The All You Can Dream Buffet by Barbara O’Neal

Narrated by Joyce Bean

Four women. Each a food blogger. Each looking to something relating to food to bring her happiness. I’m not a cook, never have been, and more than likely never will be. So, I wasn’t sure how well these women would resonate with me. I was pleased to discover that all are extremely likable characters with hopes and dreams that go far beyond their love of food.

Lavender is about to turn eighty-five. She’s been the head of Lavender Honey Farms for almost thirty years. She realizes that she needs to find someone to take over for her, lest her beloved farm fall into the hands of relatives who would sell it to a man Lavender dislikes immensely. To this end, she invites her three closest online friends to the farm, in hopes of choosing one of them to carry on her legacy.

Ginny is an unhappy housewife from Kansas. She bakes cakes and photographs them for her blog. Unfortunately, the notoriety her blog has gained has caused Ginny a great deal of trouble. Her dreams and aspirations are far beyond those of the other residents of the small town in which she has spent her life. Her husband mocks her. Her friends no longer associate with her. Needless to say, Ginny is more than ready to head out to Oregon to celebrate Lavender’s birthday.

Ruby is twenty-six and pregnant. She broke up with her boyfriend and is feeling adrift. She’s dedicated to the organic movement, writing a blog filled with vegan recipes. She wants something more for herself and her unborn child, but what?

Val used to be a professional ballerina, but those days are far behind her. Now, she blogs about wine, and does her best to hold what’s left of her family together. She and her teenaged daughter were hit with a tremendous loss, and both are still reeling. Val hopes a trip to Oregon wine country will give them some much-needed peace.

I’ve listened to many of Joyce Bean’s narrations, and have rarely been disappointed. I’m always pleased to see her name on a book I plan to listen to. I’m confident in her ability to deliver an outstanding performance, and I’m pleased to report that this book was no exception.

Ms. Bean gave each woman a very distinct way of speaking. Lavender has a tough, but cracked sound, definitely letting the listener know that this is an elderly woman. Ruby, on the other hand, is young and full of life. Her bubbly personality and boundless joy come through perfectly in the narration. Val is African-American, and Ms. Bean handles this well. The listener gets the sense that Val is well educated, cultured, and hanging on by a thread. We are able to hear her anguish without it sounding overdone or melodramatic. Ginny is timid. Ms. Bean gives her a soft, slightly nervous way of speaking. As the story evolves, Ginny gains confidence, and the narration reflects that.

There are a few male characters in the book, and Ms. Bean does a wonderful job of differentiating them. One is a young man, recently home from Iraq. He carries many burdens and he sounds tired whenever he speaks, as if he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Ruby’s ex-boyfriend makes a brief appearance. I loved Ms. Bean’s interpretation of this character. He sounds just as self-absorbed and whiny as I pictured he would.

The All You Can Dream Buffet does have some romantic elements, but I hesitate to classify it as a romance. It’s the story of four women who need to find themselves. If they manage to find love along the way, that’s fine, but O’Neal makes it clear that none of these women needs a man to make her complete.

Shannon

Narration:  A

Book Content:  A-

Steam Factor:  Glad I had my earbuds in (only a few sex scenes, but they are a little intense)

Violence:  None

Genre:  Women’s Fiction

Publisher:  Brilliance Audio

The All You Can Dream Buffet was provided to AudioGals for review by Brilliance Audio.