All He Ever Wanted
By Anita Shreve 
Dennis Boutsikaris (Reader)

     All He Ever Wanted is Anita Shreve's tenth novel. Her most memorable novel to date, to me, is The Pilot's Wife, a selection of the Oprah Book Club. Shreve presents her novels in such a way that even if the storyline seems typical, the reader feels as if he or she is experiencing it for the first time.

     Nicholas Van Tassel is an East Coast professor of logic and rhetoric, whose lonely life takes an obsessive turn after he helps a woman named Etna Bliss. Tassel, speaking in first person, shares directly with readers the story of how he meets Etna, courts and marries her. Tassel's narration is presented in a proper, snobbish way. He comes across as arrogant and cold, but there are times one can't help but feel for him because of his intense love for Etna. His memoir-type narration takes the reader from 1899 to1933, and is told while he travels on a train ride to meet up with his grown daughter.

     Etna Bliss is a 21st century woman trapped in an era where woman are considered property. She finds solace in Professor Tassel as he lends her books and allows her to share her thoughts on life and literature. Shocked at his marriage proposal, Etna eventually accepts, but soon learns just how far Tassel will go in an attempt to control what she emotionally isn't able to give -- not to him anyway. It's an emotional ride for both the characters and the readers.

     Actor Dennis Boutsikaris is the reads the audio book version of All He Ever Wanted. His voice takes on the persona of Nichols Van Tassel perfectly. He is known for such films and television works as *Batteries Not Included, The Dream Team, The Last Don and Chasing the Dragon.