HP audio versions

[Petra Pan]

"Gary Sapp & Karen J.S.":
> > I don't think anyone has discussed the audio
> versions for a while.  I
> > managed to get a complete set for Christmas,
> the UK version read by
> > Stephen Fry.  I received the Jim Dale version
> the christmas before.
> > 
> > Having just finished my first hearing of the
> Fry tapes, I was
> > wondering if anyone else had listened to both
> versions and what their
> > impressions/preferences are.
 
Jo Serenadust:
> I have both versions of the first 3 books (and
> am working on getting 
> the Fry version of GoF).  I enjoy the Dale
> version, but on the whole 
> I think that the Stephen Fry ones are much
> better.  It's a matter of 
> personal taste, for the most part, but there
> are some real 
> differences.  For instance, in the Fry version
> of CoS there is a 
> very cool echo chamber effect when Ron gets
> Molly's howler.  This 
> effect is used again in PoA, when Harry hears
> his parent's voices 
> while fighting the boggart/dementor.  In
> addition, I find Jim Dale's 
> version of Hermione *very* irritating,
> especially when she 
> says, "Harrrrryyyyyyyeeeee" ::shudders::, and
> at the end of PoA, 
> when Harry tells Uncle Vernon about his
> godfather, the reading is so 
> unbearably OOC (IMO), that I really can't stand
> to listen to it.
> 
> Overall, the Fry version is just much more dry
> and witty than the 
> Dale version which is much more over the top. 
> I remember reading 
> somewhere that Fry was JKR's personal choice to
> read the books, so 
> that may be affecting my opinion.
> 
> You're really lucky to have both versions. 
> I've begun re-listening 
> to them when driving on my daily route, and I
> still pick up on new nuances every time.

I have both versions and switch back and forth
rather than becoming 'fixed' on either one.  Love
them both really but if I can only have one, I'd
pick the Fry version...in the much more durable
CD format.

Has Dale's Uncle Vernon struck anyone else as
sounding a bit like Marvin The Martian at certain
points on the recording?  It took me ages to
figure out why that voice sounds familiar...

Petra
a
n  :)

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