THE GIRL IN THE PAINTING

Narrator Aasiya Shah tells this three-pronged tale of love, courage, and misunderstanding in a soft, melodic voice. The story takes place in the years 1918 through 1926 and concludes in 2000. Shah portrays Margaret, an artist, as a caring and determined modern woman. When Margaret travels to India with her husband, Suraj, she befriends and paints a portrait of her Indian maid, Archana. In 2000, Margaret sends her granddaughter, Emma, to India to deliver the painting to Archana, cleverly connecting the slowly winding plots together. Shah's voice shifts seamlessly between British and Indian accents, making the characters fit their nationalities and classes. The Indian characters are differentiated through tone and varied accents as flavorful as curries and teas. Music separates each of the 10 parts of this melancholy story. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2020]