That Was Then, This Is Now

By: S. E. Hinton

Narrated by: Jeff Woodman

Length: 3 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

"It had been a real weird winter. Last fall, Mark and me had thought just alike, as one person; now we couldn't even talk."

Bryon and Mark aren't related, but they are as close as brothers. Ever since his parents died when he was nine, Mark has lived with Bryon and his mother. Now at 16, they like to reminisce about old times - the fights and pranks at school, smoking and swearing - junk they got into when they were younger. But lately things have been different. Bryon starts spending a lot of time with Cathy, and she makes him feel there are some things worth working for. He grows bored with all the fighting, the dead-end choices of life on the streets. And as Bryon's life takes one direction, Mark's life takes another. When Bryon discovers that Mark is pushing drugs, he faces a choice that could ruin their friendship.

S. E. Hinton is the author of The Outsiders, a book she wrote when she was 16. That Was Then, This Is Now is a coming-of-age story set in the 1960s.

©1971 S.E. Hinton (P)1994 Recorded Books

Good Story for Middle School Students

What did you like best about That Was Then, This Is Now? What did you like least?

Best: the story kept the students engaged, good narrator's voice
Least: The audio skips in a couple chapters

Any additional comments?

In two or three of the chapters, the narration skips several paragraphs. My students were following along in a paper copy while audible read it aloud. In one instance the missing paragraphs were read (not totally skipped)... its just that they were out of order.

it was really good <br />

loved it
i love this book so much . the reader was good also .

This audiobook does not go in order.....

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Loved the book but the audiobook does not play in order and skips all over.

Any additional comments?

Terrible to try and figure out. As a teacher, this is a huge problem in my classroom trying to follow along when the audio skips all over the book. For example, in the middle of chapter 5 on page 86, it all of a sudden transitions back to chapter 3 on page 47. SO CONFUSING. I cant even use this audiobook.

Difficult Listening

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

Not really. I used this for an English class and the story would continuously repeat itself and jump around. It was a struggle to find the place where we needed to be each time in messed up.

What did you like best about this story?

My students enjoy the story line.

Would you be willing to try another one of Jeff Woodman’s performances?

Not sure. If the repeating is due to the person recording or simply the recording itself.

Was That Was Then, This Is Now worth the listening time?

When we were able to listen, yes. The time wasted trying to figure out what just happened during the jump parts was frustrating.

Any additional comments?

I used a credit for this, but if I had spent the money, I would have been angry and demanded a refund.

Riddled with Audio Errors

I got this audiobook to assist my 7th grade English class in a study of the novel. Unfortunately, the audio skips entire pages of text several times throughout the reading. Even stranger, the audio will suddenly play bits of text from other chapters then revert back to the current chapter, but several pages forward.

I alerted Audible to this problem, and they kindly sent me the audiobook to try re-downloading. That didn't help, so my class and I struggled through the misplaced and omitted bits on our own. (The audio errors did help me recognize which students were and were not paying attention, however!)

Not as great as I remember.

This was one of my favorite books as a kid. I read it over and over. But as an adult I had a hard time swallowing the whole "acid will make you lose your mind forever" bit. I mean, if I didn't know better I would think it was a scared straight novel commissioned by Nancy Reagan. However, to be fair, I think that was probably the way people thought of it back in the beginning, so in the context of the time, it might be accurate.

Never forgot this story

From my Coronavirus shelter in place reading list. This story never gets old. I still have my paperback from 7th grade but choose to listen on Audible. It's still a great story. It takes you back in time with the way young people spoke and thought. I like how he was bummed having to shop at the "used" clothing store. Where today we love that. A good read.

Aight

its aight ive seen better books like the outsiders i also like rumble fish seen better hate the damn ending

This is my 5th time reading this book

First time I read this book was back in high school. every time I hate and love the book especially the ending... it's so awesome and so messed up at same time. such is life

Great read

as good as expected from her. loved the outsiders as well. will reccomend this to family