Marjorie Morningstar

By: Herman Wouk

Narrated by: Gabra Zackman

Marjorie Morningstar is a love story. It presents one of the greatest characters in modern fiction: Marjorie, the pretty 17-year-old who left the respectability of New York's Central Park West to join the theater, live in the teeming streets of Greenwich Village, and seek love in the arms of a brilliant, enigmatic writer. In this memorable novel, Herman Wouk, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, has created a story as universal, as sensitive, and as unmistakably authentic as any ever told.

Check out two of the best reviewed titles and biggest customer favorites in our store, Wouk's The Winds of War and War and Remembrance.©1955 Herman Wouk (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Herman Wouk's Marjorie Morningstar is timeless.... Gabra Zackman has a sweet, warm voice, which she mixes with a seriousness that complements Wouk's prose and dialogue. Zackman's ability to change tone, from high-pitched to deep and feminine to breathless, brings the book and its personalities to life.... With Zackman at the mike, every chapter brings a new reason to continue." (AudioFile)

Unsatisfying and frustrating

I have enjoyed Herman Wouk’s other work, and MM has long been on my “should” read list. The narration is very well performed. However, I found the story itself to be plodding, redundant and somewhat indulgent. I should have followed my gut and quit this one.

Who Picks These Readers???

I loved this book when I was a young woman. It is a little old-fashioned but the writing is vintage Wouk. A plain story of a striving girl who knows what she wants, "Marjorie Morningstar" is probably best enjoyed as a printed book.

This audio version is NOT worth the high price. If you still want to purchase it after reading this review, do so with a credit. The reader ends every sentence (not an exaggeration) with a breathy downturn in her voice, as you might if you wanted to make a particularly emotional moment more poignant.

The best readers are those who read as if they have read the text many times before, who know not only what the words are and how to pronounce them, but know what how the particular sentence fits into the paragraph/page/chapter/greater story, too. They emphasize the right words, portray appropriate emotions with changes in their voice, etc. This narrator reads every sentence with the same gravitas, as if every sentence is a pronouncement, a key idea, a highlight. That cheapens every sentence and bores this reader, anyway.

I do not recommend this audio book.

Wonderful!!

I really loved this book! I’ve also read Wouk’s The Winds Of War and War and Remembrance. I liked them both too but there was just something extra-special about Marjorie Morningstar! The only thing that was a slight annoyance to me, was the narrator. I think she did a good job but she reads painfully slow! I set speed for 1.25x after chapter 1 and never looked back...it made a world of difference!

Highly recommend this book; it’s lovely!

No war and rememberance but ok

Slow to start. Characters had depth. In addition the story gives insight into the culture and religion at the time.

Disappointing!

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

I really didn't like the main character, Marjorie. I thought she was shallow as a teenager. She did get better with age, though...

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes!

Any additional comments?

I love Wouk! Have read everything I can get my hands on. Loved "Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance". I was ready for another epoch, but didn't find it in Marjorie.

Reader was amazing!

I decided to listen to this book to rekindle some memories since I read the book for the first time in the early 1970s. It’s a very long book and not exactly a page turner. However, the reader was so amazing and absolutely the best I’ve ever heard. I had to listen hard to make sure it wasn’t two or three people reading since her intonations were different with different characters. It made listening so easy and I made it through all 33 hours!

Yawn

Unfortunately, I think today's woman will be utterly bored with this. I was. Not up to the rest of Wouk's offerings.

Awful narration

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narrator was really bad.

What did you like best about this story?

Complex and engaging plot.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Over-acting, over-pronouncing, and sing-song. Narrator is extremely self-conscious.

Was Marjorie Morningstar worth the listening time?

No.

Any additional comments?

Save your money.

Wonderful

I read this book so many, many years ago, and enjoyed it. Now as a selection for my book club, I listened to it again from the perspective of a grandmother of high school and college aged kids. I enjoyed the book so much, on so many levels. It has so many aspects of the challenges of experiencing adolescence in the sixties, and honoring the traditions of the Jewish laws, and challenges of parental restrictions. It is so beautifully written, and a pleasure to reread.

Narration

Good narrator, wrong book for her. She doesn't know the characters. Maybe better for romance novels