The Yellow Wallpaper

By: Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Narrated by: Heather Wood, K. Anderson Yancy

Length: 42 mins

Publisher's summary

A woman, struggling with mental illness, fights to maintain her sanity in her home, haunted by an apparition from behind her bedroom’s yellow wallpaper.

Public Domain (P)2012 K. Anderson Yancy

"Sonic Movie" -- not a straight reading

I use Audible books in tandem with Kindle primarily to regulate my reading speed and increase comprehension. If one were merely listening to this title, they would not notice where a few liberties are taken with the text -- some repetitions, additions (a passage from "My Love is a Red, Red Rose"), and some text is obscured by sound effects.

If one were using this title for school, as I am, it could lead to a misquote or erroneously pointing out literary devices author Gilman didn't use.

If listening to this title for pleasure, this version is fine. It would make an especially good Halloween listen. It was well-acted and the acting and sound/music heighten this creepy story. Just keep in mind that it is acted, rather than merely read like other Audible books. There isn't just a slight change of voice for characters, but actors, music, sound effects, creepy laughter, etc. I generally listen in the car, but this one has some surprise and loud sounds that might have startled me if I'd been driving.

All in all, a good performance, you should just know what you're getting into.

Good story

I loved the story

the sound effects took away from the story, they were too loud in some places and made it hard to hear the performance.

Good story, Bad production

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

The story was really good, but the sound effects were sometimes louder than the narrator. I had the listen to it with the book to make sure I was hearing it correctly. That being said, the main narrator was really good.

How could the performance have been better?

The narrator was awesome. Her voice was great and I wish I could have heard more of it through the sound effects.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Irritation from the loud distracting noises while the narrator was speaking.

Destroyed the enjoyment with noise

What disappointed you about The Yellow Wallpaper?

Loud scretching noises through out the story made me want to pull out my headphones.

If you’ve listened to books by Charlotte Perkins Gilman before, how does this one compare?

Have not listened to her work before

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Heather Wood and K. Anderson Yancy ?

They conveyed the demented mind alright, but the loud scretching noises were too distracting to enjoy

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

sadness and disappointment

Awful sound effects

High pitched shrieking noises are so loud you can't hear the reader. gives me a headache. Awful to listen to.

Not my favorite

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I could not listen to the whole thing! The story seem to be about an unending description of the wall paper on the bedroom wall.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The attempt at sound effects to enhance the mood or experience of the story is so off the track and too loud at times you can barely hear the narrator.
The recording quality is like it was recorded in a tin can.

Any additional comments?

I wish I could ask for a return. Only consolation I have is I purchased it at a sale price.