AUDIO Books (in English)- comparative review

[wallaceelizabeth at msn.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 25699

>Original From:  "Monika Huebner" <monika at d...>
>Date:  Thu Sep 6, 2001  12:05 pm
>Subject:  RE: [HPforGrownups] Single best scene - Snape - Sirius - 
> The next best scene for me is Harry and Voldemort dueling on the
>graveyard, this one always makes my hair stand up. It's even more
>intense if I listen to it when read by Stephen Fry."

I haven't read any notices about the audio books, and had to comment 
on the above.  My busy schedule prevents me from re-reading the 
books, so my 11 year old son and I have listened to the whole series 
this summer, numerous times (makes washing dishes, and glazing 
windows go by fast!).  Residing in the US, we listened to Jim Dale's 
rendition (he's British) which was BRILLIANT!!  I learned in July 
that Stephen Fry read the UK audio books, and since we both love him 
in various roles-- I sent my son on a mission to purchase the SF 
version of GOF when in the UK visting his British relatives in 
August. Perhaps we are biased by first having heard Jim Dale, but we 
both were greatly disappointed with the SF rendition in comparison.  
We didn't like the voices used for a number of characters, or the 
lack of inflection in a number of parts, the JD rendition of which is 
so dear to us, we regularly immitate.  Also, the UK prices were 
typically astronomical.  If you're interested in listening to the 
audio books, which add a very enjoyable dimension to the HP 
experience (and I keep hearing things I hadn't remembered 
previously), I highly recommend the Jim Dale version available in the 
U.S (@ Sam's Club about $25).