RHODE ISLAND BLUES

Weldon's novel moves seamlessly from irony to poignancy and back without ever slipping into sentimentality. What keeps it afloat is the specificity and acuity of her perceptions. Sophia, a successful English film editor, yearns for the family connections denied her by the insanity and suicide of her mother. What she has is her grandmother, Felicity, a willful octogenarian with much tragedy in her past who is still intent on squeezing all the enjoyment she can out of life. Jan Francis captures the keen intelligence and humor of both women and perfectly handles the accents on both sides of the Atlantic. It's a smart, witty performance throughout. M.O. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 02]