Pollyanna

A sincere thank you to the talented Laurel Lefkow for presenting this splendid 1913 classic in such a delightful manner that even somewhat jaded contemporary listeners will be enchanted. Pollyanna's sweetly innocent personality and her "glad game" of seeing the best in every situation are in stark contrast to the personalities of her sour and bitter Aunt Polly and even the maid, Nancy, who befriends Pollyanna during her sad early days. Each of these very different characters is warmly rendered by Lefkow. When Pollyanna is badly injured, her beliefs are challenged, a turn of events that brings an element of realism to this old-fashioned story. An excellent insert provides detailed notes about the book. S.G.B. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine


It would have been easy to gush through this five hanky classic, but Hannah Gordon presents a realistic, yet warm and human, interpretation of each of the various dour and happy characters. Her narrative style reminds me of the late Elizabeth Montgomery of BEWITCHED as she describes the effect a glad orphan girl has on her maiden aunt's vinegary universe. The book is full of tears and laughter, and Gordon evokes them with small catches in her voice, trembling hesitations and sudden babbles of enthusiasm. She doesn't hit a false note anywhere, a master at her craft. D.W. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine