Mary Cary, Frequently Martha


Read by Jan MacGillivray

(4.8 stars; 34 reviews)

"My name is Mary Cary. I live in the Yorkburg Female Orphan Asylum. You may think nothing happens in an Orphan Asylum. It does. The orphans are sure enough children, and real much like the kind that have Mothers and Fathers; and that’s why I am going to write this story." So begins Mary’s diary, which she fills with her various doings and misadventures at the Asylum in Virginia and her sharp observations about life and human nature. She loathes Miss Bray, the head of the Asylum, who is not above telling bald-faced lies to the Board to further her own selfish ends. She loves Miss Katherine, the Asylum’s resident nurse, who has befriended Mary and serves as a gentle role model for the child. As for Martha, she is Mary’s "other self" who speaks out—and sometimes acts out—in spite of Mary’s better nature. When she unexpectedly discovers her family background, Mary writes a letter to her uncle that leads to some surprising results on the way to a happy ending.

The Chicago Record-Herald of March 12, 1910 stated, "Let’s be glad for books like Mary Cary. It isn’t so much what Mary Cary does, however, as what she is, bless her! that warms the cockles of the chilliest, most snugly corseted heart." (Summary by Jan MacGillivray) (3 hr 51 min)

Chapters

01 - An Unthankful Orphan 18:43 Read by Jan MacGillivray
02 - The Coming of Miss Katherine 17:43 Read by Jan MacGillivray
03 - Mary, Frequently Martha 16:12 Read by Jan MacGillivray
04 - The Stepped-on and the Steppers 14:13 Read by Jan MacGillivray
05 - 'Here Comes the Bride!' 15:04 Read by Jan MacGillivray
06 - 'My Lady of the Lovely Heart' 13:22 Read by Jan MacGillivray
07 - 'Sterilized and Fertilized' 7:05 Read by Jan MacGillivray
08 - Mary Cary's Business 13:09 Read by Jan MacGillivray
09 - Love is Best 16:36 Read by Jan MacGillivray
10 - The Reagan Ball 7:30 Read by Jan MacGillivray
11 - Finding Out 23:12 Read by Jan MacGillivray
12 - A True Miracle 18:50 Read by Jan MacGillivray
13 - His Coming 10:24 Read by Jan MacGillivray
14 - The Hurt of Happiness 19:08 Read by Jan MacGillivray
15 - A Real Wedding 19:55 Read by Jan MacGillivray

Reviews

An Absolute Joy . . .


(5 stars)

This was my first audiobook, and it just blew me away! Brilliantly written, it takes you inside the mind of a wonderfully naughty girl. Her perceptions are both childlike and insightful. A love story rounds out this fine offering, so it's a complete experience. And it's impossible to stop listening once you start, so be prepared . . . And, of course, the reading by jan MacGillivray is equally brilliant! Thank you so much for putting heart and soul into your rendition, Jan!

Very good


(5 stars)

I like stories with happy endings. This is one such story and I liked it. LibriVox has fantastic readers with melodious voice and Jan is among them. My thanks to LibriVox for making available popular classics in audiobooks form for free, which is benefitting interested, voracious readers like me based in countries such as India.

Wonderful story and narration


(5 stars)

This was a really sweet little story and I greatly enjoyed it. The narrator was top notch, fantastic. It was like a professional narration. I cannot say enough good things about this narrator. Keep up the good work. I highly recommend this story.

Sweet & lovely.


(5 stars)

I didn't realize at first that this is a children's story, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Mary is such a wonderful, lively girl, the kind I would have liked to have. She's a lot like Anne of Green Gables. The reader is perfect.

Great


(5 stars)

I agree completely. This is a wonderful story and the reader, Jan is excellent, as good as the finest professional reader. If you like Anne of Green Gables, this audiobook is for you.

Delightful


(5 stars)

A remarkable book, I can't believe it was written in 1910. I enjoyed every moment. Many thanks to the narrator for her wonderful reading.


(5 stars)

Wonderful book about a funny, wise, perceptive, young girl. The reader is perfect for the main character!


(5 stars)

Lovely story and a perfectly lovely reader for the story. Thank you, thank you, thank you.