Audio Versions of the Books

[Brent]

No: HPFGUIDX 131138

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Laura Lynn Walsh <lwalsh at a...> 
wrote:
> >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 a...

I agree both the Jim Dale and Stephen Fry have their merits.  I find 
I listen to the Fry versions more but he does some annoying things in 
my opinion most in book 5 though.  He gives Susan Bones a lisp.  This 
does distinguish her but is not really necessary.  I guess you do 
this many characters and you want to liven things up.  I can't stand 
the "Weasly is our king" lyrics in his version.  The Jim Dale version 
has them sung like a song but Fry's version makes them sound like a 
weird chant.  They are both very good at what they do so I would 
think anyone would be happy with either one.  It depends on which you 
can get also.  Living in the US I had to order the Fry version from 
overseas so there was shipping etc to consider.   Ebay is the place I 
found the Fry version. 

Brent