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taralorraine's review against another edition
5.0
Listened with my son. Our first joint listening experience. 💚
tometalktime's review against another edition
5.0
great books
I read these as a child and had to go back and reread them! Great books! Brought back all those great memories
I read these as a child and had to go back and reread them! Great books! Brought back all those great memories
the_enobee's review against another edition
5.0
Fewer things in my reading life have given me the pleasure I experienced reading these books from my childhood to my own children and finding them just as enthralled in 2017 as I was 30 years ago. Bravo, Ms. Cleary.
mangomage's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
crocheteer34's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
abrswf's review against another edition
5.0
What fun. Cleary is a late wonderful discovery for me, who I learned about from the folks who noted her 100th birthday with loving nostalgia about her delightful books. This fabulous series of books about the inimitable Ramona is marvelously narrated by Stockard Channing. They took me back to my own childhood, with almost all the minutiae of 1970s life captured. I am sorry I can't keep hanging out with Ramona any more, and will certainly never forget her.
hreed7's review against another edition
5.0
Adults are often just like kids but bigger and with marginally better balance on two-wheelers. While many of us instead nurture the belief that kids are irrational and annoying and inept, Beverly Cleary--the goddess, still alive as of this writing at 101--shows mastery of opening up a child's mind and finding truths fit for any age.
This audio collection contains all of the Ramona books, following her from age 4 to age 10 (and conveniently also her sister Beezus' journey from age 9 to 14). I'm no parent, but following these stories bears compelling witness to the precious journey from courageous young child to confident young adult. Throughout these books you get Ramona's inner feelings (and more importantly, the inner inner feelings she doesn't want to be feeling but does) as she navigates an overachieving sister, teachers who confuse or upset her, her parents losing and gaining jobs, friendships that grow and fade, and countless other timeless struggles.
Take for example the long-running saga of Ramona and her classmate Susan's curly hair, which Ramona likes to pull and allow to spring back as she chuckles "Boing!" This starts as a primal childish interest, which morphs as Ramona ages into a manifestation of her resentment of Susan for being a know-it-all and a fake, but finally culminates in shame and regret after the mature realization that Susan acts how she does because she herself is insecure and jealous of Ramona's easy confidence. To me, that is authentic and emotional storytelling that resists infantilization or anodyne morality. These stories also avoid the "Full House" effect, where there's a conflict that ends in an overenunciated talk session and a new and improved equilibrium. Instead, we see characters grow in fits and starts, spooled out across eight books.
Stockard Channing, who I knew only as Abby Bartlett from the West Wing, just crushes the audio in these works, like seriously go to the library (I listened through the 'hoopla' iPhone app) and start listening on the way to work or whatever. Do it for Beverly, who despite the timelessness of her work will not be with us forever.
This audio collection contains all of the Ramona books, following her from age 4 to age 10 (and conveniently also her sister Beezus' journey from age 9 to 14). I'm no parent, but following these stories bears compelling witness to the precious journey from courageous young child to confident young adult. Throughout these books you get Ramona's inner feelings (and more importantly, the inner inner feelings she doesn't want to be feeling but does) as she navigates an overachieving sister, teachers who confuse or upset her, her parents losing and gaining jobs, friendships that grow and fade, and countless other timeless struggles.
Take for example the long-running saga of Ramona and her classmate Susan's curly hair, which Ramona likes to pull and allow to spring back as she chuckles "Boing!" This starts as a primal childish interest, which morphs as Ramona ages into a manifestation of her resentment of Susan for being a know-it-all and a fake, but finally culminates in shame and regret after the mature realization that Susan acts how she does because she herself is insecure and jealous of Ramona's easy confidence. To me, that is authentic and emotional storytelling that resists infantilization or anodyne morality. These stories also avoid the "Full House" effect, where there's a conflict that ends in an overenunciated talk session and a new and improved equilibrium. Instead, we see characters grow in fits and starts, spooled out across eight books.
Stockard Channing, who I knew only as Abby Bartlett from the West Wing, just crushes the audio in these works, like seriously go to the library (I listened through the 'hoopla' iPhone app) and start listening on the way to work or whatever. Do it for Beverly, who despite the timelessness of her work will not be with us forever.
susanknights's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
amichreads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0