What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

De: Henry Farrell, Mitch Douglas - introduction

Narrado por: Lorelei King, Peter Ganim

The chilling novel that inspired the iconic film.

The neighbors all whisper about the two sisters who live on the hill: It's Blanche Hudson who lives in that house, you know. The Blanche Hudson, who starred in big Hollywood films all those years ago. Such a shame her career ended so early, all because of that accident. They say it was her sister, Jane, who did it - that she crashed the car because she was drunk. They say that's why she looks after Blanche now, because of the guilt. That's what they say, at least.

Nobody remembers that Jane was once a star herself. A fixture of early vaudeville, Baby Jane Hudson performed her song and dance routines for adoring crowds until a move to Hollywood thrust her sister into the spotlight. Even now, years later, Jane dreams of reviving her act. But as the lines begin to blur between fantasy and reality, past resentments become dangerous - and the sisters' long-kept secrets threaten to destroy them.

©2013 Henry Farrell (P)2013 Hachette Audio

I was wowed by many of the reviews

I was wowed by the reviews, with listeners saying the book was better than the film. I expected greater depth, but I didn't find it. Not that the book was lacking, but the book did make me realize just what a terrific screenplay the 1962 film has. There are passages in the book that impressed me in that I could see how well the actors portrayed nuances of emotion and thought behind their eyes.

There is a lot to like in the story, though it differs from the movie in some critical areas that set the mood and define the characters.

I did NOT like the narration. While she read some characters decently - primarily Blanch Hudson, I found the narrator tended to play the ancillary female characters almost as breathless, 1960s television gossipy neighbors. Think Gladys Kravitz on Bewitched. The story of "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane" is certainly good, and definitely the best of the stories included in this audiobook selection. I can't agree with some of the other reviewers, however, that it is better than the film version.

I was sort of surprised (despite seeing in other reviews, that there was another story), that at the end of WEHtBJ, without missing a beat, the audiobook launches right into a reading of an unpublished short story called "What Ever Happened to Cousin Charlotte?" This is, of course, the story that ultimately came to the screen as "Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte." This was where, for me, the disappointment really started. I thought the book sounded like it was written by a precocious high school student. Full of literary cliches and platitudes. The narration dripped with southern drawl that sounded like caricatures. I could hardly wait for this section of the audiobook to end!

And then, abruptly, ANOTHER short story follows about an actor in what I suppose is a live broadcast of a play - who learns an important lesson. It's okay. But it probably won't enrich your life much. I thought it was also pretty cliche and a little fluffy.

And to really give you your money's worth, you get one MORE short story about a man who finds a dinosaur egg. Pleasant enough. Cute, in fact. I guess to be considered a "bonus" when you purchase "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane."

I would have given the overall rating 4 stars, the performance 3, and the story 5 stars had it been just for WEHtBJ, but the rest of the audio dragged it down for me. You, though, might enjoy them much more than I did.

Worth every penny or credit

The 1960s movie always confused me but the book, omg! The book was so hard to put down. It's creepy, the characters are well written and I can definitely see why people were raving about it when it was first published and why they got such big names to play the main characters in the movie.

This book has more than one story, the second story is Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte. I am not reviewing that story as I needed a break after Whatever Happened to Baby Jane and am saving listening to that story when I'm in the mood for another story by this author.

Sad more than horror

The film follows the book very closely. Had exciting moments and it is the kind of book that you think about afterwards.

SO GOOD

Loved the suspense of the story, so different from today's television offerings. The artist/narrator Lorelei King was perfect

Suspense Ahoy

Where does What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is definitely one of the best audio books I've listened to. It's well performed, and the story is dynamic. It's dated, for sure, but it's still brilliant.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jane... she's nuts, but in a glorious kind of way.

Which scene was your favorite?

Definitely when Jane is trying to justify killing people... that's lovely.

If you could rename What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, what would you call it?

Just Desserts

Any additional comments?

Definitely worth your time.

A story of sibling rivalry.

Very old fashioned. Suspense good. But now I have listened to all the stories, I have forgotten what actually happened to the warring sisters. The Egg was the most memorable, and I enjoyed that story the most.

Did not disappoint

Would you listen to What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? again? Why?

As a classic movie lover I love What ever happened to a Baby Jane due to two of my favorite actresses. After reading the book I feel as if were written specifically for Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. I could not get them out of my head while reading it.
Henry Farrell does not disappoint with this story of two sisters. It is intense and brilliant.

Loved it!

Had seen the movie several times and always wanted to read the book! I loved it! Book was better than the movie! Great listen!

loved it!

loved it. ice always been a fan of the moxie "whatever happened to baby jane?" and "Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte" it was interesting to learn a bit about the author and to hear a few more of his stories.

Slow and Disappointing

The start to this book is painfully slow; I found it hard to get into. Then about 1/3 of the way through, the plot gets very interesting and exciting. My jaw kept dropping! However, the plot twist at the end feels very forced and the book ends without true closure. The book was okay but definitely skippable.