[HPforGrownups] Audio Versions of the Books

[Laura Lynn Walsh]

No: HPFGUIDX 131137

>Hi All. Has any one read the audio versions of the books? Both the
>US and the UK versions? What I mean is the US and Canadian versions
>are read by Jim Dale and the others are read by Stephen Fry I
>think; I am just wondering what people think of both these
>narrators and their style of reading? I personally have only heard
>the books read by Jim Dale and not by Stephen Fry. PS Does anyone
>know whether Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch 
>Through The Ages are available in another format besides print? Like 
>Audio Tape or CD? Because I have these 2 books in Print but I was
>just wondering whether they are available in any more formats. PS
>What is a Kneazle? I read it once in Fantastic Beasts and Where to
>Find Them but I forget what it is. Many Thanks.
>
>From Mich Verrier from Elk Lake Ontario
>Canada.

I have listened to all 5 audiobooks many, many times
read by Stephen Fry, Jim Dale, and (in German) Rufus
Beck.  I have also listened to the l'ecole des Sorciers
in French.  I would probably have to say that I prefer
the Stephen Fry, but for a rather superficial reason:
I like to have the "real" wordings.  I don't like the
translations to American English.  Each reader has
their own strengths.  I prefer Stephen Fry's Dobby,
for instance.  But I like Jim Dale's rather dry drawl.
All in all, the little differences don't make that much
difference to me, but some people may find Dale's drawl
more annoying, even though _I_ rather like it.  I like
a LOT of Rufus Beck's voices, but I absolutely cannot
abide his Rita Skeeter (Rita Kimmkorn in German). He
gives her a slangy American accent (Ya, know) and I
find it completely annoying (I am an American) - my
German friends find it highly amusing (I think they
enjoy poking fun at Americans).  I do NOT like
the French version very well.  It makes Hagrid sound
like a complete moron and everyone else sounds like
they are spitting.  I recently listened to all 5 books
by Stephen Fry and I am now in the middle of listening
to the Jim Dale versions again.  [I listen in the car
when I am driving anywhere.]  I prefer Stephen Fry's
Kingsley Shacklebolt, but I like Jim Dale's Mad Eye
Moody.  I would like to try the Spanish versions, but
they are too expensive for me.

Laura Walsh   lwalsh at acsalaska.net