Audio books(was: Canon, fanfic and other interpretations)

[catherine at cator-manor.demon.co.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 16499

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Gaynor Thomas" <gaynor at c...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Haggridd" <jkusalavagemd at y...> wrote:
> 
> 
> > 
> > I know that the Jim Dale readings influenced me strongly, and I 
had 
> > read the books prior to listening to them.  Can anybody compare 
Jim 
> > Dale and Steven Fry?  Would it be worth trying to obtain the Fry 
> > readings after having heard the Jim Dale recordings?
> > 
> > Haggridd
> 
> I've listened to both the Jim Dale version and Stephen Fry version 
of 
> PS/SS and I much prefer the Stephen Fry. I find Jim Dale's 
character 
> voices distracting and also I find his intonation is "off" in 
places. 
> 
> By the way, if anyone is looking for a reasonably-priced version of 
> GoF (Stephen Fry) www.sunday-times.co.uk/books are selling it for 
> £27.49 (45% off). I listened to it over the weekend and it's great.
> 
> Gaynor

I am a big fan of the Stephen Fry version.  His GoF cds arrived this 
morning, and I am frantically getting all the washing done so I can 
iron and listen at the same time (I feel guilty if I'm not doing 
something else when listening).

I was always put off the Jim Dale versions from adverse reviews I had 
read from English reviewers on Amazon.  He is reading the American 
version, and someone also said that he mispronounced Hermione.  Being 
English, I wanted to make sure I was listening and reading the same 
text. (I also knew that "mom" et al would grate on me).

IMO, Stephen Fry is perfect.  He has me in stitches in one scene, in 
floods of tears the next, and I can't think of one episode in which 
his interpretation grates on me.
The only problem I had was giving Hagrid a West Country accent.  In 
the UK, this accent is used ad infinitum in period dramas to depict 
some country bumpkin (no matter which part of the country they come 
from) who has very little intellect - ie.  not very bright but heart 
of gold types.  Now, this may be a reasonable, but not strictly 
accurate interpretation of Hagrid, but it annoyed me at the time.  
Since then, I have heard JKR say that Hagrid does have a WC accent, 
so I guess I'm wrong on that one.  (Unless that was what she was 
trying to convey as well).

Catherine