[HPFGU-OTChatter] The books on CD

[Sherry Gomes]

From: Kathryn Lambert <anigrrrl2 at yahoo.com>

Hi all,

I haven't posted in quite a while, but I was just at the library today with
my 3-year-old and we got Sorcerer's Stone on CD, because he loves listening
to "stories" in the car and we've tried reading the books together, and he's
still a bit young.

Anyway, the book is read by a Broadway actor who I think reads like he's a
third grader being forced to read aloud in class! He sounds completely flat,
lifeless, and dull. I can't believe that's the best they could do for our
HP!!

We just finished listening to the entire Narnia Chronicles on CD, and they
were read WONDERFULLY by classic British actors like Patrick Stewart, Jeremy
Northam, and Helen Mirren. Why couldn't we have done as well for Harry?

Has anyone else found this on the CD's? Anyone share my opinion? Just
curious, List Elves, please don't skewer me for being slightly OT. 
Katie

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Sherry now:

I am actually shocked you found his reading flat.  I've heard people say
they thought he was too ... can't think of the word, but was too much in
character, too many voices, too much inflection, and that the books read by
Fry were better because he read them in a more straight forward way.
Personally, I am a huge fan of Jim Dale's reading of the series.  He creates
a voice for ever single character and brings them to life for me.  I
remember laughing with delight, when I first heard the voices of the actors
in the first movie, particularly Hagrid and Dumbledore, because they sounded
just right to me, based on Dale's reading.  I heard an interview with him
once, a number of years ago, in which he said that JKR has given some input
to his reading in things like, telling him where a particular character is
from, so he can get the accent right.  I only know of one other book he's
ever read, A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens.  I read a great many audio
books, since there isn't much available in Braille, and Jim Dale is one of
the best readers I've heard.  of course that's just my opinion, and I know
many people who like a much simpler sort of reading of audio books.  But he
really gives life to the characters for me.

Sherry