The Yellow Wallpaper

By: Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Narrated by: Kitty Hendrix

"The Yellow Wallpaper", written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 1890, details the descent of a young woman into madness.

Her supportive, though misunderstanding, physician husband, John, believes it is in her best interests to go on a "rest cure" after the birth of their child. The family spends the summer at a colonial mansion that has, in the narrator's words, "something queer about it" and her depression/anxiety, (commonly diagnosed today as postpartum depression), spirals out of control as she fixates on the yellow wallpaper in their bedroom.

Gilman wrote this story in an effort to illustrate how a woman's lack of autonomy can be detrimental to her mental, emotional, and even physical wellbeing.

Public Domain (P)2016 Kitty Hendrix

Horrific journal of a woman's character destroyed

What did you like best about The Yellow Wallpaper? What did you like least?

Many can relate to the psychological phenomenon pareidolia, which can cause us to see faces or images of significance on walls or in patterns. The Rorschach inkblot test uses directed pareidolia to gain insight into a person's feelings and mental landscape. In 'The Yellow Wallpaper', Charlotte Perkins Gilman uses this familiar experience as an allegory for the destructive effects of patriarchal control and understimulation on 19th century women.

Which character – as performed by Kitty Hendrix – was your favorite?

The short story unfolds as a sequence of journal entries by the female narrator. Kitty Hendrix's performance gives expression to the young woman's longing for escape from the mansion, her curiosity and contempt for the yellow wallpaper. I particularly enjoyed the conspiratorial tones in the narrator's journal. Hendrix gives these moments cheekiness and urgency, for example, when the narrator hears John coming up the stairs and closes the journal entry for the day.

The character of the young woman is suffering from what is described by her physician husband, John, as a 'nervous depression' shortly after having a child. Hendrix's performance conveys the intensity of her suffering but also the three-dimensionality of her life before her husband (and brother) imposed their idea of a rest cure on her.

The audiobook is an iconic, tragic and creepy story of a young woman's descent in madness. I found it very enjoyable.

Any additional comments?

I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.

Brilliant!

1892? Really? Damn, this was good. This is how short stories are suppose to be done. Creepy. Building dread. Subtle terror and growing madness. Excellent!

Fascinating

Written in 1891 The author herself suffered from manic depression, after being treated by a so-called "specialist" she was nearly driven mad by his prescribed treatment. He told her there was nothing wrong with her, to return home and never work again. To live as mundane a life as possible. She later said she wrote this to maintain her sanity. It's definitely a fascinating read.

The narrator did a great job. Wonderful performance. She was perfect for this.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Yellow will never feel the same.

This is an incredible, haunting, horror story that pulls you in so silently that you'll find yourself in it's grip without knowing how you got there, or how you can ever free yourself.

Great Narration

I read this for an introductory college literature course about 10 years ago. I really only remembered that I loved it, but not much else. I listened to a newly released audio version this time and it was amazing. The narrator, Kitty Hendrix, was fantastic and really captured the stream-of-consciousness style within the narration. I would definitely recommend this audiobook to anyone who is a fan of this piece. I will also be looking for books books narrated by Kitty Hendrix.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom.

Spiraling descent into madness at its best

The author and narrator capture and convey the manic feeling of their main character and their descent into madness due to the wallpaper and what it represents/hides, etc. the story is well written and well narrated and delivers a gripping tale in a short time. Loved it.I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Descent into madness

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, it is a good short story of a woman growing and descending into madness.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The narrator/author of her journal. You feel for her and she is the main character after all.

Have you listened to any of Kitty Hendrix’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not but I think she did an excellent job.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not necessarily but it being a short story it does fly by real fast.

Any additional comments?

Maybe it is because it is a short story but there were many times when you know the next chapter or page turn happened but only after you realized she is telling another diary entry. It all ran together with very little pauses that made it a little distracting. Adding a second pause after each journal entry would have made my experience better but if you can get through that annoyance its a good listen.
"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom."

Fascinating and interesting

Would you consider the audio edition of The Yellow Wallpaper to be better than the print version?

The narrator did an amazing job with this great piece of work!

Any additional comments?

"This review copy audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost."

Disturbing

Any additional comments?

This short was disturbing in the best way - in the way that a metaphor can crawl into your brain and stay there to unfold later. This story follows a woman who has recently given birth and is experiencing some postpartum depression. Unfortunately, her depression goes misidentified and she is forced into isolation where her mind deteriorates. It is an apt and sad look into the mind of someone experiencing mental illness and is experiencing it alone. Great listen.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Good audiobook

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this audiobook to a friend of mine because it is a great listening.

What other book might you compare The Yellow Wallpaper to and why?

I would not compare this book.

Have you listened to any of Kitty Hendrix’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No,I haven't listened to other audiobook read from Kitty Hendrix.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The end was interesting.

Any additional comments?

“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”