LUCKY US

In the 1940s, half-sisters Eva and Iris try to make a better life for themselves by perfecting the art of adapting to changing circumstances: They create a makeshift family as they move from Ohio to Hollywood and then to New York. Narrator Alicyn Packard's performance perfectly keys into the emotional drama of this story of love and loss, betrayal, and unexpected friendships. However, her weak characterizations sometimes leave listeners scrambling to remember the ages and backgrounds of the people who become important to the sisters. For example, Packard doesn't alter her register as the dialogue moves from that of a preteen boy to that of an adult woman, and she gives a Spanish-speaking hairdresser and a Chicago jazz singer the same accent. Despite these flaws, listeners will enjoy Packard's lively narration. C.B.L. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2014]