Book Review, Literary Fiction

Talk Radio by Ham Martin


Vivien Kindler, on impulse, gets a job hosting a local phone-in radio show. She has an unusual idea: she thinks that all her callers have worth, are interesting, and if they’ll just stay on the line and talk with her, everyone else will think so too.

The “regulars” serve up a fun tapestry woven on the sturdy warp of the coastal Maine landscape: a delivery guy who reads Vivien poems written on his route; a lady broken by the long-ago death of a child; a retired, one-legged gardener who once built Navy ships. Others remind her that she is “from away” and will never belong.

Is Vivien’s gentle radio counsel really doing anything—or is it all just talk?


This is an intriguing and meaningful story told by talk radio interactions between the new host (an outsider) and the local community.  It’s about courage, obsolescence, regret, acceptance, and forgiveness.

Vivien’s relationships in the small Maine town of Frost Pound are non-existent. Her only link to them is listening to the local talk show. So when the host of the show is taken ill, she bravely applies and gets the job. As she struggles with the dynamics of the set and the mistrust of the “regulars” on the show, she slowly becomes a catalyst for stirring up unrest and healing rifts. Will the locals accept an outsider or will she be chased away?

I have to admit the story started slow, but as it delved into the lives of the townspeople and unraveled past misunderstandings and mistakes, it really captivated me and I wanted to see how everything panned out. Vivien’s patience, kindness, and grit are refreshing as she wins over a community that doesn’t like change. Topics include everything from migrating lobsters to on-the-fly poetry. I laughed and I cried as I learned a lot about the people of Frost Pound including their beliefs, their dreams, and their fears.

If you enjoy character-driven stories with engaging commentary and real-life drama, give this book a try.

Thank you to Ham Martin and Black Rose Writing for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.


Talk Radio

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Ham Martin has been a lifeguard in Singapore, galley man on an oil tanker, 1st Selectman of a small town, a woodcarver and furniture maker, homebuilder, radio talk show host, an oil painter, and a filmmaker. He lives with his wife, Mary, in a small village on the coast of Maine.