On Grandma's Porch

By: Debra Leigh Smith, Martha Shields, Sandra Chastain, Maureen Hardegree, Bert Goolsby

Narrated by: Maureen Boutilier

Stories and "True Facts" about growing up Southern in the good old days. More than a dozen southern authors contribute warm, nostalgic stories and fun trivia about "the era before shopping malls, Disney, and Wal-Mart." Includes the authors' favorite nostalgic recipes.

©2007 BelleBooks (P)2012 Bell Bridge Books

Charming book, beautifully narrated

I thought that this was one of the most captivating books on Southern living that i have enjoyed in a long time. I think by using an older woman to narrate the book it gave it added flavor and realism. It put one back into a place and time that only exists now in books and storytelling. The narrator really extended herself by allowing the stories to unfold, so you had to anticipate what would happen next. At one point the Author refers to "Driving Miss Daisy" and "Fried Green Tomatoes" and in my opnion this book ranks right up there alongside these classics. I would highly recommend this book in it's audio form as it's like listening to an old friend.

Family friendly, expertly narrated

I hadn't read these stories before hearing the audiobook, so I discovered how family friendly and entertaining they are while listening to Ms. Boutilier's narration. This audiobook is capable of transporting me and my family to a simpler time, and precious time in the South. The short stories are all written by different authors, but Ms. Boutilier's narration expertly connects them through her southern cadence and character driven reading. Because of her talent with voices, the listener is able to vividly imagine each story. She brings so much to the table that for me and my family, she makes this unabridged audiobook a must have for long trips and short ones. It even has influenced my family to become closer to books (rather than tv and video games) and therefore closer to one another through the stories we now share. I am so happy that we started listening to it. The fact that it is over 7 hours and captivating helps us get to our own grandma's porch happy. :)
The tradition of oral storytelling is alive and well thanks to the authors and to Ms. Boutilier. Thanks! We can't wait to see what she narrates next!

Outstanding

Would you listen to On Grandma's Porch again? Why?

I loved listening to this book and will definitely listen to it again. The stories are interesting and short enough so it's nice when commuting.

What other book might you compare On Grandma's Porch to and why?

Jimmy Carter's book on tape about his mother comes to mind. He gently tells the stories of her life in a captivating manner, which is how i feel about this book.

What about Maureen Boutilier’s performance did you like?

The soothing, southern accents and character changes were smooth, discernible without being distracting (or alarming, as some books on tape are.) The voice is comfortable and comforting, and highly compatible with the stories and the characters.

It could have been so good.

The narrator's harsh rapid delivery completely took away from the enjoyment of listening to what should have been very pleasant. Why oh why is there not better consideration given when choosing a narrator. The voice and delivery can make or break a book.