Anyway, as I think audiobooks are pretty awesome as they make it possible to be doing two things at once, today I just wanted to do a brief post, as I have a little time to do so, to highlight some of my favorite narrators and the work I know them by.
Jim Dale, The Harry Potter Series
I suppose I will start with the narrator I have known the longest. Jim Dale. His voice has an easy rhythm that I have come to love. I haven't heard him narrate anything else but the Potter books. I will always say "Number 4 Privet Drive" in his voice. To say nothing of hearing Miss Fig, Peeves the Poltergeist, and the loathsome 'hem' of Prof. Umbridge. Little fun fact about Jim Dale, some of you may know him as the crazy doctor in Pete's Dragon. (Not the upcoming version, the older one.) Do any of you even know Pete's Dragon?  |
| These kids are all members of the Mysterious Benedict Society |
Del Roy, The Mysterious Benedict Society
The Mysterious Benedict Society Trilogy are some of my favorite books! True, they're more children's or tween fiction but that doesn't make much difference to me. Del Roy's style as a narrator is rather different I think, from narrators like Jim Dale or Michael Page. Del Roy doesn't really change his voice much when varying from character to character which I appreciate just because of his voice. By the way, if you are interested in puzzles or mind games, you might like this slightly science fiction trilogy. (I use the term "science fiction" lightly.)
Michael Page, The Scarlet Pimpernel
Normally I only use the audiobook when I have already read the book itself. If I were ever to try just listening to an audiobook I might go crazy because I would be unable to read any faster than the narrator would read. This was not the case with the Scarlet Pimpernel. I had tried to read the Scarlet Pimpernel at least three times because of my sister's raving about it. But every time I tried, I got caught up in the French names and phrases which would frustrate me and I would put it down, never to return. (Dun, dun, dun! Haha.) Finally, I found it on audiobook at the library and it was a pleasurable light bulb moment. Michael Page was brilliant and because of the audio feature the French rolled off his tongue rather than irritated my brain. It was the perfect pairing! You should hear Michael Page using the many voices of the Scarlet Pimpernel! (A small unfortunate side note, because of how impressed I was by Michael Page, I went looking for some of his other work which led me to listen to Wuthering Heights. A friend has highly recommend it and let me tell you...I don't know how ANYONE can recommend it!!!!! Gag-ola!!)I doubt that many others think as seriously about narrators as Cordy does. Haha. I hope this has been in some way...informative. I don't know. I have just had audiobooks on my mind. So, now you know. :)
Do any of you have any favorite narrators?
Do you think that if you have listened to a book, that it counts as having read it?
Yours truly,
Cordy
I haven't listened to very many audiobooks (if any), but I think I know what you mean when you say you like male narrators best. There IS something about a male voice reading a story. I feel like they would have more of a general success at that sort of thing than women. Though, haha, I don't know why exactly. It just SEEMS that way for some reason. ;)
ReplyDeleteDo audiobooks count as actually reading the book? Hmmm...that's a hard question. I don't know really. I guess it would be sort of the same thing as having a book read aloud to you, and in those cases I usually tend to add a disclaimer saying, "Well, I didn't actually read it myself, someone read it to me." :) Haha. So I guess I probably wouldn't count it has having actually read the book. But then on the other hand...oh dear. That's just confusing. :/ (You're confusing me, Cordy. Heehee! ;))
Lovely post, my dear, and highly informative. I'd never thought much about audiobooks before. :)
~Miss March
Haha, oh I am sorry, my dear. I didn't mean to confuse my fellow charming crazy. ;D It is something of a confusing question. That might be why I asked it...but that's an unconfirmed rumor. Haha.
DeleteThanks, Miss March. It was rather a random post but like I said, audiobooks are on my mind.
~Cordy
Haha. No problem. ;) I'm just sorry I wasn't able to give you a more satisfactory answer. :P
Delete"That might be why I asked it...but that's an unconfirmed rumor." Hahaha! You're hilarious, Cordy! :D
Oh! Random posts are great. We all have different experiences, so it's cool to see the unique ideas each person comes up with to write about. :)
Have a lovely day, my friend!
~Miss March
Hahaha. Thanks, Miss March! :D
DeleteHope you have a delightful weekend!
~Cordy
My mom really likes Barbara Rosenblat, but I haven't listened to her narrations, and I do tend to prefer men's voices. There's a math teacher at Khan Academy (which is a website for learning) whose voice is so relaxing!!
ReplyDeleteI really liked the Scarlet Pimpernel, but I had the opposite problem. I didn't care for listening to it, but I really enjoyed reading it for myself!
I did some schoolwork on Khan Academy so I know what you mean. :)
DeleteLucky! There were times where I wished I had been reading it so that I could read faster but then, I might have skipped ahead! And that would have been totally cheating! Haha.
This is a great list!
ReplyDeleteActually, I've only heard the first two, and I agree-- they were really good. Especially Jim Dale; he was *perfect* for Harry Potter. Now I need to re-listen to that.
And I'll have to try Michael Page for The Scarlet Pimpernel. I found the same thing with Les Miserables, that listening to parts of the audio version helped me pronounce the French names better in my mind.
Hmmm, my favorite narrators are Jim Dale, Jim Weiss(I used to be of the opinion that he was best for putting listeners to sleep, but he's grown on me), and maybe Julie Dretzin or Susan Denaker.
And, yes, I completely think that listening counts as reading! :D
Thanks, Meredith!
DeleteAgreed!! Jim Dale is the only way to listen to Harry Potter. To me, there is no other option! But you've also read/listened to the Mysterious Benedict Society? What did you think?
I didn't think about listening to Les Mis. Now, I would just have to get enough courage to take it on... I've seen a theatre version and I'm not sure I could take 'the real thing'.
Haha, I like your opinion, Meredith. (Because I agree with you. :D I think it does counts.)
I listened to the first book and read the rest. They're so good!! I'm always excited to find new fans, and that picture you included is super cute. :D
DeleteI know! They're awesome!
DeleteFinding fellow fans is sadly, practically impossible!
I definitely think it counts to have listened to a book. Every summer we have a contest at our library, winning prizes for hours read or listened, so that's where I got that idea :P
ReplyDeleteI've actually only listened to Wodehouse audiobooks, by various people, so I'm not really an authority on which is best :)
Haha, come to think of it, my library is probably where I got the idea a well. :D
DeleteI don't listen to many audio books simply because my kids are almost always around me, so if it's something I'm not sure on the content of, I don't want them hearing it. AND they're always making noise, which ruins things. However, they and I listened to the audio version of Beverly Cleary's Ramona the Pest last weekend, while stuck in the car for hours and hours, and it was awesome! Read by Stockard Channing, and I'm always going to hear her voice in my head when I read those books now, I think. She was excellent. I'm hoping the library has more of the Ramona books read by her.
ReplyDeleteListening to the whole book definitely counts as reading it.
My mom used to keep audiobooks around to use for car trips, too. I mostly remember listening to the "Boxcar Children".
DeleteOh, good, another member of the listening=read club! Haha.