Now, Voyager

Femmes Fatales

By: Olive Higgins Prouty

Narrated by: Coleen Marlo

"Don’t let’s ask for the moon! We have the stars!” The film that concludes with Bette Davis’s famous word reaffirmed Davis’s own stardom and changed the way Americans smoked cigarettes. But few contemporary fans of this story of a woman’s self-realization know its source. Olive Higgins Prouty’s 1941 novel Now, Voyager provides an even richer, deeper portrait of the inner life of its protagonist and the society she inhabits. Viewed from a distance of more than 60 years, it also offers fresh and quietly radical takes on psychiatric treatment, traditional family life, female desire, and women’s agency.

Boston blueblood Charlotte Vale has led an unhappy, sheltered life. Lonely, dowdy, repressed, and pushing 40, Charlotte finds salvation at a sanitarium, where she undergoes an emotional and physical transformation. After her extreme makeover, the new Charlotte tests her mettle by embarking on a cruise and finds herself in a torrid love affair with a married man which ends at the conclusion of the voyage. But only then can the real journey begin, as Charlotte is forced to navigate a new life for herself. While Now, Voyager is a tear-jerking romance, it is at the same time the empowering story of a woman who finds the strength to chart her own course in life; who discovers love, sex, and even motherhood outside of marriage; and who learns that men are, ultimately, dispensable in the quest for happiness and fulfillment.

©2004 Olive Higgins Prout (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

As Fabulous as Bette

Just as stylish as the Bette Davis movie and a joy to experience again and again.

The Inspiration for The Movie Classic

Many cinema fans know that the 1940s were a box office heyday for Hollywood actresses. But many of us today don't realize that these great femme film vehicles were written by gifted women novelists, whose words brought these great characters to life.

"Now, Voyager" the movie, was selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry by Library of Congress and concludes with one of the most famous romance quotes of cinema, "Don't let's ask for the moon! We have the stars!"

The book gives a deeper, more nuanced look into the roles and psychological lives of women in 1930s America.

When she escapes the oppression of her abusive mother, ugly duckling Charlotte blossoms, and sets sail on a trip to South America where she falls in love with a married man. Can she have it all?

This is one of the best tales of falling in love, ever. Charlotte's experience of her first kiss, of being called "darling" for the first time, is the pinnacle of romantic storytelling. Sigh...

My favorite movie!!

My all time favorite movie had to read the book and listen too! Am surprised how closely the movie follows the book as most don’t!

Never out of time

This is one story that never ages. The manners, the honor, the styles have disappeared. The feelings, the relationships are brand new and remain that way. Its a truly great book.
Prouty wrote "chic books" and terrific ones. The five "vale" books are one of the best series ever. It would be a fine republishing venture to bring them out again.
Th reader is a bit too young sounding and a director should have caught mispronunciations that jar.

I think the movie was better but the book is close

Bette Davis adds more depth and dimension to the main character portrayed in the book. I found it an enjoyable read and especially liked going down memory lane in the scenes of Boston and Maine, where I spent the 1970's and 80's.

Really enjoyed this

I’ve been a big fan of the movie. While this differs in some aspects, I was not disappointed. Recommend!

I love this book so much!

This book is so good! The movie with Bette Davis was so fantastic that I had to try the book! It’s not a disappointment and the narrator is so like Bette!

If you liked the movie...

The author chose to use memory of Charlotte's early life rather than beginning with it as the movie did. All of the salient information is eventually related to a reader who is familiar with the movie. There are many movies based on books which are true to the author's intention. It would be lovely to have those books on hand. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir is available on Audible and is truly better than the movie as is The Uninvited which can be read on Kindle. Michal Kitchen who reads The African Queen is superb. At this time, the very best transfer from a book to movie is The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris and is available on Audible. Non fiction, Crucible of Honor on Audible describes much of the movie Zulu. I'm looking forward to more Audible books based on old movies.

Wonderful

I fell in love with the movie by the same name starring Bette Davis. The movie is a perfect adaptation of this book. The book is beautifully narrated and tells the story of true love found and loss due to circumstance. It shows the of the human spirit to never stop giving even when what you want the most is unattainable. I love this story on a very personal level. just like the movie I will return to this book often just to be in Charlotte's world.

Great story, terrible reader

“Now, Voyager” is my favorite movie ever, so I was very interested to listen to this. I was really blown away to notice how well the script was adapted from the book.

Unfortunately, this reader is terrible; her expressiveness was on the level of a 14 year old girl reading a cheap Harlequin romance novel out loud, and it detracts from the story so much that it is painful. I stuck it out, however, mostly out of interest for comparing it to the movie.

Either read the book and spare yourself from this reader, or just watch the movie; this is a rare occasion when I would say the movie is better.