WHITE HOUSES

Author Amy Bloom's novelization of the romance between former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and journalist Lorena "Hick" Hickok from the 1930s to 1962 highlights the spirit of their relationship. Hick's pragmatic personality and wry sense of humor, well portrayed by narrator Tonya Cornelisse, determine the production's point of view, pace, and tone. Eleanor's patrician elocution and humanitarian sensibilities are depicted without imitation. Listeners discover the scope of the women's connection through various lenses, such as shared childhood tales on a train trip and a letter from Eleanor's cousin Parker Fiske. Cornelisse delivers these sections in a style that adds emotional dimension to the story. National and international events, such as the 1939 World's Fair, WWII, and FDR's four-term presidential tenure, help provide context to the women's lives. J.R.T. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2018]