What Maisie Knew

De: Henry James

Narrado por: Maureen O' Brien

Maisie is an innocent six year-old, torn between her divorced parents, pathetically isolated yet tragically involved. The only emotional constant in Maisie's life is Mrs. Wix, a motherly old governess.

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James at his best ( of course).

The best thing about this story that it is „what Maisie Knew.“ Generally reading James is a pleasure that requires concentration and a pencil and dictionary to hand— just to get the nuances of the rich sentences. Reading carefully paragraph-long. sentences can be a little disconcerting. Consequently, the second best thing about the recording was the reader‘s grasp of the meaning and then interpretation and control of those wonderful sentences, making them Actually
easily comprehensible.
The strangest thing about this recording was that included 5 extra chapters, repeated in the middle of the book. Now

Exquisite Narration of a timeless James Novel

Maureen O'Brien's narration bring this story to life. The story of a the insecurity of a child being tossed about from one parental figure to the next is, unfortunately, still relevant in today's society. It is told from Maisie's perspective, you learn what she learns. There are gaps in time that are experienced without explanation as it would pass for a child. James magnificently brings the reader into Maisie's vantage point to the extent that I felt myself being pulled in several directions right along with her. The main characters complexities are written beautifully.
The one let down was the repulsive treatment that is given to a black woman who has a very minor role. It is offensive and hard to read.
Also, a technical glitch: 5 chapters are repeated about 2/3 into the story.

Perfect reading of a unique, fascinating novel

This reading is as good as it gets, and shows the value of audiobooks. Hearing this book read out loud by such a capable reader brings, for me at least, a new dimension of pleasure and understanding. I thought I knew the novel well from reading off the page, but there are so many nuances that hearing it at the pace of the spoken word adds a great deal. The reading is just right -- it's a reading, but not a performance, and not overdone.

A great reader reads a great writer

James is a hard writer to read aloud. He's a hard writer to read off the page. His sentences are long, with lots of subordinate clauses, that express delicate shades of meaning. They are often beautiful, but it's a difficult beauty. Maureen O'Brien does more than make James' book understandable, she makes it live in all its subtlety.

Unexpectedly Modern Story, Beautifully Read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Maisie appears to be the pawn of her feckless, self-involved parents; and then the adored darling of her subsequent stepparents. The story is told more or less from Maisie's point of view. We only know as much as she does -- no, let's take that back. She might know far more than we realize she knows. Who is playing who in this bitter game?

What other book might you compare What Maisie Knew to and why?

It's a psychological study, alive to every nuance of expression and unstated communication, but Maisie, as all humans do, remains a mystery. I'm sure some perfect comparisons will spring to mind as soon as I finish this review. But it's safe to say that if you found Turn of the Screw unsatisfying, you will not like this either. James hands you nothing but complexity and ambiguity. In other words: life.

Which scene was your favorite?

The very last scene. It is not a spoiler to say that it is a play on the title of the book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I returned to this book after seeing the updated movie version of the book with Julianne Moore and Steven Coogan as the irresponsible, self-involved parents. But in the film, Maisie is played by a darling girl whose sweetness is touching and beautiful. Here, Maisie is far more complex.

Any additional comments?

Maureen O'Brien does an amazing job capturing the accents (with all the class connotations) as well as the emotions of the characters, which requires great insight into both human nature and literature as well as great acting skills. I will search out more books read by her.