Peyton Place

By: Grace Metalious

Narrated by: Tim O'Connor

Length: 16 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1956, when this novel was first published, communities all over New England snapped up copies to see if they were the town portrayed in the book. Peyton Place is the story of a repressive New England town known for its high standards of public morality, and the steamy sexual activities that take place behind its bedroom doors. While the town's rigid mores lead to hypocrisy and repression, the earthy characters have an unbelievably high level of sexual functioning, especially the playboy Rodney Harrington and the profoundly round-heeled Betty Anderson. In this environment, Allison McKenzie, a dreamy girl coming to womanhood, must make her way without a father, living with her frigid mother, Constance McKenzie.

©1956 Grace Metalious (P)2001 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Metalious was a competent writer with some flair whose punchy workmanlike prose efficiently captured her little inland New England hamlet's earthy (if somewhat unbelievably sexually functional) populace." (Kirkus Reviews)

Better than expected.

Better than I expected and I waited too long to listen to this. Especially enjoyed the history behind the book at the end.

fun4gracie

Listened to this book twice so far and probably will again. It is truly the best book I've listened to in 4 years. This was the #1 best seller in the 20 th century and after listening to it you will agree. Just terrific.

Wow, this book is about more than I thought it was

What a great book! I had no idea. Had it not been trashed by the terrible soap opera that used its title, I’d have read it long ago, and been the better for it. This book isn't about sex at all, though it includes it as part of the narrative, it's about class and gender. It's beautifully written, despite the rape scene that was included on the insistence of the publishers, who thought it would sell more books.Grace Metalious was too real and fresh to realize how a sexually repressed nation would pounce on the sexuality of the characters and fail to realize what else was going on in the book. Women had ownership of their lives and actions. Wow! Still a good and worthwhile read after 50+ years.
The narrator was perfect. He got out of the way and let the words and characters speak. I looked for other books he'd narrated on audible, nada. Damn. He's good.

great modern writing

excellent writing, magnifcent description,good characterization, to a large extent a coming of age saga. great portraiture of the human condition

highly recommended

Very good. Remembered from the past👍

I had never read the book only seeing the movie. I wish the cussing was eliminated but is seemed to be the true character speaking. Of course that was not part of the movie.
I can’t imagine the impact years ago when released but sometimes shocking stirs debate and much included here. Hearing the words has much more impact than reading or it is for me. Glad I didn’t read & enjoyed the oral. The presenter was excellent and perfect for the setting of the book.

Guilty Pleasure

I was only 3 when the book came out, but throughout the 50s and 60s there were whispers (and shouts) about Peyton Place. I was still too young to sneak into the movie and when I finally saw it on late night TV, I yawned. That said, both the book and the narrator are a real treat and I found it surprisingly better written than it's trash reputation would suggest. The inner voices are surprisingly honest and I will publicly admit that listening made driving to and from work a great ride. Take the plunge! You'll enjoy!

It Deserves a Read

I had heard about this book for years but had never read it. I finally decided it was time and I was not disappointed. It's difficult to describe aside from being a book about a small town and all the behind-the-scenes goings on, but it's also so much more than that. You feel like you're part of this community and the read is never slow or boring. I thought the narration was perfect for the time and place of the book.

Enjoyed it!

Grew up hearing the saying “that place is a regular Peyton Place but I was too young to have read the book or seen the movie to TV show. I can identify with the book although raised in the south the small town I grew up in had many characteristics of Peyton Place. I liked how the various characters were developed. I am glad I finally read it. The recap bonus at the end was interesting.

excellent

Great sound quality. Has a male reader, but he doesn't sound stupid doing the women's voices.

A cast of imperfect characters

Peyton Place is as wonderfully soupy and soapy as you remember or heard tell of. But a great deal is different from the movie version, and the old TV soap opera is practically an unrelated animal. As always, I am glad there was so much more to marvel about in the book. For instance, I was surprised at how cynical and unhappy Allison MacKenzie's character really is. Similarly, the tragic Selena Cross comes across much harder and grittier than the simpering shyness of Hope Lange's portrayal. That famous scene in the film where Selena sits suffering in court and begging old Doc Swain not to tell her hideous secret never even happened in the book. Finally, the Constance Mackenzie character is much softer than the shrew Lana Turner was in the film.There are other shocks, but I am not reviewing to give all the surprises away. I just think it's better to know that remarkable liberties were taken in Hollywood with this story. One thing is consistent, however. It is quite a dated tale. Women are not at all emancipated by being sexual or unmarried. Not one female character comes off as loyal to another woman. The only enduring friendships are among the men. I was also disturbed by the racism and liberal use of the N word. Still, it's an engaging tale of smalltown hypocrisies, classicism, sex, drunks, and oddballs.