Frances K. Harville

A Favorite Read

Revisado: 02-18-22

I first read this book in college, but didn't fully understand it until I reread it many years later. it's such a nostalgic, loving portrait of the "old tabbies" of a small market town/village in England sometime around 1810 to 1830 or so. It's a quiet story about older single ladies (some widows, some old maids) and their habits, heartaches, and the funny stories about their lives, all told through the perspective of a younger relative of the main characters, who visits frequently, and is witness to most of the events of the story. It's quaint, tender, and full of a distinct cast of characters.

I usually read this book after I've been reading Jane Austen, as the time periods of both overlap, and show such different perspectives. Just like Austen, there is some subtle humor here, and some that is laugh-aloud funny.

Elizabeth Gaskell was a powerhouse of a writer, and Cranford is very much like a memoir of a past time, and perhaps that's why I love it so much. It's not a dramatic work of suspense and passion, etc. that was popular in the mid-Victorian period. Instead, it's a curl up in a comfy chair with a big cup of tea, a blanket, some knitting, and settle in to hear a friend or family member tell you tales of the past.

I really like the narration for this book, and have listened to it many times. I like to listen to audiobooks and podcasts while working on my various hobbies, driving, or doing light housework.

I would recommend this book to people who like 19th century literature, Jane Austen, memoirs (even though this is pure fiction), history, and who enjoy character-rich stories. Even people with an interest in historical fashion will enjoy it.

The PBS two-part series starring Dame Judy Dench, Michael Gambon, and Imelda Staunton is an excellent adaptation of the book, so if you liked that, you will enjoy the book even more.

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Poor Reading of a great book

Revisado: 07-18-20

I'm a big fan of J. M. Riley, and this is my favorite of her books. I got this so that I could read while sewing/crafting, and so that I could hear the French bits as they are supposed to be pronounced, not as I think they're said. I was sadly disappointed.

I listen to audiobooks all the time, and know that the right narrator can make a book thoroughly enjoyable, and I've listened to hundreds of books. I'm a teacher, and value good oral reading. This book is not.

Why? At first, it was the somewhat flat reading. There was very little emphasis on the sentences, and no differentiation between characters' dialogue, rendering it difficult to determine just who was speaking. The pace of the reading is pretty much the same throughout, with little pausing for emphasis or emotions. And, worst of all, she mispronounced many ordinary English words/terms, which was not only annoying, but distracting. I gave up on the reading yesterday and finished reading with my copy of the book.

The worst thing about the mispronunciation is that is was frequent enough to make me question the pronunciation of French names and terms, which was one of the reasons I wanted to listen to it!

I thoroughly recommend you read the book, but discourage you from listening to this performance. It was very poorly done.

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I keep re-listening to it!

Revisado: 06-10-20

I didn't discover Jane Austen until just after college. She has become my favorite writer over the years. I've read several biographies, but this one is different. It's about her development as a writer and a human being, appropriately through the lens of small details, some of which we wouldn't ordinarily associate with her. It's the first book I've read about her that comes closest to making Austen's personality three-dimensional, brings her to life, so to speak. Every time I listen, I better understand the subtlety of her genius, especially in the context of the times in which she lived, and how they are reflected in her books. The Narrator, Kate Reading, is a familiar voice to me, having listened to the entire Pink Carnation series she narrated. I like her reading, and her tone is just right for the subject. As an English teacher, Austen reader, and literary analyst, I thoroughly recommend this book.

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Very enjoyable listen

Revisado: 03-10-19

This is two books of short stories narrated by two different people. The narration is excellent. There is a distinct difference between the two books. The first contains several stories that are not specific to any of Christie's regular detectives. The second, however, consists of stories that involve a touch of the supernatural, something that fascinated her. I really enjoyed these stories, and recommend them to any Christie fan. The short stories are good for times when you want something that doesn't require a long time commitment.

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas