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Alice Adams Audiobook
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(3.01) - 942 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Plucky and romantic Alice tries to rise above the crudities of her hopelessly shabby background in this Pulitzer Prize–winning classic about ambition and self-delusion.
The lower-middle class Adams family faces a slow disintegration in a small Midwestern town. Alice, a social climber, is ashamed of her unsuccessful family and determined to distinguish herself. Lacking the social props she needs to shine in society, Alice attends a dance and lies about her background, hoping to attract a wealthy husband. But in the end, her high aspirations must be tempered by the reality of her situation.
Alice Adams’ resiliency of spirit makes her one of Tarkington’s most compelling female characters.
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"I loved this book by Booth Tarkington. I found that it even made my commute enjoyable which is really saying something. I looked forward to picking it up each day and reading it. The characters in this book, particularly Alice herself, are likable and fascinating. Like the Magnificent Ambersons, Alice Adams is about a strange turn of events and family and fate. It is a pretty quick read."
— Kendall (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Tarkington’s story of ambition and delusion…still packs a punch.”
— AudioFile -
“In Alice Adams Booth Tarkington momentarily ceased his detached contemplation of the foibles of youth and wrote a highly subjective story of an American family. Without abandoning his great gift for exposing the comic details of adolescent behavior, he was able to regard Alice’s difficulties with interior sympathy and understanding.”
— New York Times
Awards
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Winner of the 1922 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
Alice Adams Listener Reviews
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" Another entertaining novel from one of the few writers ever to win the Pulitzer twice. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the diversity of a Tarkington. While Ambersons was a look a the wealthy, Alice is an examination of the poor. One of the first American novels to examine the life of the working poor. "
— Michaelwilliam, 2/4/2014 -
" Book #4 in my quest to read the Pulitzer winning novels in order. "
— Mark, 2/1/2014 -
" This was a Pulitzer Prize winner, but I think his anthology Growth is more poignant. Still, I liked the story. Tarkington has a talent for painting characters and making the reader feel a bit exposed in the process. "
— Amanda, 1/16/2014 -
" Worth reading, even though the only people you think you might want to know are not fully fleshed out. The moral of the story seems to be that you will find happiness when you embrace your proper class in society. There are some very fine passages of writing to enjoy along the way. A fast read, and the price is right! (I read a free Kindle edition.) "
— Anita, 1/12/2014 -
" Sorta slow and melancholy ending. Not my bag. I was just desperate for a book on tape and grabbed it. "
— travelmel, 12/26/2013 -
" Despite some unfortunate racist background "color," a fascinating read. I wish I knew someone else who has read this! "
— Molly, 12/21/2013 -
" A good story, but not very deep. "
— Sara, 12/4/2013 -
" An interesting story of a girl who can't get to a higher social status. Probably about like it was for women then. I liked it. "
— Seena, 11/14/2013 -
" An effective character study about a middle-class family with aspirations. Unlike the movie, the novel doesn't have a happy ending... and shouldn't. "
— Josh, 11/11/2013 -
" Good read for the most part. Disappointed in the ending - left me wanting. "
— Jon, 10/17/2013 -
" Set in the early 1900's, this book conveys the repercussions of social climbing. The character development is perfect, and the ending is poignant and unflinchingly realistic. "
— Beth, 12/26/2011 -
" The woes of the underclass. "
— Danielle, 5/12/2011 -
" I saw the movie with Katherine Hepburn (and highly recommend it for young Kate's spectacular performance). So I read the book and was so impressed that i'm eager to read more Tarkington books. "
— Jbrockley, 9/18/2010 -
" Won the Pulitzer Prize in 1922. Indepth exploration of a Southern girl on the fringes of the town's elite society. "
— Mary, 5/22/2010 -
" Here we have a tale of a young woman, unhappy with her lot, trying to maintain the aura of high society. It is not a book of acceptance of your station, but rather of hard work improving one, vice putting on a good show. Tarkington well captures the teenage mind in all its yearning, and foolishness. "
— Rob, 11/23/2009 -
" This is my favorite of Booth Tarkington's works. The story and writing is captivating, the meaning ambiguous. It was worth reading, but I would not re-read. "
— Rebecca, 1/29/2009 -
" This book contained a surprise of early intellectual property debate. "
— Roxanne, 1/4/2009
About Booth Tarkington
Booth Tarkington (1869–1946), who achieved overnight success with his first novel, The Gentleman from Indiana (1899), is perhaps best remembered as the author of the popular Penrod adventures and Seventeen. He was awarded two Pulitzer Prizes for Literature and in 1933 received the Gold Medal for Fiction from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
About Traci Svendsgaard
Traci Svendsgaard is a veteran of a twenty-five year voice-over career. In addition, she and her husband, Lars, host The Retro Lounge on Jefferson Public Radio. They live a simple life in Southern Oregon.