The Ten Year Nap
Meg Wolitzer, , read by Alyssa Bresnahan. . BBC Audiobooks America, $29.95 (0pp) ISBN 978-1-60283-355-5
This self-conscious, idea-driven novel is read well by Alyssa Bresnahan, but she doesn't clearly distinguish each mother struggling for identity and purpose in today's confusing “post-feminist” middle class. Speaker identity comes not from the reader but from “Amy said” or “Jill said.” There is plenty of irony—note the title—but Bresnahan's ironic tone sometimes leads us to dismiss characters' experiences and feelings. This is not entirely her fault as the main players are somewhat stereotyped: lawyer quits work to care for baby (now aged 10); husband struggles to keep family afloat; grandmother remains feminist warrior; Chinese mother wastes her mathematical genius. But Bresnahan does enliven Wolitzer's recap of modern women's conundrums, so despite limitations, this audio will surely kindle controversy on blogs and at book clubs, kitchen, school and office confabs.
Reviewed on: 05/26/2008
Genre: Audio
Hardcover - 509 pages - 978-1-60285-225-9
Hardcover - 351 pages - 978-1-59448-978-5
Hardcover - 341 pages - 978-0-7011-8270-0
MP3 CD - 978-0-7927-5337-7
Open Ebook - 400 pages - 978-1-101-21768-9
Open Ebook - 1 pages - 978-0-7927-5380-3
Open Ebook - 978-1-4362-0121-6
Paperback - 400 pages - 978-1-59448-354-7
Peanut Press/Palm Reader - 978-1-4362-0122-3
