Mildred Pierce cover art

Mildred Pierce

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Mildred Pierce

By: James M. Cain
Narrated by: Christine Williams
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About this listen

 Mildred Pierce had gorgeous legs, a way with a skillet, and a bone-deep core of toughness and determination. She used those attributes to survive a divorce in 1940s America with two children and to claw her way out of poverty, becoming a successful businesswoman. But Mildred also had two weaknesses: a yen for shiftless men and an unreasoning devotion to her monstrous daughter.

Out of these elements, Cain created a novel (later made into a film noir classic) of acute social observation and devastating emotional violence - and a heroine whose ambitions and sufferings are never less than recognizable.

©1941 James M. Cain (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc. Classics Crime Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery Psychological

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Critic reviews

"[James M. Cain is] the poet of the hard-boiled school of the American novel." ( Washington Post)
"A novel that, once begun, will almost surely be read to the end....it reflects no codes, no restrictions, and none but the primordial necessities. It is a bath in sensation." ( New York Times Book Review)
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I simply had to turn off this audiobook in the end. The raucous narration spoilt it fir me. I put up with it until chapter ten.

A pity because the story itself is a good one.

Unfortunately I couldn’t get the printed book, which would by better because of sight problems.

Good story bad narration

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This was my first James M Caine and I thoroughly enjoyed this unpredictable story of Mildred and her vile daughter. I admire novels that create suspense without murders or even violence. The story is about Mildred’s overriding need to be a good mother. Most women will forgive their offspring just about anything, but Mildred goes a step too far. It also follows this unassuming woman’s rise from ignominity to success and riches, and although cast as a decent person who rewards loyalty, is not adverse to manipulation. The ending was as surprising as it was satisfying.

Suspense without murder

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A good story, well read. I did enjoy the film too which was a bit different. Well worth it

Enjoyable

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Love every minute if this book. Very well written. A timeless story of a mother's triumphs and struggles

what a story..timeless

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Such a classic.
Well read, I loved the narration.
It really helped that I had Joan Crawford in my mind throughout.
A real snapshot into a life in vintage America.

A class act.

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A sad story of a woman trying to do her best but not achieving the result she wanted.loved the style and the narrator

A window on times gone by

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I saw the film first years ago and was excited to read the
book

Great book well read

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The best book I’ve listened to in a while. The plot & writing were excellent & the narrator very good.

Fantastic

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Gripping story spanning twenty years of mother love, the great depression and the American dream

Excellent

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Loved this book, the story is wonderful, Mildred is so well scoped out you can't help but like her. Much better than the film.

Loved it.

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