Good Wives

Alcott's "little women" continue their story in Good Wives, a tale that follows them into adulthood. Herbert brings characters as diverse as the guttural Mr. Baer and the Irish Hannah to life but struggles to differentiate the four girls, making Jo take on a rough, mannish tone while Beth is almost otherworldly. In truth, her voice is better suited to the older characters, whose scenes flow seamlessly until another youngster interjects a word. Listeners may find Herbert's deep intonations, while clear and consistent, too heavy for such a gentle tale. She paces the story well, though, and true fans of Alcott will find the interpretation of the work worth their time. K.R. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

In the continuing story of the March sisters, the "little women" grow up and marry, providing much occasion for advice on how to be a "womanly woman," and focus on the pleasures of being poor. King renders a fully characterized reading of this period piece. She gracefully adjusts her voice to the many personalities and easily differentiates characters. Her dramatics accentuate the spirit of the text and invoke the days when reading aloud was a primary form of entertainment. E.L.C. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

GOOD WIVES is the second half of Alcott's beloved classic, LITTLE WOMEN. Liza Ross does a lovely job of narrating this abridged version about the March sisters, beginning with Meg's marriage and ending with Jo's. The story is told through narrative and letters, mainly from Amy and Jo's perspectives as they have adventures in Europe and New York, respectively. Ross gives each character a fitting voice and expressively conveys his or her emotions. She's especially delightful as Mr. Bhaer, a German man who becomes Jo's love interest. This is a lovely production, with piano music setting the tone between scenes. Listeners will need to be familiar with LITTLE WOMEN to enjoy this continuation of the story. M.M.G. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine