THE INNOCENTS

Lee Ann Howlett's gentle voice paints a picture of Sinclair Lewis's 1917 novella about American life, told through the lives of an elderly New York City couple, "Mother" and "Father" Appleby. Listeners meet loving Father, who's worked in a shoe store for decades while Mother maintains their small home. Howlett deftly illustrates their enjoyable vacations on Cape Cod, where they decide to change their lives by opening a tearoom. Evocative portrayals of the snobbish locals, the Applebys' realization that the restaurant isn't succeeding, and their embarrassed daughter are painful to experience. When the couple decide to sell their tearoom and take to the road, the tone brightens. Particularly entertaining are news reports about the Appleby wanderers. This remarkable story elicits optimism, especially during difficult times. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2022]