Ray Porter's masterful delivery of Millhone's memoir—about a series of personal tragedies that culminate in a road trip with his father—saves it from being a maudlin account of one man's "year from hell." Instead, Porter's natural presentation offers the listener access to incidents that elicit universal emotions and a feeling of connection. His tone and pace are conversational, punctuated by increases in volume and intensity where appropriate to the events and language of the text. His equally skillful handling of wry humor, muttered asides, and musings adds to his authenticity as Mark Millhone. Porter also does especially convincing presentations of Millhone's father and Rose, Millhone's wife. The final product is both funny and poignant—a slice-of-life listeners will identify with and enjoy. M.O.B. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine
