Audio Versions of the Books

[susanmcgee48176]

No: HPFGUIDX 131141

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Brent" <spoonmerlin at y...> 
wrote:
> --- 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


I also like both versions (Fry; Dale).

I like to order the UK books because I have been upset and aggravated 
ever since the U.S. publishers insisted the title of the first book 
be changed.

As a citizen of the U.S.A., I must state that not all of us are 
ignoramuses, some of us read....every single time I see the movie 
where Hermione says to Ron and Harry "don't you read?"..I want to 
scream YES WE DO, AND THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS THE SORCERER"S 
STONE......the PHILOSOPHER'S STONE is based in history..Nicholas 
Flamel..the alchemists....urggghhhhh...

Anyway, it's cheaper/easier to get Jim Dale here in the States. 

I love Jim Dale..and both my kids (now age 5 and 7) have listened to 
him....my 7 year old is now reading the Philosopher's Stone 
himself...and is threatening to steal the HPB from my partner and 
me...

One thing I want to say --- the audio tapes for HP often spoil you 
for other audio tapes...they are SO GOOD!...BBC version of the LOTR's 
is also good

Susan McGee...Humboldt County, California