André Santana's impressive narration deals with one family's contemporary problems. Cecily, a college instructor, is currently under investigation for sexual misconduct with a student. Her manic mother, Dorothy, is trying to get her life on track with the assistance of a self-help guru by opening a spiritual retreat in Woodstock, New York. And her Uncle Tom is so obsessed with Cecily's well-being that his longtime partner has left him. When Dorothy invites Cecily to the opening of the retreat, all the dysfunction in the family comes to a head. The author's snarky comments about Woodstock, self-help retreats, and academia are delivered with nonjudgmental evenness. As one crisis bleeds into another, Santana's cool performance and objective distance make this entertaining listening. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
