Satellite Sisters' UnCommon Senses - Hardcover

Julie Dolan: The big sister both chronologically and spiritually. Married for more than twenty years, the mother of two college-age sons, Julie and her family have moved eleven times, most recently to Bangkok, where she is an official "trailing spouse." She counts guilt and the desire to please as her biggest motivators.

Liz Dolan: The second oldest but the one with the most common sense. Liz climbed to the top of the corporate ladder, then chucked it all at age forty to get a life, only to discover that she's a workaholic. Liz's early retirement has yielded a radio show and commitments to several nonprofit organizations.

Sheila Dolan: She may be the middle sister, but Sheila's always been a little off-center, even by her own admission. She has worked as a principal in the New York City public school system and holds a BA and two master's degrees, all of which she charged on a now-defunct Visa. She one day hopes to own a cleaning service to satisfy her Irish washerwoman fantasy.

Monica Dolan: The second youngest, Monica, is a nurse and medical researcher who's worked in hospitals across the country. This career choice came as a surprise to her sisters, who relied on her more for a quick joke than a caring look.

Lian Dolan: The youngest sister, but also the sassiest-payback for putting up with years of teasing at the hands of older siblings. Lian is married and the mother of two young boys. She is currently juggling a nationally syndicated radio show and the delusion that she is a stay-at-home mom. She hopes to ride a Rose Parade float one day.

Having grown up in an Irish-Catholic family presents many challenges and provides much material for these five sisters, known for their public radio show. This selection is an abridgment of a collection of essays (for want of a better word); in each essay one of the sisters shares her unique perspective on various topics. The commentaries draw on family experiences and relate how they enabled the speaker to distinguish herself from her sisters (and brothers) and develop a distinct identity. Each sister reads her own work. Some seem more comfortable reading than others, but each carries her own in a style developed in the course of their popular show. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine