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Mildred Pierce  By  cover art

Mildred Pierce

By: James M. Cain
Narrated by: Christine Williams
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Publisher's summary

Mildred Pierce had gorgeous legs, a way with a skillet, and a bone-deep core of toughness and determination. She used those attributes to survive a divorce in 1940s America with two children and to claw her way out of poverty, becoming a successful businesswoman. But Mildred also had two weaknesses: a yen for shiftless men and an unreasoning devotion to her monstrous daughter.

Out of these elements, Cain created a novel (later made into a film noir classic) of acute social observation and devastating emotional violence - and a heroine whose ambitions and sufferings are never less than recognizable.

©1941 James M. Cain (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"[James M. Cain is] the poet of the hard-boiled school of the American novel." (Washington Post)
"A novel that, once begun, will almost surely be read to the end....it reflects no codes, no restrictions, and none but the primordial necessities. It is a bath in sensation." (New York Times Book Review)

What listeners say about Mildred Pierce

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

interesting story terrible narrator

Would you try another book from James M. Cain and/or Christine Williams?

I would not listen to this narrator again she sounded breathless and the timing was way off

What was one of the most memorable moments of Mildred Pierce?

truly enjoyed the story big difference from the movie but that was what made it fun, they sure made it vanilla and innocent for the movie

How did the narrator detract from the book?

timing was off

Any additional comments?

I think I will download it for kindle to read, this is a book you can enjoy more than once

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Disturbing

I found nothing to like about the story and the characters were horrible. I wanted to hear a story about a woman who succeeded through hard work and dedication. It was disappointing to listen to a story about how very trashy women and men can be.

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

Better Than The Movie

I’m thinking specifically of the one with Joan Crawford. Mildred Pierce is a far more sympathetic and interesting character than the portrayal in that movie. She’s resilient, a survivor who starts with practically nothing and makes an empire for herself out of her one skill. She’s kind and generous to her friends and lovers. In return she’s often treated badly or taken for granted.

Her one flaw or failing is that she loves her child and cannot see her for what she is. Her tremendous success is crushed under the weight of that flaw.

The narrator is not the best. She uses her stage voice throughout and as a result the delivery is too loud and too earnest. At times the characters practically shout. She seems to see some of them as loud, brash and dominant. The delivery is also too fast. I had to slow it down to 90% and reduce the volume. Then it was fine.

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

Interesting Story!

A good story! I sense there to be a lot more going on here than I was able to glean from this first listen. I have read many complaints about the narrator, but I really very much enjoyed her performance and thought she did a great job.

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

Very enjoyable

What a ride for our Mildred! The depression era setting makes the story interesting, and the reader cheer for and sympathize with the main character.

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

Wait, no murder?

Like many people, I am a Joan Crawford fan and have watched this movie many times. I also watched the Kate Winslet version, not nearly as good. Just now listened to the original story, which was truly enjoyable. No wonder it’s a classic. However, I kept wondering when the murder would happen. It never did! I guess it’s creative license… anyway, the reader does an excellent job. I’m pretty picky about this, but Christine Williams does an excellent job of portraying many characters, and also the mood for each scene. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Dated but Still Poignant

I’ve only read a few of James M. Cain’s novels, and most of them were noir thrillers, works that built a genre. To my surprise, Mildred Pierce did not fit this bill, but Cain’s writing lost none of its teeth. His telling of Mildred’s story is done without the crooked cops, criminals, and some of the intrigue. Mildred’s a single woman who turns her life around becoming a successful business woman, only to lose it all to her relentless need to feel close to her daughter Veda, who is an absolutely terrible child. I hated Veda, not because Cain wrote her poorly but because of how ruthless and manipulative she is in her pursuit of fame. Mildred Pierce is well worth the read.

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

im biased towards the movie

i have seen the movie many many times, and i loved it from the first watch. though i enjoyed the book very much, and it is an enjoyable read, i think i prefer the story the movie told. but like i said , im biased.

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

The story will suck you win and won’t let you go until it spits you out

I loved this book! The characters are so believable and so horrible. The rhythm of the early 20th century American language is a real pleasure to hear.

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

Fantastic narrator and story!

Really enjoyed listening to this after having watched the noir classic and the television miniseries.

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