Past Perfect, Present Tense
New and Collected Stories
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Narrated by:
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Various
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By:
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Richard Peck
About this listen
Though Richard Peck is best known as a novelist, he has been writing rousing, provocative, and thoroughly entertaining short stories throughout his career. "Priscilla and the Wimps", his first, is perhaps the most-read children's short story of all time. Others have inspired his award-winning novels: A Long Way from Chicago and A Year down Yonder began with a tale called "Shotgun Cheatham's Last Night above Ground", and "The Electric Summer" was the jumping point for Fair Weather.
Compiled for the first time, here are all of Richard Peck's stories: eleven previously published tales and two brand-new ones. He has also written engaging notes about the stories, an informative introduction about the genre, and tips on how to write short stories, including "Five Helpful Hints" that will be a valuable aid to aspiring authors.
Vibrant and varied - from comic to supernatural, from historical to modern-day romantic - there's something for everyone in the collected stories of Richard Peck.
©2004 Ricahrd Peck (P)2012 Listening LibraryListeners also enjoyed...
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Sweet story
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It is now 1958, and a new family has moved in next door to Mrs. Dowdel: a Methodist minister and his wife and kids. Soon Mrs. Dowdel will work her particular brand of charm - or medicine, depending on who you're asking - on all of them: ten-yearold Bob, who is shy on courage in a town full of bullies; his two fascinating sisters; and even Bob's two parents, who are amazed to discover that the last house in town might also be the most vital.
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great story
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The Wednesday Wars
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Meet Holling Hoodhood, a seventh-grader at Camillo Junior High who must spend Wednesday afternoons with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, while the rest of the class has religious instruction. Mrs. Baker doesn’t like Holling - he’s sure of it. Why else would she make him read the plays of William Shakespeare outside class? But everyone has bigger things to worry about, like Vietnam.
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A Happy Book
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A Year Down Yonder
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Mary Alice and Grandma Dowdel return for more astonishing, laugh-out-loud adventures when 15-year-old Mary Alice moves in with her spicy grandmother for the year. Her extended visit is filled with moonlit schemes, romances both foiled and founded, and a whole parade of fools made to suffer in unusual (and always hilarious) ways.
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love it.
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So enjoyable
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Fair Weather
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On the brink of adulthood (not to mention a whole new century), Rosie makes her first trip to the big city, along with her wide-eyed siblings and their rascally old granddad. There, amidst the wonders of the fair, Rosie discovers the world and herself, while also coming face-to-face with some of the era's most famous people--including showgirl Lillian Russell and Colonel William F. Cody (a.k.a. Buffalo Bill
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Not Grandma Dowdel but good!
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great story
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A Happy Book
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A Year Down Yonder
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- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Mary Alice and Grandma Dowdel return for more astonishing, laugh-out-loud adventures when 15-year-old Mary Alice moves in with her spicy grandmother for the year. Her extended visit is filled with moonlit schemes, romances both foiled and founded, and a whole parade of fools made to suffer in unusual (and always hilarious) ways.
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love it.
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Here Lies the Librarian
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- Unabridged
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Story
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So enjoyable
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By: Richard Peck
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Fair Weather
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- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
On the brink of adulthood (not to mention a whole new century), Rosie makes her first trip to the big city, along with her wide-eyed siblings and their rascally old granddad. There, amidst the wonders of the fair, Rosie discovers the world and herself, while also coming face-to-face with some of the era's most famous people--including showgirl Lillian Russell and Colonel William F. Cody (a.k.a. Buffalo Bill
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Not Grandma Dowdel but good!
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Rich Homefront History
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Beautiful
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After Daniel's young sister disappears in the woods, he starts to believe the myth about a witch and her terrifying hog who take little girls and keep them for 50 years....
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A good read
- By Janelle Scarberry on 05-10-22
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Shadow Show
- All-New Stories in Celebration of Ray Bradbury
- By: Sam Weller - editor, Mort Castle - editor
- Narrated by: George Takei, Edward Herrmann, Kate Mulgrew, and others
- Length: 14 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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Ray Bradbury - peerless storyteller, poet of the impossible, and one of America's most beloved authors - is a literary giant whose remarkable career spanned seven decades. Now 26 of today's most diverse and celebrated authors offer new short works in honor of the master; stories of heart, intelligence, and dark wonder from a remarkable range of creative artists.
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THE MAN WHO FORGOT RAY BRADBURY
- By Jim "The Impatient" on 05-27-17
By: Sam Weller - editor, and others
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Nothing with Strings
- NPR's Beloved Holiday Stories
- By: Bailey White
- Narrated by: Lorna Raver
- Length: 4 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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The mundane and the miraculous stand side by side in these sketches and stories of Southern small-time life by the author of Quite a Year for Plums.
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A real jewel.
- By Mary on 12-31-08
By: Bailey White
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The Folded Leaf
- By: William Maxwell
- Narrated by: Mark Boyett
- Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Here is a classic novel from one of our most honored writers - the author of such acclaimed works as So Long, See You Tomorrow and All the Days and Nights. The Folded Leaf is the serenely observed yet deeply moving story of two boys finding one another in the Midwest of the 1920s, when childhood lasted longer than it does today and even adults were more innocent of what life could bring.
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Midwestern Misfits
- By David on 03-17-15
By: William Maxwell
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Growing Things and Other Stories
- By: Paul Tremblay
- Narrated by: Sean Crisden, Graham Halstead, Cassandra Campbell, and others
- Length: 11 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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A chilling collection of psychological suspense and literary horror from the multiple award-winning author of the national best seller The Cabin at the End of the World and A Head Full of Ghosts. A masterful anthology featuring 19 pieces of short fiction, Growing Things and Other Stories is an exciting glimpse into Paul Tremblay’s fantastically fertile imagination.
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Paul Tremblay is totally nuts.
- By Gary & Jay on 07-07-19
By: Paul Tremblay
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The Best Girls
- Disorder collection
- By: Min Jin Lee
- Narrated by: Greta Jung
- Length: 37 mins
- Unabridged
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An excellent student from a poor, traditional family in Seoul, the narrator has absorbed the same message her whole life: Only a boy can provide the family with dignity and wealth. Not her. Not her three sisters. Receiving approval only for uncomplaining sacrifice, she has resolved to take on her family’s troubles. She is a good girl. And she knows what good girls must do.
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Brings back sadness and hurt
- By Qats reads on 08-23-19
By: Min Jin Lee
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This Side of the Sky
- By: Elyse Singleton
- Narrated by: Myra Taylor, Sharon Washington, Richard Ferrone
- Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Award-winning journalist Elyse Singleton delivers what Essence calls “a gem - the perfect book to curl up with.”
Best friends Lilian and Myraleen, two African American women from rural Mississippi, travel to Europe during World War II to act as members of the Women’s Army Corps. During this time of segregation and destruction, both women discover love and heartbreak, triumph and defeat.
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A Breath of Fresh Air
- By Adina Andreu on 07-19-12
By: Elyse Singleton
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Down the Rabbit Hole
- An Echo Falls Mystery
- By: Peter Abrahams
- Narrated by: Mandy Siegfried
- Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Welcome to Echo Falls. Home of a thousand secrets, where Ingrid Levin-Hill, super sleuth, never knows what will happen next.
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Down the Rabbit Hole (Unabridged)
- By Susan L. Jeffres on 05-22-05
By: Peter Abrahams
What listeners say about Past Perfect, Present Tense
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Carrie Jasper
- 04-22-20
Advice to Writers
The stories left you spellbound. The 'scary' stories though somewhat un-nerving were quite good. I loved Mrs. Dowdell and wish he had written more about her.
Mr. Peck's advice to writers was much appreciated.
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- stephaniek
- 02-23-15
Great for Peck fans
Would you consider the audio edition of Past Perfect, Present Tense to be better than the print version?
I haven't read the print version. It was nice to hear Richard Peck speak, though.
What did you like best about this story?
I am surprised to admit, that I love the sections where Peck explains his writing. I love his stories, but it was great to hear his motivation. Like his novels, his explanations are very approachable for the younger reader, too.
What aspect of Various’s performance would you have changed?
The girl! There is one story in particular (Waiting for Sebastian) where she took on a British accent, and it was HORRIBLE! I was so distracted, I couldn't enjoy the story. She should have just stuck with her American accent. It wouldn't have detracted from the overall feel.
If you could take any character from Past Perfect, Present Tense out to dinner, who would it be and why?
The obvious choice would be the author, but thinking of his written characters, I would have to say Grandma Dowdell, although she probably wouldn't share much! I love a salty character.
Any additional comments?
If you already love Richard Peck, definitely worth a listen! I don't know if I would start with this, if I hadn't read any of his novels, but definitely quality stuff just like his novels.
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