Home Life in Colonial Days


Read by Susan Morin

(3.4 stars; 38 reviews)

CHAPTER I
HOMES OF THE COLONISTS

When the first settlers landed on American shores, the difficulties in finding or making shelter must have seemed ironical as well as almost unbearable. The colonists found a land magnificent with forest trees of every size and variety, but they had no sawmills, and few saws to cut boards; there was plenty of clay and ample limestone on every side, yet they could have no brick and no mortar; grand boulders of granite and rock were everywhere, yet there was not a single facility for cutting, drawing, or using stone. These homeless men, so sorely in need of immediate shelter, were baffled by pioneer conditions, and had to turn to many poor expedients, and be satisfied with rude covering. In Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and, possibly, other states, some reverted to an ancient form of shelter: they became cave-dwellers; caves were dug ... (taken from first chapter of the book). Talk about starting from scratch!! Susan Morin (13 hr 2 min)

Chapters

Dedication and Forword 5:06 Read by Susan Morin
Homes of the Colonists 46:45 Read by Susan Morin
The Light of Other Days 29:27 Read by Susan Morin
The Kitchen Fireside 36:59 Read by Susan Morin
The Serving of Meals 47:35 Read by Susan Morin
Food from Forest and Sea 39:25 Read by Susan Morin
Indian Corn 32:39 Read by Susan Morin
Meat and Drink 41:04 Read by Susan Morin
Flax Culture and Spinning 40:13 Read by Susan Morin
Wool Culture and Spinning, with a Postscript on Cotton 45:07 Read by Susan Morin
Hand-Weaving 1:04:44 Read by Susan Morin
Girls' Occupations 51:24 Read by Susan Morin
Dress of the Colonists 36:04 Read by Susan Morin
Jack-knife Industries 45:55 Read by Susan Morin
Travel, Transportation, and Taverns 1:05:28 Read by Susan Morin
Sunday in the Colonies 38:18 Read by Susan Morin
Colonial Neighborliness 1:03:22 Read by Susan Morin
Old-time Flower Gardens 53:14 Read by Susan Morin

Reviews

fascinating!


(5 stars)

my goodness how much we have changed in the USA.... could you imagine not ever having seen a FORK? a fatality in the middle of supper? I know there are comments about the slow meter of the reader, but I realized if she has read faster, I would miss SO MANY descriptions. as it is, I have rewound the recording many times because of the surprising vignettes. must find the book, as the original includes pictures.

What a reader! This reader has the most annoying voice!


(3 stars)

I thought this book was fascinating, but I could not get past this horrible reader! Maybe you could do a different version with a better reader. I could not in good conscience give a higher ratings, based on the reader. The book itself is wonderful.

Sloooooooowly Read


(0.5 stars)

My iOS app allows adjusting playback speed, but this reader is difficult to listen to at any speed. I wanted to like it, but this is just awful.

A word to negative critics


(5 stars)

The people who kindly read for Librivox do so at the cost of their own time, and effort. That is why the books are free. I very much appreciate their efforts. If YOU find you can't relate to a reader, move on. Don't torture yourself listening, and then feel as if you've written a review for the New York Times by criticizing the reader. Just be a person of integrity, and pass by, much as one would in a book store, to another title or reader. For those who complain about the speed of the narration... guess what... if you go to your settings bar you'll see a little bunny and a little tortoise. I leave you to guess what they mean.


(5 stars)

Material is priceless. Reader’s pace can be amended by speeding up the text read-back speed significantly. I still thank that generous lady for reading this selection. Perhaps some good angels can do an updated version with a touch more-informed pronunciation of place names and rivers and of words less frequently used these days....... do a search for the title, and you can noodle into a photo-digitized version that should allow you to access the ILLUSTRATIONS!!!!

I'm sorry but this is the most distracting voice I've ever heard


(0.5 stars)

This is without a doubt the most annoying voice I have ever heard. Not only do I want to kick the reader in the seat to get them to "move" as far as the actual reading, but whatever type of "accent" they are attempting is absolutely horrid.

Great book, horrible reading-needs reread.


(3 stars)

The book is nothing less than exceptional content wise. The narrator has a very nasal voice with poor pronunciation and this makes focusing on the material very difficult. I find I want to hear someone smack them with an object to end the misery so have to take it in small doses.

Sounds like gravel on my ears


(1 stars)

I listened to a minute and couldn’t go on. Am so disappointed because I really wanted to listen to this book. I had recently listened to “Cottage Economy” on another platform (audiobooks I think) the narrator was “Philippa” and I have NEVER heard a better reading voice. Highly recommend