Gone-Away Lake

By: Elizabeth Enright

Narrated by: Colleen Delany

Length: 5 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Enjoy the adventures of eleven year-old Portia, who together with her younger brother, Foster, spend a summer with their cousin, Julian, engaged in more than the usual summer pastimes of sun, fun, and games. The three intrepid children soon discover a fascinating abandoned summer resort, consisting of deserted crumbling Victorian summer homes surrounding a vanished lake, which is now a swamp. But, best of all, they discover and befriend an elderly eccentric brother and sister who tell them the story of Gone-Away Lake.

©1957 Elizabeth Enright, copyright renewed 1985 by Nicholas W. Gillham, Oliver Gillham, and Robert Gillham II (P)2003 Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A brilliance and a humor that make it seem as if it were happening right this minute." (The New York Times Book Review)
"A beautifully written, wonderfully imaginative story." (Publishers Weekly)

such a fun book

really enjoyed this book. lovely fun story. My kids listened as a part of Sonlight homeschooling program

fave

A childhood favorite and 55 years later, too. This and Return to Gone Away made pleasant memories

Sweet Summer Story

My kids and I were entranced. It made us wish for our own Gone Away Lake.

Fabulous readet!

I’m surprised that anyone would complain about this reader; she is fabulous at doing voices of the young and old!

Well written and delightful!

This is a book that loves children! It's a charming story filled with a delightful adventure. My children loved this book. We look forward to the sequel.

Just as wonderful as my memory of it!

This was one of my favorite books when I was young. It filled me with a sense of adventure, a desire to explore my environment and the belief that magical, wonderful things can happen at any time. As an adult I realize that this story also gave me a healthy dose of lessons in work ethic, gratitude, kindness, courage and empathy. My 5 kids and I (ages 6-11, both boys and girls) listened to this audio recording together and they related to it every bit as much as I hoped they would. Every time we climbed into the car (where 98% of our book listening happens) they immediately asked me to "turn the book on!" and they sighed with disappointment when we had no more to listen to (until I told them there is a sequel!). Colleen Delaney is an excellent narrator, able to do convincing voices for each character without taking you out of the story and an easy-going lilt that just sounds friendly. You will be swept up in the scene descriptions and fall in love with Pinder and Minnehaha, Julian and Portia and all of the other well-imagined friends. Listen to this book!!!! And then go and get a copy so you can read it to yourself and enjoy the pen and ink illustrations. Gone-Away Lake is a classic.

Elizabeth enright : best writer

Um this book is Jamaze the narration could have been better but it still is so good I also recommend the Saturdays 👍👍👍👍

family favorite

loved the book family favorite for years now
our first time listening to the audio version reading was good

Wonderful book, well read

This is a children's book that adults will enjoy as well. Enright has an observant eye and ear for authentic children's speech and experience, making for a story that is cheerful and yes, escapist, but will make the listener wish he or she could have such adventures. This is a good book for a family car trip. The narrator is excellent.

Loved it! I absolutely loved the story!

It was a lovely book and I didn't want to here the last chapter because I didn't want to end the book! I loved how you never really new what was going to happen and some parts where suspenseful. I liked how there were smaller story's in the big story! I would definitely recommend it! I listened to it when I was sick and it totally lightened my mood! Love it!