Balancing Act

By: Joanna Trollope

Narrated by: Julia Franklin

Susie Moran is a success. She has founded and run her own highly profitable company, and now her three daughters are all involved in the business. Rooted in the traditions of the Stoke-on-Trent potteries, and producing charming, useable objects of distinctive design, Susie is justly proud of her family and her achievement – and has no intention of letting it change.

But what of the men in the family? Susie’s husband, a musician and artist, has always seemed happy to take a back seat. One of her sons-in-law has few ambitions outside the home. Another daughter, though, has brought her husband into the company - and they want to change things, much to Susie’s distress.

And then, into the mix arrives Susie’s father, an ageing hippy who abandoned Susie as a baby. Now he’s alone, and wants to build bridges, although Susie’s daughters are outraged at the idea. Can the needs of a family business override the needs of the family itself? In wanting to preserve her business, will Susie lose something much more precious?

©2014 Joanna Trollope (P)2014 Isis

Annoying narrator ruins a good story

What would have made Balancing Act better?

A different narrator

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Very predictable.

What didn’t you like about Julia Franklin’s performance?

She read as if reading a children's book to small child or slightly confused elderly person. Her reading is stunted and her tones rises at the end of each sentence.

Any additional comments?

I found it difficult to concentrate on the story because of how annoying the narration was. Almost patronising.