MARS ROOM

Author Rachel Kushner narrates her novel about Romy Hall, a 20-something exotic dancer condemned to serve two life sentences (plus six years) for killing the man who was stalking her. The story focuses on the bleak realities faced by resourceless women who end up in California's penal systems, sometimes for trivial offenses. Kushner's delivery is expressive and varied in tempo, but her youthful voice, with its hint of innocence, is not a good match for Romy and the other tough characters. Despite the diversity of the inmates, Kushner doesn't strongly distinguish their voices, making it difficult to keep track of the characters' backgrounds, situations, and personalities. The plot has some tangents, but fans of the current trend of women-in-prison stories will be satisfied. C.B.L. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2018]