IT'S NOT ALL DOWNHILL FROM HERE

This is conceivably Terry McMillan's best work. Listeners meet 68-year-old Loretha "Lo" Curry and her lifelong friends as they encourage each other, argue, and confront aging. When Lo's beloved husband dies unexpectedly--moments that are heartbreakingly rendered--she grieves while coping with her elderly mother, estranged sister, and troubled daughter. McMillan inhabits the mercurial Lo while her warm, conversational style portrays her friends when they dine monthly, sharing joys, sorrows, and problems. Her best creations are: Lo's feisty mother, who has a witty, sometimes sarcastic, remark for everyone, and Lo's kind and enthusiastic stepson, Kwame. Listeners will be moved by Lo's battle to diet, exercise, and cope with the unexpected. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2020]