TIGER, TIGER

Margaux Fragoso's memoir of her 15-year relationship with a pedophile, starting when she was just 7 and ending when he committed suicide, is a devastating, haunting, yet eloquently rendered work. Narrator Susan Bennett inhabits Margaux from her youthful innocence to her teenage depression and her growing confidence in early adulthood, as she is all the while manipulated by her abuser, Peter. Bennett's portrayal of Peter, in turn, conveys his coerciveness—sometimes subtle, sometimes blatant—as he systematically breaks down Margaux's barriers and insinuates himself into all aspects of her life. Even though Margaux seems in retrospect to be aware of his manipulation, it’s evident that she still retains affection for him. Bennett also excels in her portrayal of Margaux's narcissistic, verbally abusive Puerto Rican father. She delivers a difficult and sometimes graphic work with excellence. S.E.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2012]