ALICE & OLIVER

Alice, Oliver, and their new baby daughter, Doe, attempt to continue on with life after Alice is diagnosed with leukemia shortly following Doe's birth. Narrator Rebecca Lowman misses the mark in her performance of this audiobook. The author paints a sobering picture of driven characters who often express anguish and tried patience; however, a majority of listeners are likely to find Lowman's delivery flat and monotone--a complete mismatch to the overall tone of the story. While conflicts great and small occur often in the plot, the characters' emotions are too subtly reflected in Lowman's performance. In total, this is a dark novel and an unengaging listen. G.M. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2016]