Helen was a late-in-life child. The father she loved passed away before Helen's family could enjoy him. Helen's mother was an underwear model detached from her life and her only child. Now Helen is caring for a mother suffering dementia.

It’s fall and Helen has come by to check on her mother. During this time something horrible happens and Clair, Helen's mother, dies. Helen spends the next twenty-four hours reliving her life from the time she was young and striving to win her mother's love, up till now, as a middle-aged ex-wife and mother.

It's a painfully poignant tale beautifully written. Playing the audio version, I could see college English professors expressing their approval of the pace, the theme, the characters, and let's not forget, the symbolism.

Hachette's audio version is read by Joan Allen. She successfully conveys Helen's moments of sanity as well as her peculiar behavior and unpleasant recollections. Due to the mature theme and graphic scenes, headsets are recommended.