BETTYVILLE

Narrator Jeff Woodman's expressive performance creates an intimate connection between listeners and memoirist George Hodgman, who recalls the months he cared for his elderly mother, Betty, at the end of her life. Woodman tunes his voice to match the many emotions of this complex, bittersweet story, allowing listeners to sense Hodgman's tender concern when Betty shows small signs of decline and feel his frustrations when he questions his caretaking abilities. Entwined throughout his mother's story are Hodgman's accounts of growing up in Missouri and his difficulties finding a place in the gay culture of New York, the city he now calls home. Both dialogue and narrative shine in Woodman's capable hands. Listeners will want to keep tissues handy. C.B.L. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2015]