby talk of toddler Ava is mostly annoying. What's most unsettling about this performance is the even, placid tone Dunne maintains throughout Cohen's depiction of her grief and rage at being left by her husband just as her gentle father's mind is abandoning her as well. R.F. 2005 Audie Award Finalist (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

August 2, 2004
Dunne's gentle, melodic voice is the perfect match for this poignant memoir, which describes the author's struggle to care for her infant daughter and her Alzheimer's-stricken father. The sprawling New York farmhouse on Beartown road seemed like the perfect place for Cohen and her husband, Shane, to raise their baby, Ava. But a month after Cohen's father comes to live with them, Shane abruptly abandons the family, leaving Cohen to care for both Ava and her rapidly deteriorating father during a harsh, blizzard-filled winter. Dunne's narration is heartfelt and sincere, so much so that listeners will be fooled into thinking that Cohen is conveying her frustrations, triumphs and sorrows first hand. Dunne also captures the creaky, elderly voice of Cohen's father and the high, piping tones of little Ava. With its skillful narration and lyrical prose, this moving audiobook will linger with listeners long after the last disc has been played. Based on the Random hardcover (Forecasts, Feb. 17, 2003).