RISE & SHINE, BENEDICT STONE

In the English town of Noon Sun, jeweler Benedict Stone is lamenting the demise of his marriage and obsessing over how to win back his wife, Estelle, as his teenaged niece, Gemma, from America arrives. Can Gemma help Benedict face past worries and help mend his marriage? Narrator James Langton's interpretation of this story is enchanting. Forty-something Benedict's stiff and nervous British speech patterns and Gemma's American teen enthusiasm and angst are delivered flawlessly. The listener connects with Estelle's frustration over Benedict's need for the perfect family while feeling her pain that she cannot provide it for him. Langston's ability to verbalize male and female characters with equal perceptiveness adds dimension to this humorous and heartfelt story. Patrick begins each chapter explaining gemstones and their meanings, adding texture to the book. S.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2017]