And Then We Grew Up

Rachel Friedman's sweet delivery of the introduction and coda of her memoir complements narrator Jennifer Rubins's engaging delivery. A serious violinist as a child--she even attended the renowned Interlochen Arts Camp--Friedman left behind her music in college and is now a writer. She argues that our current zeitgeist makes it easy to feel like a creative failure. In an upbeat tone of encouragement, Friedman critiques the expectation that a creative person's success is equivalent only to the extent that they have curated and monetized their talent. Rubins passionately expresses the author's belief that real success is about accepting the fluidity of life and goals and sometimes letting creativity take a back seat. Rubins's graceful narration enhances this enriching message about creating a broader notion of accomplishment. M.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine