Folly Beach = Pure Listening Pleasure

    The winner of what appears to be every award for narration extant (Earphones Award, AudioFile Best Voices, Publisher’s Weekly Best Audio), Robin Miles began reading audio books at American Foundation for the Blind Talking Books Studio Some 15 years ago.  Since that time she has chalked up 130 titles to her credit.  Her stage, television, and screen work is also impressive.  Noted for her “chameleon-like ability to recreate accents and speech patterns from all over the globe,” she attributes this to growing up in a New Jersey neighborhood that exposed her to a plethora of cultures and accents.  Whatever the case, her voice performances are not only praiseworthy but provide top of the line listening pleasure as I found with FOLLY BEACH.

    Few can describe Carolina’s Lowcountry with as much joie de vivre as Dorothea Benton Frank who was born and raised on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina.  Blend in with those lush, atmospheric descriptions a witty, uplifting story of beginning again and you have FOLLY BEACH.

    In this sequel to Plantation Caroline Wimbley Levine (Cate) returns to her childhood home.   She is penniless, homeless, and without any idea of what to do.  Her none too faithful husband died and left her not a penny; the contents of what was once her home have been repossessed.

    There’s a bit of a story within a story here re a play about DuBose and Dorothy Heyward (Porgy and Bess).  It is said that the Heywards spent some of the happiest times of their lives at Folly Beach, the question is will there be any happy times ahead for Cate?

    Much of Frank’s tale is related in dialogue between Cate and others, especially her feisty aunt.  Hearing this as performed by Robin Miles is total enjoyment!