An Old-Fashioned Girl

By: Louisa May Alcott

Narrated by: Anne Johnstonbrown

Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

A country girl named Polly is visiting city friends and comes to realize that this world is quite different than which she has left. Here people are judged according to their dress and manner of speech rather than for their honesty and hard work. Yet all who meet Polly cannot help but be enamored of her; her sweet simplicity is unlike any that they have ever seen, and soon everyone comes to realize that Polly is not someone to be laughed at and ridiculed, but someone to put upon a pedestal for failing to become willing prey to the cynicism of the times.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible Inc.

A favorite story, read horribly!

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It's a wonderful story, but this was painful to listen to.

What was one of the most memorable moments of An Old-Fashioned Girl?

I have always loved this book and even own a first edition of it. I have read it countless times and thought having the audiobook would be a treat. Boy was I wrong. All the fun moments that I loved reading myself were butchered by the narrators over dramatized reading.

What didn’t you like about Anne Johnstonbrown’s performance?

The reader, Anne Johnston Brown read the story with over exaggerated accents that completely distracted from the story. Her attempts at a country accent for Polly came across as uneducated and unintelligible. Same with Tom...not quite sure what she was going for there. There was no need to overdramatize such a simple, wonderful story. Very disappointed with the audiobook.

Any additional comments?

So saddened by this performance. If this was someone's first exposure to this lesser known Louisa May Alcott treasure they would turn it off and not finish - missing out on the sweetness of wonderful love story.

Sadness

I was so excited to find one of my favorite girlhood books available on Audible. Imagine my disappointment when the main character is made to sound more like Tammy Tell Me True. This is NOT a story about a hillbilly girl. I hope at some future time Audible will redo the book with a better narrator. Louisa Mae Alcott must be turning in her grave!

Narrator used inexplicable accents

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I had to keep fighting against the fake accents; southern drawls for people who live on Beacon Hill?! Please.

What did you like best about this story?

Louisa May Alcott is the master.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Anne Johnstonbrown?

It may not be ther fault; as a narrator she's fine. The accents must be someone else's dumb idea.

Do you think An Old-Fashioned Girl needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I strongly think it should be re-done. This version is a disservice to a lovely classic.

Any additional comments?

Listening to this is like reading a book with terrible illustrations.

Love the story, don't care for the narration

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I absolutely love this story and have for years. I was disappointed in this narration - the reading is very mechanical with over-done drawls for the character voices that don't seem to fit the characters. I would absolutely recommend the story, but not this narration. I'm hoping to find a different narration that I like better.

What other book might you compare An Old-Fashioned Girl to and why?

Little Women. It's a comparison of an old-fashioned life of work and character compared to a frivolous, giddy "fashionable" life. The conclusion is similar to Little Women - showing the value of work and purpose in life.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I don't like the character voices. The drawling tones don't match my mental images for the characters. The narrator is so focused on enunciating every sound that the prose comes across as very mechanical. It's hard to get into the story because the reading is so measured and enunciated.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

I love the story, so I would go see it and hope that the dramatization lived up to my mental images.

Any additional comments?

Love the story. I'm hoping to find a different narration that I like more.

A Revisit of a Childhood Favorite!

I was excited to find this childhood favorite in Audible's catalog! I enjoyed listening to it. I enjoyed the narrator's regular reading voice, but didn't like the southern accents she put on for the characters voices. It wasn't how I imagined Polly, Fanny, Tom or anyone else talked. Sometimes it was a stronger accent than others and I even became so irritated at times that I stopped listening and switched to a different book for a while to give my ears a rest. I did finish listening and still love the story very much!

Was great

This was one of my favorite stories growing up.
Not my favorite style of readers voice. But she did great and I loved all the characters.

Great story!

I love this story! It is so well written. It’s just a shame that the reader was so bad. She did a southern accent for the kids which didn’t seem to fit at all. Save yourself the money and just read the book.

Love the book!😍

Exalent book! I love it!
The n
arrator gives them all a southern accent,but it's great!

Upbeat and Wholesome

A light-hearted book with a positive outlook on life. Always good to read Louisa May Alcott books when chaos is happening in the world.

Excellent story. Beautifully narrated.

How can one go wrong with Louisa May Alcott? She's a master storyteller. I admire her ability to share nuggets of wisdom with the reader/listener without making them feel preached at.