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Pollyanna  By  cover art

Pollyanna

By: Eleanor H. Porter
Narrated by: Rebecca Burns
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Editorial reviews

Forget Katniss Everdeen - this is your grandmother's children's book heroine. Pollyanna, one of the most popular children's books of the early 20th century, once was all but omnipresent - the book spawned umpteen ghostwritten sequels, a Parker Brothers board game, and a 1960 Disney movie starring Hayley Mills. But nothing beats the original - a tale of a determinedly optimistic young girl whose "glad game" has inspired generations of readers to meet life's challenges with a little creative thinking and a sunny disposition. Narrator Rebecca Burns gives a measured, unpresumptuous reading of this classic tale.

Publisher's summary

Pollyanna, an expert at her favorite "Glad Game" of always looking at the bright side in her numerous trials, is one of the most popular and enduring characters in all of children's literature.

As Pollyanna arrives in Beldingsville to live with her strict and dutiful maiden aunt, she exclaims, "Oh, Aunt Polly, I don't know how to be glad enough that you let me come to live with you!" And from this point she begins to bring cheer into everybody's life, including the sick, the lonely, and the just plain miserable. All are transformed, until one day when something so terrible happens that even Pollyanna doesn't know how to feel glad anymore.

American novelist Eleanor H. Porter's Pollyanna series and "Glad Game" generated a popular phenomenon in its day. The improbable heroine remains popular today and the name Pollyanna is well known to be a stereotype for a person who is characterized by irrepressible optimism and a tendency to find good in everything.

©1998 Joss Recordings (P)2005 Tantor Media, Inc.

What listeners say about Pollyanna

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  • Overall
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Childhood favorite worth remembering

What did you love best about Pollyanna?

I love the joy that Pollyanna has for life. Her spunk and enthusiasm are why I've always loved this story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Pollyanna?

When Aunt Polly realizes she loves Pollyanna and starts to play the game with Pollyanna and the town.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Rebecca Burns?

Not willingly. I find her voice to be the stereotypical early 1900s female novel, flat and dull.

Any additional comments?

I was pleased with the story and the characters are just as I remembered. I find the characters to be people I can look up to and can model my life after, even as a 21st century adult.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Classic story, badly edited

Heart-warming and encouraging as the story is, this version is badly edited so there's insufficient pauses at the end of chapters, and the narrator leaves a little to be desired. Burns does not offer variety for the different voices, whether in tone, pitch or pace. If the author hadn't written them well enough, you wouldn't know how was speaking.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Pollyanna

First time to read the novel. Awesome best story, above all 3 movie versions, I have seen!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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so much better than the movie

myself and my kids (ages 7- 13) all enjoyed this book so much that when we found out there was a sequil we picked it up (even though it isnt avail on audio!).

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fun little book!!!

Although there were parts I lost patience listening to pollyana being TOO GOOD, I love the fact that it is so well described that made me feel as I was living the story caring for Pollyana and her loved ones :)

Read it for your Kids or listen for your entertainment :)

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Glad

New meaning in my heart for the word glad and a new outlook to always find something to be glad about. In all things rejoice, again I say rejoice.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Will leave you smiling...

What did you love best about Pollyanna?

Perfect classic, enjoyable story that leaves you happy.

Any additional comments?

If you've never read this classic, do it, you're missing out!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome Read. Ages 8-100

Beautifully Written, Beautifully Read. A must read for any young girl, and any adult to cheer them up!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Old-fashioned, but excellent

Pollyanna is a very, very old-fashioned novel, but it's very well done. It’s very similar to the Disney movie, although not identical. This version was extremely well narrated, too. I loved it!

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2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Nice Story

Nice story, lopsided ending. It could be a better narration. It is kind of monotone.

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