When Marnie Was There
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When Marnie Was There
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Narrated by:
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Jan Francis
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By:
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Joan G. Robinson
About this listen
A major motion picture adaptation by Studio Ghibli, creators of SPIRITED AWAY and ARRIETTY.
Anna hasn’t a friend in the world – until she meets Marnie among the sand dunes. But Marnie isn’t all she seems…
Sent away from her foster home one long, hot summer to a sleepy Norfolk village by the sea, Anna dreams her days away among the sandhills and marshes.
She never expected to meet a friend like Marnie, someone who doesn’t judge Anna for being ordinary and not-even-trying. But no sooner has Anna learned the loveliness of friendship than Marnie vanishes…
©2015 Joan G. Robinson (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers LimitedListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
“Beautifully planned, hauntingly written, these chapters hold a thrilling intensity… The most striking novel in its genre since Tom’s Midnight Garden”
Times Literary Supplement
“Extraordinarily potent fantasy… the climax is both thrilling and intensely moving.”
The Spectator
“Deeply perceptive”
Children’s Book News
Anna is a really great character: she's got the teenage spunk, but she's also quiet and reserved, and not part of the popular clique at school, which I think most readers will relate to. And the novel definitely reads like it's on Anna's side, like the author was taking issue with how children were treated by adults. It feels on the side of young people in general, even today, which I think is impressive.
The novel feels more teen-orientated than the film, which I think is squarely aimed at adults (like most Ghibli films). I think it's because in the novel we have access to Anna's thoughts, which brings the teenage point of view to bear much more strongly; in the film, Anna comes across more quiet and contemplative (except when she's with Marnie of course), and so it has a less frenetic feel, more suited to adult tastes.
I felt in the novel that the plot of Anna transitioning between worlds (be that literally, or in her daydreams) was a little less plausible; I think because we have access to her thoughts, it begs why she wouldn't be more questioning of what was happening. In the film, without these thoughts, the audience I think is more inclined to roll with it, and perhaps assume Anna is confused as to what is happening, even if she's not voicing it. (Notably though in the film, the visuals work well to obscure the transition, which perhaps makes Anna's acceptance of it more believable.)
The novel was written in the 1960s, and the scenes with Marnie are set even further in the past - as a result it feels a little more old-fashioned than the film, like the adventures of the Famous Five, and which the voice performance also accentuates. The film to me has more modern sensibilities in its dialogue.
A final word on a difference between the book and the film: In the film I definitely felt like I was getting vibes of Anna and Marnie being attracted to one another in more than just friendship. Perhaps my wife and I read too much into it, but we both detected that, and thought it was incredibly refreshing to see in a drama about young people - certainly a lesbian or gay relationship is not something I think I've seen in any other Studio Ghibli film so far. The novel here felt like it was definitely friendship only, which is fine, and perhaps speaks to the time it was written as well. But still, I was hoping the novel may even explore their relationship on a deeper level, so I was a little disappointed.
Side note: The info page on Audible says the novel is abridged, yet the artwork says unabridged. I'm not sure which is right, but given the narrative I experienced, I felt like I got the whole story.
Tender, nuanced and clever novel for young adults
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Would you listen to When Marnie Was There again? Why?
Because it is about love and the mysteries of time, reality and the bonds than can exist between people in the fragility of the present, the past and the future. This is a vivid picture of how an external landscape the internal world of souls it sets free to bond and to love.Who was your favorite character and why?
Ana because her journey from the unbearable isolation of depression to the freedom of love and fellowship is the lens through which all else is magnified and understood.Have you listened to any of Jan Francis’s other performances? How does this one compare?
Exquisitely modulated to form distinct and engaging characters.Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Cry buckets of both sadness and joy - it has haunted me way after listening to itAny additional comments?
One of the best books I have ever come across in 45 years of serious readingA Blissful Journey Into the Mysteries ofFriendship
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Remarkable
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A beautiful tale.
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I love it!
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Being outside and inside
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brilliant!
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This adaptation delivered everything I could have asked for. Jan Francis, who I’ve always admired, reads the story exactly as I would have read it myself and this added to the nostalgia I felt hearing it again.
The story itself covers loneliness and overcoming some of life’s most challenging difficulties. It shows that with a little bit of care and understanding, we can reach out to others and make their lives a little better. It also delves into mental health issues, bullying and loss. Although it is clearly written in another time during the 1960’s I believe, many of the issues are still as prevalent today as ever. It’s a lovely story and one I treasure.
On another side note, I wish the creators of the music and the artwork had been credited here. I would love to have that piece of music to listen to and the artwork is beautiful and whimsical.
Beautiful and Haunting
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