Talk Radio

February 1, 2021
Martin's debut novel offers an amusing portrait of a small town in Maine from the perspective of a local radio host. The story begins with Vivien Kindler listening to a radio talk show hosted by Fred Boyland after her husband has left her. She now lives alone in Frost Pound, a town she barely knows: "None of the men knew that the guy with the silver German car was not coming back. None of the women envied her three-hundred dollar bathrobe. They had lives." Before long, the radio station has a sudden opening for a talk show host, and Vivien jumps at the opportunity. Frost Pound Broadcasting owners Austin and Kathy Hudson quickly hire her as a replacement despite the fact that they know little about her. On air, Vivien receives a lot of push back from people who've been listening to Fred's talk show, "Ripped From the Headlines," for years as well as from Fred himself, who's recovering from a stroke. Who is this Vivien that wants to know everyone's name--who wants to discuss poetry and town folklore but not the news of the day? The story is creatively told through the restraints of the talk show hours--weekdays between nine and noon--and Vivien's show attracts radio "regulars" George the Welder, Brownie (a poet), Catholic Lady, and Paul the Piano Tuner who contribute opinions, life stories, poems, and short stories. Martin's debut explores the subject of loneliness and entertains the notion that other people can make a difference in one's life if one just tunes in to the right frequency. The prose is concise and sharp-witted, and the dialogue is strong throughout. Between the poetry and friendly banter, there's something here for everyone, and Vivien holds it all together as a likable protagonist who's clever, funny, and genuine. At times, readers may wish that the story moved a little faster and made connections more quickly, but the text remains entertaining from beginning to end. A heartwarming story told in an engaging way.

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