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[CCBC-Net] Audio Books
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From: Binawill at aol.com <Binawill>
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2008 09:50:23 EST
I feel like one of those old party line phone calls since this conversation is going on simultaneously on ALSC-L and CCBC-Net.... Anyway...posting to both now... I agree with so many of the posts on each list. Tim Curry doing Lemony Snicket was deliciously over the top...then, drum roll please, someone else did a couple of them when (I think) Harper Audio took over creating the tapes. What a treat when Tim came back a few books later. One of my colleagues found his exuberantly disgusting throat clearings in the first book too much and did not enjoy the audio as much as I did...so different strokes. The genius of Jim Dale deserves a special award as he kept all those millions of characters (and their polyjuice potion variations on themselves) straight throughout the seven books. It is a bit disturbing hear him narrating
"Pushing Daisies" on television...that voice IS Harry Potter... Of course, having said all this, still I am curious about Stephen Fry's Harry Potter renditions from across the pond. Philip Pullman's narration with a cast of thousands (well, hundreds, or tens) doing the His Dark Materials books is exquisite. He could read me the tax notices and foreclosure announcements, even my own, and I would be in heaven. He has the best voice! (I had an abridged version of the Golden Compass narrated by Natasha Richardson...it was good, but he is fantastic doing his own books!) I hope that Rick Riordan has a contractual agreement with Listening Library/Random House to have Jesse Bernstein do ALL the Percy Jackson books--The Lightning Thief was fantastic on audio. Bernstein gets that 12 year old boy's voice and intonations just right--the amazement, the self doubting, the wise cracking. I was so absorbed listening to this that I would find myself halfway home without really noticing the ride through a tunnel...(Hey, a remedy for those who
are tunnel or bridge-phobic!) Cherry Jones was perfect narrating Because of Winn-Dixie.
In the adult world--Armistead Maupin reading his own Tales Of the City series is wonderful. The chapters were short enough for quick errand drives except that I would sit in the parking lot wanting to hear more....Great for a long ride too.
This conversation makes me want to listen to more books on tape. thanks! Bina Williams Bridgeport Public Library
In a message dated 3/4/2008 7:52:14 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, areynold at nsar.library.ns.ca writes:
I recently served a two-year term on Notable Recordings for Children-- and I've listened to some of the best (and worst, mind you) of the audios. Those of you looking for a good recommend should refer to the lists this committee creates -- http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/childrensnotable/notablecreclis t/currentnotable.cfm As for excellence, there are so many variables. No one company always produces the best audios. No one narrator is always excellent (though Jim Dale comes mighty close to fitting this description, and Tim Curry reading the Lemony Snickett books is just a real delight). Just as with books, recommending audios to new listeners should be done carefully -- give them a great one to start and they'll find the others by themselves. Again, refer to the Notables and Odyssey Award for those great titles.
I have to admit to being an audio book addict-- pre-committee, I was an in-the-car only listener -- now, I cannot imagine doing housework, weeding the garden, etc. without a book to listen to. It is another way for me get some extra reading in! And of course, in the car is always a good place to listen. I do a lot of driving for work, so I get to read lots of books! -- And yes, listening is reading. It may be a different kind, but it counts, you'll not convince ME otherwise!
It has taken a while for the audios to catch on here, but now that they have-- we have lots of people who appreciate them. I push them during summer reading especially -- what a treat for a reluctant reader to read a long book that they would probably never make it through in print. I'd love to hear other ways that you promote the audios in your libraries! I'm looking forward to this discussion--
Some of the best I've heard: Jim Dale, reading just about anything, but esp. Harry Potter The Book Thief The Rules of Survival I Coriander Clementine Silverfin Lemony Snicket's series, read by Tim Curry
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2008 09:50:23 EST
I feel like one of those old party line phone calls since this conversation is going on simultaneously on ALSC-L and CCBC-Net.... Anyway...posting to both now... I agree with so many of the posts on each list. Tim Curry doing Lemony Snicket was deliciously over the top...then, drum roll please, someone else did a couple of them when (I think) Harper Audio took over creating the tapes. What a treat when Tim came back a few books later. One of my colleagues found his exuberantly disgusting throat clearings in the first book too much and did not enjoy the audio as much as I did...so different strokes. The genius of Jim Dale deserves a special award as he kept all those millions of characters (and their polyjuice potion variations on themselves) straight throughout the seven books. It is a bit disturbing hear him narrating
"Pushing Daisies" on television...that voice IS Harry Potter... Of course, having said all this, still I am curious about Stephen Fry's Harry Potter renditions from across the pond. Philip Pullman's narration with a cast of thousands (well, hundreds, or tens) doing the His Dark Materials books is exquisite. He could read me the tax notices and foreclosure announcements, even my own, and I would be in heaven. He has the best voice! (I had an abridged version of the Golden Compass narrated by Natasha Richardson...it was good, but he is fantastic doing his own books!) I hope that Rick Riordan has a contractual agreement with Listening Library/Random House to have Jesse Bernstein do ALL the Percy Jackson books--The Lightning Thief was fantastic on audio. Bernstein gets that 12 year old boy's voice and intonations just right--the amazement, the self doubting, the wise cracking. I was so absorbed listening to this that I would find myself halfway home without really noticing the ride through a tunnel...(Hey, a remedy for those who
are tunnel or bridge-phobic!) Cherry Jones was perfect narrating Because of Winn-Dixie.
In the adult world--Armistead Maupin reading his own Tales Of the City series is wonderful. The chapters were short enough for quick errand drives except that I would sit in the parking lot wanting to hear more....Great for a long ride too.
This conversation makes me want to listen to more books on tape. thanks! Bina Williams Bridgeport Public Library
In a message dated 3/4/2008 7:52:14 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, areynold at nsar.library.ns.ca writes:
I recently served a two-year term on Notable Recordings for Children-- and I've listened to some of the best (and worst, mind you) of the audios. Those of you looking for a good recommend should refer to the lists this committee creates -- http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/childrensnotable/notablecreclis t/currentnotable.cfm As for excellence, there are so many variables. No one company always produces the best audios. No one narrator is always excellent (though Jim Dale comes mighty close to fitting this description, and Tim Curry reading the Lemony Snickett books is just a real delight). Just as with books, recommending audios to new listeners should be done carefully -- give them a great one to start and they'll find the others by themselves. Again, refer to the Notables and Odyssey Award for those great titles.
I have to admit to being an audio book addict-- pre-committee, I was an in-the-car only listener -- now, I cannot imagine doing housework, weeding the garden, etc. without a book to listen to. It is another way for me get some extra reading in! And of course, in the car is always a good place to listen. I do a lot of driving for work, so I get to read lots of books! -- And yes, listening is reading. It may be a different kind, but it counts, you'll not convince ME otherwise!
It has taken a while for the audios to catch on here, but now that they have-- we have lots of people who appreciate them. I push them during summer reading especially -- what a treat for a reluctant reader to read a long book that they would probably never make it through in print. I'd love to hear other ways that you promote the audios in your libraries! I'm looking forward to this discussion--
Some of the best I've heard: Jim Dale, reading just about anything, but esp. Harry Potter The Book Thief The Rules of Survival I Coriander Clementine Silverfin Lemony Snicket's series, read by Tim Curry
-- Angela J. Reynolds, Head of Youth Services Annapolis Valley Regional Library P.O. Box 640, 26 Bay Road Bridgetown, NS CANADA B0S 1C0 902-665-2995 Fax: 902-665-4899 areynold at nsar.library.ns.ca http://www.valleylibrary.ca http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/ _______________________________________________ CCBC-Net mailing list CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe... http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net **************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001)Received on Tue 04 Mar 2008 08:50:23 AM CST
