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The House of Mirth  By  cover art

The House of Mirth

By: Edith Wharton
Narrated by: Emma Messenger
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Publisher's summary

In 1905 New York City, Lily Bart is a young, witty and beautiful socialite. Through a series of unfortunate events, she learns of the bitter consequences for a single woman without wealth, living in an uncaring society.

Public Domain (P)2013 Trout Lake Media

What listeners say about The House of Mirth

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

Excellent, but Quite Dated

This is an excellently written novel about a young woman falling from the height of 1900’s New York society. It is a well delivered story but it is difficult now days to feel too sorry for the character actually having to learn a skill and get a job (due to her own silliness) instead of living off of inherited wealth or marriage into such wealth. This is an unflattering expose of 1900 New York, which was likely controversial at the time, but now just seems quaint.

This, like An American Tragedy, is well written in a naturalistic style with a likable yet tragically flawed protagonist, but I much preferred An American Tragedy as it was less a story about manners and more about motivations.

The narration was excellent and added much to my enjoyment of this novel.

Although the writing was excellent and the story well written, I can’t think of anyone I would highly recommend this book to.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
  • VK
  • 01-19-15

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

I thought this book was okay, well worth the 95 cents that I paid. I am not sure why so many other reviewers disliked the narrator. This is the second book that I've listened to which she has narrated and I found her perfectly adequate.

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11 people found this helpful

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

The Novel of Manners = Blech!

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

Well-spent? Probably not. I have come to appreciate Edith Wharton but I am not a fan of the Novels of Manners.

Would you be willing to try another book from Edith Wharton? Why or why not?

Yes. I very much liked Ethan Frome and, despite it being a Novel of Manners, the Age of Innocence. Wharton knows what she's doing and I would not give up on her based on my ho-hum take on House of Mirth.

What does Emma Messenger bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I don't mean this maliciously, but not much. Messenger did a great job with her performance and I liked her portrayals very much. But the narrator, in my opinion, has little ability to improve the book experience but has a lot of power to diminish it. Ms. Messenger delivers a wholly adequate and enjoyable experience.

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

Yes.

Any additional comments?

None at this time.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Classic to a T

Edith Wharton is definitely a great American writer and this is one of her best pieces. It highlights the issues women faced in their time. I felt for the protagonist and her plight. It must have been soul destroying to have to have a male protector rather than being able to stand on your own. It is sad and were times I would like to climb into the narrative and slap a few people due to their bigotry and sexist attitudes but I had to remind myself that it was normal. Overall the reading was excellent. Emma Messenger had just the right tone and inflection to carry you back to New York and place you in time and place beautifully. I will definitely read/listen to her again. This is definitely worth the time.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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amazing storytelling and narration

Wharton is a wonderful storyteller. House of Mirth is full of beautifully written characters and a great understanding of human nature and social dynamics. Narrator Emma Messenger is one of the best I've heard.

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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

Wonderfull reading of a wonderful but tragic story

Where does The House of Mirth rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Emma Messenger reads very true to the book, in a delightful voice that does not add to characters what isn't already there on the page

What was one of the most memorable moments of The House of Mirth?

The story is very heart-gripping, one of those where you loathe as well as love the main person, Lily Barth, a beautiful but too-proud lady in pre-WW1 New York society era.

Have you listened to any of Emma Messenger’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

House Of Mirth is so much a better book than Age Of Innocence. It's a mysteriously beautiful story while tragic!

Any additional comments?

Emma Messenger should read more Edith Wharton books.

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

Brilliant tragic love story

Superb narration of a beautifully written novel. By today's standards the heroine's indecision can sometimes be exasperating, but that's more a reflection on the elite society of early 20e America than on her. Many parallels to Anna Karenina.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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Must be considered with a grain of salt

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Just about everything. But it's worth knowing what that genre and period are about. I'm just glad I don't live in that society.

What about Emma Messenger’s performance did you like?

She did a good job.

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

No - too boring.

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1 person found this helpful

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

Poor narrating, could not get into story

Would you try another book from Edith Wharton and/or Emma Messenger?

Sorry, no, not narrated by Emma Messenger

Would you recommend The House of Mirth to your friends? Why or why not?

I do not know, as I said I could not get into the story.. it started to sound like I could like it if it had a different narrator.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

99%... simply took away from the book.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The House of Mirth?

Did not get that far into the story

Any additional comments?

I will try to find this book narrated by someone else.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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The House of Mirth

I loved 'The House of Mirth'. Wharton's writing is exquisite and her themes, incisive, deep, and universal, are as relevant today in any slice of society as in her own dying Gilded Age milieu. Emma Messenger's voice is easy to listen to, animated, and gives individualized expression to each character. A wonderful reading and listening experience!

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