EVERYTHING HERE IS BEAUTIFUL

Five narrators perform this complex novel about the effect mental illness has on families, though Cassandra Campbell narrates the majority of the audiobook. The story focuses on Lucia, who experiences her first break with reality in her 20s; throughout the book the point of view alternates from hers to those of significant people in her life. By varying their inflections and tempos, the narrators clearly contrast between Lucia's stable state and the emotional tempests of her unravelings; they also skillfully convey the other characters' feelings of concern, frustration, and anger toward Lucia. An underlying theme of immigration requires the narrators to render a wide range of believable accents. They meet this challenge well, enlivening the voices of the Chinese, Israeli, Latino, New York, and Swiss speakers. C.B.L. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2018]