Good Wives

By: Louisa May Alcott

Narrated by: C. M. Hébert

Three years after the close of Little Women, the March girls and their friend Laurie are young adults with only their futures to find. Along the way, they all face painful trials, from Meg's difficult lessons in housekeeping to Laurie's heartbreak in a love tragedy. Each of the girls finds happiness, but not always in the ways they expect.

Though often classified a children's book, Good Wives, with its lifelike characters and situations, has entertained millions of adults. The delightful adventures of the March children still possess great power to inspire listeners.

(P)1996 Blackstone Audio Inc

Star pronunciation & performance

She's a good reader, sounds authentic with french words and Mr. Bhear's German accent.

good story

This is a great book to follow Little Women as it is the sequel. It is an easy listen and fun to listen to.

Repeat of “Little Women” novel

At the end of this recording, it states that this audio version was made in 1996. It is exactly the last 2/3 of the novel “Little Women”, by the same author. The narrator is excellent!
However, this is the same story, minus the first 1/3 of “Little Women”. It does not continue 3 years later, nor does it have any new writing from the first book. Unless you haven’t read “Little Women” in a while, and want a slightly shorter version, don’t bother with this title.
Instead, go on to listen to “Little Men” and “Joe’s Boys”, which completes the trilogy wonderfully! Thankfully, this book was free with Audible Plus.

Poor Jo, Couldn't Even Lose Her Heart Decorously

This is a fun book packed with all the trials and tribulations of newlyweds. The narrator C. M. Hebert made it a pleasure. In one instant, poor Meg had struggled all day trying to put up some jelly. Well the darn stuff wouldn't jell. She burnt it; she spilled it; she boiled it over; everything went wrong. The house was a wreck, the kitchen would have qualified for federal disaster aid; nothing was cooked for dinner. Then, would you know it, that husband of hers brought home an unexpected guest for dinner. Yes, it was funny in succeeding years but right then, not so much.

That Mrs. March was a wise woman, no one would dispute. It turns out that she was an even wiser mother-in-law. She kept aloof from her married daughters' troubles unless asked and then horrors of horrors didn't always take the daughter's side; didn't always give the advice the daughter wanted to hear. Oh, if there were more in-laws of her stamp today, there would be fewer divorces. Momma's little Johnny and little Mary all grown up and married aren't always right.

In many ways, this is a how-to book written lightly and humorously but tackling real issues facing couples that are as real today as then. Among the many fine suggestions are that spouses should take care themselves; to recharge themselves, give themselves a break. Take care of the children of course, but not to the exclusion of taking care of one's spouse's needs. Balance is the advice. Your spouse is your partner: 1880 advice which doesn't seem dated to my 2009 ears.

Oh yes, Jo falls in love; more like stumbles in it; plops in it; does an indecorous belly busting flop. It was a delicious romance that only Jo March could have. Like Jane Austen wrote of Marianne Dashwood, "She could never love by halves." Neither could Jo.

Little Women. Abridged

This is merely a recap of the latter half of Little Women. It is not new material and should not be marketed as the 2nd in a series of four books. It is an abridgment of the original book, nothing more. Very disappointing.