The audio books

I don't know it this is the proper forum to discuss the audio books, as I could not find suitable threads by using the search engine.

To me, Stephen Fry reading the books since the Goblet of Fire is simply outstanding. He may not be the better voice actor compared to Dale, but his story telling is first class.

Listening and reading at the same time is quite different from reading alone, much more intense.

To me, his rendition of Lord Voldemort is better than in the films, scary and creepy way beyond the films, that hoarse dry voice.
His Tonks's rendition is very funny IMO, that accent!
His Umbridge rendition makes you'll dislike her even more.

What stood out for me are him reading the scenes of horror, starting with the resurrection of Lord Voldemort in book 4, that was most scary. Also the Nagini scene in Godric Hollow, the Malfoy Manor were very scary to listen to.

Please tell me your opinion on the audio books.

I love listening to the audio books and actually know many fans who rather do this than actually reading the books.

Just recently I started with Fry, but already like him a lot. (Before I listened to the books in my language).

Since I basically listen to the audio books before going to sleep I never thought of reading & listening the same time. That's an cool idea I'll try out by time. :)

I would love some of the audios of the books so i could listen to them, but they are expensive!!! So i'll guess i'll have to wait until i have the extra money to get one or two.....

I love how Dale reads, it's outstanding. Way more emotional than reading it youself I think. It was so intense when (and still after reading DH twice) Dale narrates Kreachers tale, it was perfect.

Although if I have to chose between reading or listening, I'd go with reading :relax:

I LOVE! the audio books..I bought a mini stereo that holds 5 discs so I can listen to them on repeat every night..yes obsessed is my middle name :whistle: lol..Jim Dale is AMAZING but I would love to hear how Fry narrates it..is there a sample of him online somewhere? I would love to buy the copies but can't even find where to buy them all ? I could hint for birthday and anniversary gifts:cool: for now I just constantly take them out of the library :)

I'm still reading Deathly Hallows for the second time. They had the Jim Dale version in Wal-Mart, so I bought a copy July 22nd. Before opening the CD, I listened to a few passages from the other books on his website. How he does it, I don't know. Since I'm STILL enjoying reading the book at my own pace and taking the time to savour it, I haven't got around to listening to the CD. The part I want to hear is "The Prince's Tale"(gee who knew) and "The Elder Wand".

Steven Fry is a genius and can pretty much do anything to a high standard. So no suprises he's amazing on the audio books. The brilliant way he has with words and delivers them in such a calm and easy way, coupled with a pair of good noise canceling headphones, I feel like i'm living within the book and find it very easy to imagine images this way.

Really great way to go to sleep with too. Not becuase I find it boring, but it's just very relaxing and calming.

We listen to the audio books (Jim Dale version) on long car trips--it makes the miles fly by and I often pick up things I didn't through my reading.

I bought the Stephen Fry version of PS/SS, just to hear the difference between the two readers. It was very expensive to get in the States and I personally didn't think there was all that much difference in their reading and voice characterizations. I did notice that Fry did not pronounce Grindelwald with the German pronunciation and Dale did. But they both do a fantastic job and are very talented men.

However, I ultimately decided that I couldn't stretch my family's budget enough to buy a duplicate set of audio books, especially with the later books that are so long and costly. So we'll stick with the Jim Dale US version.

I suppose I wasn't clear enough.
I have Jim Dale reading PS/SS and CoS, in essence fantasy novels meant for younger readers.
I have the discs with Stephen Fry reading the later novels but have heard him reading the earlier books by borrowing the CDs.

Here in the early books in comparision I thought that Dale was better in the characterisation than Fry, which I found a little tame. Though I don't particularly like the inflexion Dale gives to Hermione's voice, Dale's other voices were great. I haven't heard yet the Dale version of DBP/DH, a sure challence for any narrator. It is said Dale has some 200 different voice characterisations at his command. Very impressive!
As soon as Harry and Cedric were gripping the handles of the Triwizard Cup together, the books weren't childrens books anymore. Such horrifying story telling I have never heard before. I found it much more scary than watching the same scenes in the movie, despite the special effects and cinema surround sound.

You are very much right, the CD's are outrageously expensive! DH was well over Euro 100 unfortulately.
Since English is not my native language I was willing to put down the cash because like I said listening and reading at the same time is so compelling.
Headphones on, book in my hands, and I easily listen and read all through the night.

I would love to get the audio tapes narrated by Jim Dale. However, like someone previously mentioned, I don't have the money for them. Book #7 is going for close to $80 at our local book store. Yikes.

I saw the tapes of SS in a antique store the other day for $2.50 and I almost picked them up.. but I didn't.. I think I want the CD's.. they'd be better for me.

I've only heard Stephen Fry's reading of PS, so I can't compare the two men, but he did a brilliant job of recording other school stories in the past and doing all the voices, so he seemed an obvious choice for the HP series.

I applaud anyone reading unabridged versions as well - the thought of taking on OOTP particularly frightens me!

I tried listening to the PoA audiotape, I cant remember who the reader was but I didnt like it at all, one minute into the CD I turned it off and grabbed the book. I much prefer to read it.

Well personally i don't like the audio books because i like reading at my own pace...i mean i'm kinda in the middle of a fast and slow reader so i like reading the books on my own...i just started to read the 4th book like 3 weeks .

I used to refuse to listen to the audiobooks, because I felt it wasn't as personal as reading it yourself. I still kind of feel that way, but I've fallen in love with listening to the books on tape. I have almost the complete collection of all seven books by both Stephen Fry and Jim Dale, and I sometimes use them when going back to reference something, instead of getting up and walking across the room to my stack of HP books (cause that would just take too much energy, see, lol). I was lucky enough that my friend owned almost all of them, so I didn't have to buy them.

I love both Jim Dale and Stephen Fry, but I tend to listen to Fry more now because I don't really fancy the changes made in the US editions of the books (changing terms like "Father Christmas" to "Santa Claus" - I know, I'm anal retentive). However, they both do such good jobs, it's amazing.

I found they were best when doing a reread of the entire series, like before DH. I found I couldn't multitask while reading (obviously, book + spaghetti does NOT mix) so I finally decided to just listen to them instead of taking the risk of staining my precious books (kind of pointless, seeing as they're almost as worn down as Snape's potions book...), lol.

I'm just listening to "The Elder Wand" the Jim Dale edition. My God, academy award performance. He should be awarded in some way! Man, I can see the events happening. There are parts when I cringe. I'm going to listen to them tomorrow when I'm on the train.

I read along with the audio....Jim Dale is wonderful.

I love Jim Dale!!!!!!!!! He's so funny and his impressions of "Hermione was eagerly bouncing up and down" are sssooooooo funny! and oddly accurate. I havn't heard the first guy, but im in love with the current! hahaha!
It's funny that i fell across this! I was just listening to the Deathly Hallows like 20 minutes ago. I really like the audio books because you can do other things as well. Like I made dinner while listening to the Godrics Hallow part. and I also do my homework, clean my room, take a bath/shower, etc.
Highly reccommended!

I love the audio books. I have them all, by Jim Dale, who is amazing. I wasn't sure at first if I would like them, so I bought the first book, the smallest and cheapest of course, and I loved it. So the last couple of books my procedure was to buy the book (at midnight naturally) and read the book first. I still love to actually read the book. Then I had to buy the audio book so I can listen to it while I drive to work. I've listened to the last book almost three times now. Haven't quite got it memorized yet! Almost had Dumbledore's explanation in book 5 memorized, though, I played it so many times. LIstening to Jim Dale's audio book version I think is in some ways better than reading it, because he acts the parts so well. This way is almost as good as it would be if the movies were made with all the content and subplots of the books included, not cut or altered.

I work 12 hour shifts and do not have a lot of time to read while at home, so I listen to the audio books at work. I have been through the series (1-6) 12 times and through 1-7 three times.
Hey Jim Dale! How is Lord Voldemor? They should have re-edited all his first readings. I only listen to Stephen Fry. I did not like DH as a book to read but Fry makes it tolerable to listen to.

Oooo... but it was such a good book to read.
Voldemor? he has a T it's just not over-pronounced, i havn't heard the first couple though.

Oooo... but it was such a good book to read.
Voldemor? he has a T it's just not over-pronounced, i havn't heard the first couple though.

Well considering "Voldemort" is French for "Flight of death", and in French we do not pronounce the t in "mort"... I think it sounds much more elegant without the t, actually. Elegant in a dark way, much like Tom Riddle was... ;)

Aaah, another great use for audiobooks: getting your fix of Harry Potter on long car rides when you get car sick by reading in the car. I listened to half of Deathly Hallows last weekend on a car trip, while relaxing and staring out the window. It was perfect.

I know, i listened to it on a long plane ride, i get motion sick really easy, and i'm kind of afraid of flying ( ruins the acting plan a bit huh?) so it was really comforting, i dissapeared into potter-land and before i realized we'd been gone very long, we were landing!

I thought they all were Jim Dale?

I just checked them all out from our public library and ripped 'em to my ipod.

PERFECT.

I thought they all were Jim Dale?

Jim Dale does the American version, and Stephen Fry does the British version. They both have English accents - the only difference is that Jim Dale actually reads form the American books and so some words are different from the Stephen Fry versions. :)

So, overall, the audiobooks are well done? I hope so, because I just won a set of all seven of them for a decent price on eBay... can't wait to put them on my Zune... no more boring car rides!

I was wondering why Jim Dale changes some pronunciations throughout the series.

I noticed the first few books he says "Her-Mah-Knee" while later on in the series he says "Her-My-O-Knee".

Also after the 4th book, he starts pronouncing the "t" in Voldemort.

I love the audio books, having a cup of coffee while listening to the amazing tale of Harry Potter. " Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" is definately one of the best audio books out of the series, Dale just brings it to life.

Stephen Fry? Really? Jim Dale (where I live) did The Order of the Phoenix, The Half-Blood Prince but not sure about The Deathly Hallows.

Suggestion: do not listen to DH on tape while doing math homework. I was doing that yesterday, and when it got to The Forest Again, I started bawling all over again in the middle of my homework. My mum had to come and check what was wrong with me (obviously thinking I was having some kind of nervous breakdown) and just laughed when she found out I was listening to DH. I couldn't finish my homework, it was terrible, lol.

I do a lot of traveling with my 2 kids. They can watch a DVD and I put my iPod in one ear. It makes the ride much easier. Jim Dale is fabulous. He did a telephone message recording for Borders to remind you to pick up OotP (I think it was that one). It was great to have Jim Dale on my answering machine!

I would love some of the audios of the books so i could listen to them, but they are expensive!!! So i'll guess i'll have to wait until i have the extra money to get one or two.....

Ebay is a good place to try....for my birthday my mom got me OOTP used but in really good condition for on $ 25

I've never listened to the audio books before. They've never really appealed to me with Stephen Fry speaking (I live in the UK). I might give them a go though. I think listening to the story could perhaps give me a new perspective :)

I'm starting my own collection of them (finally). I have rented them from the library before and love listening to them. I think Jim Dale is fantastic. He is pretty much the reason I started Pushing Daisies. But that is off topic. I am asking for the first book on CD for Christmas and plan on asking for one a year until I have them all. Sounds like a good plan to me.

I don't know it this is the proper forum to discuss the audio books, as I could not find suitable threads by using the search engine.

To me, Stephen Fry reading the books since the Goblet of Fire is simply outstanding. He may not be the better voice actor compared to Dale, but his story telling is first class.

"i did not know that" (something Johnny Carson used to say)

i'll have to check that out ! i've got the Jim Dale Books on Tape/CD.

spoiler space for Deathly Hallows
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when Ron comes back and rescues Harry from the frozen pond, in Deathly Hallows, then they go back to the tent, and Hermione gets angry at Ron, and tells Harry to give her back her wand ... that is some of the best story reading EVER. Jim Dale reads the angry Hermione ~ she's so angry it's funny.

and then there's the Puking Pastille scene in Book 5, OotP. Hermione i think is trying to study, Fred and George are taking turns doing you know what :drool: i don't know if it's funnier to listen to it than to read it, but Jim Dale paints a hilarious picture of Harry being distracted by a frustrated Hermione while Lee Jordan helps his buddies demonstrate their products.

I've never even heard of Stephen Fry but I love Jim Dale. We have listened to books on tape in the car for as long as I can remember. I have memories of beling like 5 and going on a car ride and listening to the Hobbit and thinking a Hobbit was a little yellow lizard because on the box of tapes there is a picture of Smaug and I thought that was what a Hobbit was. I also remember sobbing Hysterically over Where the Red Fern Grows and The Book Thief in the car and my little brother lokking at me like I was crazy. I off topic any way, I love the audio books! I can't read along to them because I go much faster when I read silently than Jim ( sorry, Jim) but I listen to them before bed and on my paper route. I remember listening to HBP and sobbing at the end and this old lady was asking me if I was OK and I was crying and going yeah I'm fine. I love audio books!

I have never listened to the audio books because they are too expensive.. and I like have no money to buy some.

I have never listened to the audio books because they are too expensive.. and I like have no money to buy some.

Do your libraries in Australia have them? You should have the Stephen Fry version, if you get the Bloomsbury edition of the books.

They are fun to listen to, like Comic Book Worm said on another thread: "You can't skip ahead" (paraphrased). [We were discussing another author's books.]

I really enjoy the books: I've heard Jim Dale's version of The Deathly Hallows at least 8 times.

I really like turning out the lights and listening with headphones on, but I still like reading the actual books because its easier to multitask while reading an actual book (eat, listen to music, etc.)

I've only heard the audio books by Jim Dale, but I love them, possibly more than the books. It's just easier, and it's something i can listen to while doing other stuff.

I have all the audio books on either CD or tape, read by Stephan Fry and they are brilliant. Stephan Fry really reads them well. We listen to them in the car on long trips and they help pass the time ... a lot! It's like ... [warning: this may sound crazy] it's like you're plundged in a whole different world. If anyone stops the tapes, I'm always like : Huh? What? And if they stop it at a sad moment (we just listened to Bathida's secret two days ago) then I'm sad ...

If anyone's going to buy them : buy them on CD! The tapes wear out and go all horribly squeaky :eeep:

I've actually never listened to any audiobooks in my life! I don't have anything against them, I just haven't. I love reading so much that it doesn't matter, but I did listen to a HBP blurb of Jim Dale on the internet, the one where he's reading Ron's birthday. Oh, it was terrible! I hated it, and now every time I read that part of Half-Blood Prince, I hear his voice! Ah!

(On a side note, I loved listening to JKR reading the first chapter of DH aloud. That was wonderful.)

I really think that he is probably a magnificent reader and that I shouldn't have picked a weird part in my least favorite HP book to judge him by. But now I'm so scared of listening to the audiobooks for fear that I'll never be able to read it without Dale's voice in the back of my head again!

So no audiobooks for me. J. K. Rowling's words are glorius enough. ;)

Since I am a mom and student and I work, I don't have a lot of time to read. I love the audio books and always have one in my kitchen and one in my truck. I LOVE Jim Dale although I have not hear Fry. Maybe I will check out how much to get one of his copies.
Also, I borrow the audio books from my local library over and over again.

I've listened to the first 6 audio books read by Jim Dale. Overall I thought he did a great job, a few of his voices are annoying (Hermione and Narcissa come to mind), but I enjoyed them. I listen to audio books a lot because I drive a lot and hate the radio! I didn't particularly like Stephen Fry's version--his voice kind of annoys me :shrug:

I would love for them to redo the HP books at some point and do a full cast recording (I'd love to hear the movie actors do it even) with some of the movie scores used and sound effects and such. The version of Lord of the Rings that they did this way was absolutely amazing!! I'd recommend it to anybody--entrancing!

I don't listen to the audio books that much -- I read the books instead most of the time. But I do have the audio book for DH and have listened to it twice. Jim Dale is amazing! :tu: I love all of the voices that he does. It cracks me up when he's doing Hermione's voice. He always says, "Harryyyyyyy!" :lol: Whenever I listen to any other audio book, I get really annoyed because no one is as good as Jim Dale. :p

usually, i would prefer to read, keeping any kind of outside influence out until i've finished with the story. but lately the bulk of my "free time" consists of the daily commute to and from work, so it doesnt really give me a whole lot of time to read, which i find pretty frustrating when i've started with a really good story like these HP books. so to keep the pace i tried the Audio books narrated by Jim Dale. its pretty good, although admittedly there are some voices he does that i found rather annoying (Hermione shouldnt sound like she's whining and Luna should sound dreamy, not retarded). i'm reading the books now at a more leisurely pace, and finally i can hear the voices and see the images in my head the way i always imagined them to be.

usually, i would prefer to read, keeping any kind of outside influence out until i've finished with the story.
I have to agree, I've tried listening to the books and quite often I get distracted. With the books, I am not here - I am in the book.

I have some vision problems, and while I have read all the books several times, it's hard for me. So I've also listened to both the Stephen Fry and Jim Dale versions several times each.

First, some differences between listening and reading. I have to make myself focus, and I find I do get distracted and wander, so I have to backtrack quite a bit. And I have to mentally discipline myself to check to see whether I have been paying attention and haven't drifted away. In other words, does the current passage track with what I last heard. You'd be surprised how much can just slip by unnoticed. But this is true of listening to all audiobooks.

A good audiobook narration brings the dialog to life. And it forces me to listen to descriptions. I tend to skim over most extended scene descriptions when I read. For the Harry Potter books, there is so much wordplay, like Grimmauld Place or Diagon Alley, that's it's fun to listen to the words. However, the meaning of the word ERISED is completely lost in the audio version.

Stephen Fry does a much better dramatic reading of the books, but he doesn't do all that many voices, so it's hard to distinguish some of the kids and adults from each other. Jim Dale does give his characters different voices, but he doesn't quite put the dramatic oomph into the reading that Fry does. So Fry's version resonantes more. I despise Dale's Hermione. It makes me want to scream every time I hear it.

It's much harder to check back on some detail or name that you are unclear about in an audiobook. And it's also harder to read ahead, which I tend to do when a section is slower than others.

I've finally got the whole Jim Dale set on CD and listen to them whenever I'm in the car. I love them! I'm never upset about getting stuck in traffic or at a red light anymore! It's a bit of a problem when I get to work and don't want to leave the parking lot in the middle of a good part, because aren't they all good parts?

I disliked Jim Dale's Hermione at first, but now I'm used to it and it doesn't bother me anymore. His Ginny is way too masculine sounding and I still don't like it. And pronunciations changed from earlier books to the later ones. Most notably Voldemore to Voldemort. Also knut goes from 'nute' to 'kanutt'. That's kind of distracting.

HOWEVER, the other 198 voices are fabulous! He's got the absolutely quintessential Dumbledore - so perfect in fact that I think he should replace Gambon in the movies. His Hagrid, McGonagal, Ron, Arthur, Tonks, Draco, Vernon, and Voldemort, are also terrific. And the two minutes of Wilkie Twycross alone make the entire cost of the HBP CDs worthwhile - inventive and hysterical no matter how often you hear it. (He's the Apparition Instructor, HBP Disk 11 Track 12) How does Jim Dale come up with this stuff?

I love how he adds hiccups, stuffy noses, sobs, voice cracks, drunkenness, mouths full food, etc to each individual voice whenever JKR wrote it that way.

I'm the same was a lot of you. I have all the books in hard-copies, obviously, and have read them each several times, but I'm a busy chick- between work, school, and more school, I'm in the car most of the time. I have the Mp3's, so a quick d/l to my ipod and I'm good to go. I go grocery shopping and listen to audio books, even.

Dale's Dumbledore, Hagrid, and McGonagall are fabulous. Fry's Dumbledore and Hagrid are good too, but I don't like Fry's McGonagall, who also sounds just Madame Hooch and Madame Pomfrey.

Dale gave the twisted sisters (Bellatrix and Narcissa) French accents, which is just weird since they're Brits. I guess he made his decision based on Bellatrix's last name. Fry actually meets with JKR to discuss the reading. I don't think that Dale does that. So Fry's choice of accents (when he uses them) is probably more what Jo had in mind.

Dale gave the twisted sisters (Bellatrix and Narcissa) French accents, which is just weird since they're Brits. I guess he made his decision based on Bellatrix's last name.

Weird. I thought they sounded like Germanic accents. I assumed that lots of Brits have other childhood nationalities and thought it was clever to give someone a foreign accent.

After re-watching OoTP last night, now I wonder whether the pronunciation of Lestrange is 'Lestrainj' or 'Lestrawnj'. I prefer the latter, which is Jim Dale's.

I decided it was a French accent because of the name Lestrange. He also gave that a French pronunciation. But the British way is how it was pronounced in the movie. I think that Jim Dale got it wrong, which is why Fry has an advantage since he talks to Jo about the audiobook.

I decided it was a French accent because of the name Lestrange. He also gave that a French pronunciation. But the British way is how it was pronounced in the movie. I think that Jim Dale got it wrong, which is why Fry has an advantage since he talks to Jo about the audiobook.

I thought I read that he did check with JKR on pronunciations and such, so I did a search and found the following on his website, in which he's discussing GoF, for which he won a grammy -

"Another problem that kept cropping up, said Dale, was that there were words and names that no one knew how to pronounce.

"We would often record a sentence four or five different ways," Dale said. "Then when we got the go-ahead from England as to what Jo (Rowling) wanted, we usually had it."

from http://www.jim-dale.com/jim_farber.htm

I saw a recent interview with Dale, who said that they don't get input from Jo. So, I'll bet it's a little of both. Sometimes they wing it, and other times they get input. I don't think he could have had input on the name Lestrange or their accents. Narcissa and Bellatrix are Brits and do not have French (or German) accents.

I should see if my local library has the audio books. I think it would be cool that if you could get the characters from the movie to read there parts in the audio books. Anyone that wasn't cast in the movie, you could have whoever you want.

...
First, some differences between listening and reading. I have to make myself focus, and I find I do get distracted and wander, so I have to backtrack quite a bit. And I have to mentally discipline myself to check to see whether I have been paying attention and haven't drifted away. In other words, does the current passage track with what I last heard. You'd be surprised how much can just slip by unnoticed. But this is true of listening to all audiobooks....
That is really interesting. I have found the opposite. I have listened to the Jim Dale versions several times, and sometimes when I'm half listening I'll actually catch something I never noticed while reading. Just the other day I was listening to book 2 and noticed for the first time that when Dobby watches Harry for the first time, Harry has just spent the whole day doing chores. No wonder why Dobby loves him so much Harry is a slave in the Dursley's house just like Dobby is in the Malfoy's. Brilliant. And something I never noticed the 3 times I read the book.

I should see if my local library has the audio books.Why didn't I think of that? I bought them all on eBay and spent WAY more than I really wanted to. Oh well.

I see a lot of love for Dale's version, I don't like his voice as much as Steven Fry which is funny cause I read the American versions and listen to the Brit. I don't like Dale giving French accents to Cissa and Bella or his Fudge, lord his Fudge.

Fry's is just awesome to me, especially his Voldemort because I didn't really hear a high voice when I read his parts but I love Fry's style.

I don't read and listen cause I read way faster than the audio book. Makes sense that he has to take his time because you want the person to catch as much as possible. I do like to put the books on my MP3 player and listen to them on the bus to and from school cause it's a 3 1/2 hour trip so six to eight chapters can cover the distance.

I'm planning to spend an entire weekend doing nothing but listening to the entire series. According to my itunes it'll take just over 5 days. Oh my sanity is gone.

That is really interesting. I have found the opposite. I have listened to the Jim Dale versions several times, and sometimes when I'm half listening I'll actually catch something I never noticed while reading. Just the other day I was listening to book 2 and noticed for the first time that when Dobby watches Harry for the first time, Harry has just spent the whole day doing chores. No wonder why Dobby loves him so much Harry is a slave in the Dursley's house just like Dobby is in the Malfoy's. Brilliant. And something I never noticed the 3 times I read the book.Oh I catch plenty that slipped by in the reading, usually in description or the interplay of dialog. What I meant was that I can get caught up in thought about something I just heard and will not hear what is currently being read.

I would love for them to redo the HP books at some point and do a full cast recording (I'd love to hear the movie actors do it even) with some of the movie scores used and sound effects and such. The version of Lord of the Rings that they did this way was absolutely amazing!! I'd recommend it to anybody--entrancing!

Do you mean the fabulous BBC radio adaptation of 1981, with Ian Holm as Frodo and Bill Nighy as Sam, etc etc etc.??? Because I've loved that since forever! It has a few minor clunky moments here and there :D - Arwen, in her one brief line, sounds like Frodo's grandmother :whistle: - but overall it is really wonderful. :tu: :love:

I've never listened to the HP audiobooks but I think I would like to now. :) Somebody on another board was raving about Jim Dale's rendering of The Prince's Tale, how it left them feeling so :upset:

I am tempted to get these for if I would re-read them but be too lazy to actually read them haha

Do you mean the fabulous BBC radio adaptation of 1981, with Ian Holm as Frodo and Bill Nighy as Sam, etc etc etc.??? Because I've loved that since forever! It has a few minor clunky moments here and there :D - Arwen, in her one brief line, sounds like Frodo's grandmother :whistle: - but overall it is really wonderful. :tu: :love:Exactly, it was really amazing! Most audio books are just plain reading, some voice modulation but that's about it. LotR's was like a piece of art in itself, I actually have one of the songs on my ipod :lol:

I've never listened to the HP audiobooks but I think I would like to now. :) Somebody on another board was raving about Jim Dale's rendering of The Prince's Tale, how it left them feeling so :upset:I still haven't listened to DH on audio, it's been checked out at the library since it came out :)

I have the Dale version of the first six books, but every time I started hearing them I fell asleep soon after that. I actually never managed to finish hearing one book, not even reached the middle of it. :rolleyes:

I have never listened to audio books at all. It seems a wonderful concept, where I can listen to HBP and DH especially. Wonder if we would get them here in India. Muct check out. :)

Jim Dale really has one pf the best audiobook voices that I've ever heard. I just listened to the first three books last week, and he is amazing! Now, I always imagine his voices instead of the character's voices in the films. I love them, but I actually still prefer reading. Since I have no problem reading while in a car, I will always use the books I gues. :shrug:

Dale gave the twisted sisters (Bellatrix and Narcissa) French accents, which is just weird since they're Brits. I guess he made his decision based on Bellatrix's last name. Fry actually meets with JKR to discuss the reading. I don't think that Dale does that. So Fry's choice of accents (when he uses them) is probably more what Jo had in mind.

yeah that's one of the few things i found annoying about Dale's renditions, Bella was Bellatrix Black before she got married to Rodolphus Lestrange. IIRC, that fact was covered in OOTP, so Dale knows that Bellatrix, Narcissa and Sirius should all have the same accents.

Oh I catch plenty that slipped by in the reading, usually in description or the interplay of dialog. What I meant was that I can get caught up in thought about something I just heard and will not hear what is currently being read.
i guess it goes either way. since i listened to the audio books first and read the books later i noticed that there are plenty of things reading helped clarify and emphasized, like the name of Kreacher, imagine my surprise that it was spelled that way :lol:


Do you mean the fabulous BBC radio adaptation of 1981, with Ian Holm as Frodo and Bill Nighy as Sam, etc etc etc.??? Because I've loved that since forever! It has a few minor clunky moments here and there :D - Arwen, in her one brief line, sounds like Frodo's grandmother :whistle: - but overall it is really wonderful. :tu: :love:
i never really gotten around to listening to the BBC adaptation, mostly because i'm afraid that it would ruin the way LOTR plays in my head. but you know what, i'm gonna brave it. i remember spotting the BBC discs on sale at my favorite bookstore, i guess its waiting for me to go take it home :p (btw, whats your feedback on The Hobbit BBC version?)



I've never listened to the HP audiobooks but I think I would like to now. :) Somebody on another board was raving about Jim Dale's rendering of The Prince's Tale, how it left them feeling so :upset:
well one thing i noticed from all of Dale's readings is that he adapts a more somber tone with DH, i noticed the difference immediately compared to his readings of the first 6 books.

yeah that's one of the few things i found annoying about Dale's renditions, Bella was Bellatrix Black before she got married to Rodolphus Lestrange. IIRC, that fact was covered in OOTP, so Dale knows that Bellatrix, Narcissa and Sirius should all have the same accents.

He does that so there is no doubt who is speaking. There would be lots of problems if everybody spoke in a perfect english accent. It is much easier to see who is talking when you are reading a book because you can go back easier to see who is talking.

But I never noticed them speaking like Fleur. I will have to check that out.

I have the Dale version of the first six books, but every time I started hearing them I fell asleep soon after that. I actually never managed to finish hearing one book, not even reached the middle of it. :rolleyes:
I always fall asleep when I am listening to audiobooks. It's a very passive activity. But as some of you know, I can't really read print all that well anymore, so I have to rely on audiobooks. That's why I've developed the habit of mentally trying to make sure that each passage tracks from what I last remembered--that way I can tell if I dozed off.

I have never listened to audio books at all. It seems a wonderful concept, where I can listen to HBP and DH especially. Wonder if we would get them here in India. Muct check out. :)
Audiobooks are fun since the dialog and descriptions come to life. But you can't skim over dull passages or peek ahead when you are curious. Nor can you check back over details that are confusing, or names that you may have forgotten. I suspect you will be able to find the Stephen Fry version in India, since the Jim Dale version is American.

I also wanted to add that it is a totally different experience listening to the audio books on headphones with the words right in your ear vs. out loud on speakers. I can get so much more into it when I listen on headphones. :)

I always fall asleep when I am listening to audiobooks. It's a very passive activity. But as some of you know, I can't really read print all that well anymore, so I have to rely on audiobooks. That's why I've developed the habit of mentally trying to make sure that each passage tracks from what I last remembered--that way I can tell if I dozed off. I do tend to listen when I'm waiting for things - like the subway - or walking around, so that I can get into it while I listen and I'm not relaxed enough to doze. My husband was in the hospital about 6 months ago and while I was waiting for the surgery (appendix) I sat down and listened to Chamber of Secrets and I was so into it that when the surgeon came out to tell me all was well he had to wave his hand in front of my face because I was so in Harry's world. :)

I only ever listen to them in the car, so falling asleep really isn't a problem for me. Though, when I get really into a book I sometimes go and get the actual book from the library so I can read it faster.

Did Dale say he used a French accent for Bella and Narcissa? They didn't sound like Fleur to me, more like Russian or some Eastern European type of accent. *shrug

I've only listened to Jime Dale's OOTP on audio book. It really was a new experience. I got so much more out of it than by reading, although I had to pause a lot due to my mind wandering (it does this due to the HP stuff being so fascinating that it causes me to think of something new related to what I'm listening/reading to).

I also wanted to add that it is a totally different experience listening to the audio books on headphones with the words right in your ear vs. out loud on speakers. I can get so much more into it when I listen on headphones
The only way I listen is on my iPod. I've plugged it into speakers, but mostly it's more convenient throught my earphones, since I can move around.

IAudiobooks are fun since the dialog and descriptions come to life. But you can't skim over dull passages or peek ahead when you are curious. Nor can you check back over details that are confusing, or names that you may have forgotten. I suspect you will be able to find the Stephen Fry version in India, since the Jim Dale version is American.

I have not been able to get both so far. I checked out a few stores and all of them have the books but no audio books. I am planning to import from Itunes. Apparently they have a tie up with Jo or something and I can buy the books through them and import them to i tunes and then to my ipod. I would like the HBP and the DH. It would be great to listen to those two among all the 7. So much fun, really.

What about buying them from Amazon.com? I've been able to buy things from Canada and the UK that are not available in America.

What about buying them from Amazon.com? I've been able to buy things from Canada and the UK that are not available in America.

And that's a good idea too! Will try that. Thanks! :)

And there's also eBay. You'll find all the books there from both Jim Dale and Stephen Fry, but some of them are illegal copies. Beware of any set that is sold on DVD or any sales of MP3 versions. They will not be licensed versions.

I would steer clear of any used cassette versions since they may be library copies and in horrible condition. The same may be true of the CDs, but even if they are scratched they will usually work. You'll save money on eBay, but it is always buyer beware.

I am rather wary of eBay. I am planning to try Amazon and for new copies only; and if I don't get it, I think I'll wait until my husband has a business trip to London; he goes there sometimes and I usually give him book lists. I'll ask him to buy it for me.

Some people use eBay as their storefront and are legitimate sellers with decent product. It takes a little investigation to see who is trustworthy. Reading the ratings and seeing that the seller has been on eBay for a while with a lot of transactions can accomplish that.

Oh, and Amazon has opened their site to the same kind of individual sellers. So when you buy, make sure the item is eligible for Super Saver shipping, since only Amazon offers that. Also you can read the smaller print on the page that indicates who the seller is.

Some people use eBay as their storefront and are legitimate sellers with decent product. It takes a little investigation to see who is trustworthy. Reading the ratings and seeing that the seller has been on eBay for a while with a lot of transactions can accomplish that.

Oh, and Amazon has opened their site to the same kind of individual sellers. So when you buy, make sure the item is eligible for Super Saver shipping, since only Amazon offers that. Also you can read the smaller print on the page that indicates who the seller is.

Thanks! :) Will do that. I am planning to try only Amazon, else do the wait.

I've listened to the audio book for Philosopher's Stone. I really love Stephen Fry! :love: I didn't pick up anything that I had previously missed, but it was a great way to focus on exactly what was happening in each scene and create a film-like image in my head. I loved it :D However, they're quite expensive. It's going to be a while before I decide to buy Chamber of Secrets and the others because of a lack of money at the moment :sad:

I just finished listening to the DH audio book for the 2nd time, it's great for me as I have a long drive to work each day so I get through over an hours listening every day.
He does a great job and Jim Dale does a great job of having unique voices for each character so they are instantly recognisable.

I bought mine on eBay - the description said they were new, and still in original packaging. So far so good, they seemed untouched when I opened them and are unscratched. Plus I saved a lot of money. :)

Definitely buyer beware, but there are many honest people on there.

I still greatly enjoy the Harry Potter audio books, I keep listening on my long commutes to and from work.

I recently came across a completely different approach to telling a story, as exemplified by the new His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman Audio Books (probably the author's own private enterpise).
The first book has been made into the recent The Golden Compass movie, which aroused my curiosity to explore the works of this author.

I contrast to the Harry Potter audio books, the Dark Materials are done by a full cast of voice actors, acting their parts to the author himself narrating.

There are some lovely child voice actors, especially Lyra Belacqua is splendidly done by Joanna Wyatt. All voices sound distinctively British, adding greatly to the authenticity of this wonderful, deep, disturbing, powerful and complicated story.

What is your opinion on 'acted' audio books in comparison to narrated ones?

I've never heard an acted audio book that sounds really interesting! So is all the description and stuff still narrated such as 'they Said'?

I love the audio books personally! They're perfect for reliving the series with ease and on the move. I listen to them all the time. Atm I'm on chapter 9 of the deathly hallows.

Everhope wrote: "So is all the description and stuff still narrated such as 'they Said'?"

It is like a radio play of old times, a narrator tells the story, but the characters speak for themselves, literally, with voice inflictions etc. but without sound effects or musical accompaniment. I found it rather enjoyable to hear real children's voices acting at their best. However I admire Stephen Fry's characterisation of the HP characters, it somehow sounds more natural to have the right voices to go with the leading children's characters.

Check these links to learn more, owl me privately and I can perhaps send you a chapter to listen for yourself.
This is the site I recommend:
http://www.audio-talking-books.com/index.php/audio-books/4-author/24-philip-pullman.html
or perhaps this:
http://www.bridgetothestars.net/index.php?p=audiobooks
or for some positive and negative reviews read this:
http://www.amazon.com/His-Dark-Materials-Book-Compass/dp/0807204714
or to see what's available in the UK:
http://www.ciao.co.uk/Audio_Books_5302122_2-philip_pullman

Mind you, the unabridged set published by the author himself in the first link above does not appear to be available in the UK yet since I could only find these offers:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h_/202-6136086-4639029?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=pullman+materials+audio&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go

I've never found them, but I would love to listen to them!

What are adeo books?
:welcome: first.

simply said: audio books are books you can hear. You can buy CDs or download them in some cases. One or several persons, in case of HP it's one, read the content of the book. Mostly they give each character their own voice etc.

One reason why I like listening to them is that you can hear the emotion the characters are in. When you read the book you sometimes miss if something was said in anger or in a normal way etc. when you listen to it I find it's easier to regocnise.

I've never heard an acted audio book that sounds really interesting! So is all the description and stuff still narrated such as 'they Said'?

I love the audio books personally! They're perfect for reliving the series with ease and on the move. I listen to them all the time. Atm I'm on chapter 9 of the deathly hallows.
Someone reads the book, word for word, exactly as it appears in print, only the narrator uses different voices, inflections, and accents to distinguish the dialog of the characters, based entirely on the dialog in the books. There is no difference in what you hear and what you would have read.

That differs from a typical radio play which uses sound effects and other stage craft (and is usually abridged from the original source). Also radio plays usually edit the source material to suit it better for a radio play.

An audiobook is simply the book being narrated by someone. However, it's important for the narrator to uses different voices for the characters, otherwise it can be hard to figure out who is saying what. And a bad or boring narrator can make the experience miserable. A good narrator can bring a book to life.

His Dark Materials is narrated by Phillip Pullman and a large cast. It's fairly unique, since it is usually only one narrator (who typically does several voices). It's the best narration I've ever heard.

For HP, both Stephen Fry and Jim Dale have their pluses and minuses, but overall they both do a good job.

I have all seven HP books as narrated by Jim Dale, and they are simply the best audiobooks I have ever listened to. I listen to them at work once in a while (luckily I have a job that makes this possible) and they really make time fly...

I heard a snippet of Jim Dale reading Philosopher's Stone the other day, and I was surprised at how much I liked it. I love it when narrators use different voices (I've listened to some that just kept the same monotone voice throughout - very boring, needless to say).

I don't enjoy Jim Dale's version, so I now have all books read by Stephen Fry. I love them. I listen to them in bed at night. I have a little flat speaker I got on the internet somewhere called a "pillow speaker" and I just leave the cds running all night. I'm just listening to Deathly Hallows at the moment (last night).

I first listened to the Jim Dale audiobooks and then moved on to the Stephen Fry ones later on. I have to say that I prefer Fry a great deal, but this isn't surprising considering that I'm quite obsessed with everything the man does. I just found Dale to be rather...irritating. Some of his voices were great but, this is just my opinion, a great deal of them were cringe-worthy - just awful. Especially his Hermione. Yuck.

Dale's Hermione makes me want to scream, but he does use enough voices to distinguish the characters. Fry does a better job with the dramatic reading, but he doesn't distinguish the kids voices very well, so sometimes it's hard to identify the speaker until we get a quote tag. Those tags are frequent, and if you know the books you can figure it out anyway. But sometimes you can be puzzled for a moment or two about who the speaker is.

Fry does something that not all narrators do, he even gives the appropriate dramatic inflection to the exposition and description. So he sounds fearful when scary things are being described or excited if that is what's happening or amused if the scene is funny. That adds to the enjoyment and depth of the reading. That's what I mean about a better dramatic reading.

And there's also eBay. You'll find all the books there from both Jim Dale and Stephen Fry, but some of them are illegal copies. Beware of any set that is sold on DVD or any sales of MP3 versions. They will not be licensed versions.


I don't really know about the English versions, but there are 'official' mp3 versions in the German version. I'm presently listening to one. You can get all the audiobooks as mp3 in German, from the same publishing house like the 'normal' audiobook (which isn't the same publisher like the books). I guess they realised how many people listen to the books via an mp3 player, and how tedious it is to transform 27 cd's. (Did that with OotP, it took me AGES). They're slightly cheaper than the 'normal' version, even. And much more convenient, in my opinion. I can listen to the mp3 via my stereo, too (I have my dvd player connected to the receiver), and can do something else without changing cd's all th time. Personally, I love listening to audiobooks when I'm doing house work. Your head is 'clear' (not concentrating on something else), and it makes an otherwise boring chore enjoyable :)


Speaking of it - gertie mentioned she used to listen to the non-English version, too. Does anyone round here know the German versions with Rufus Beck reading? Gosh, I love them. I have PS read by Stephen Fry, too, but I much prefer Beck's performance, I don't know why. My favourite among the different voices would be his take on Slughorn, I guess. I can't help it but laugh, whenever I hear it.

They don't have the HP mp3 versions in English. I do try to buy mp3 versions of audiobooks when they're available because of the ease of installing them, and they are usually cheaper.

I have a laptop so when I have to copy (or to use the slang--rip) CDs, I just watch something mindless like an action movie on TV and feed CDs to my computer. Something like a Harry Potter book can take several hours. Other times I just listen to my iPod while ripping. I have reading problems so I now have a huge audiobook collection.

It's wonderful for long trips, too. I can connect my mp3 player to my car radio, that really saves the day when one is in areas so remote they don't even have radio :D

I think audiobooks got popular because people listen while they are stuck in traffic commuting (or on the train commuting). People don't have time to read anymore.

Well, I actually prefer reading. When I have the chance, on the subway for example, I prefer to listen to music while reading. Only when driving myself, I obviously can't read. Or while I'm doing something else like cleaning up. An audio book offers the opportunity, in my eyes, to keep on 'reading' even if one basically can't. :)

I prefer reading as well. :) Books are special IMO.

But I am very excited. My husband's in Singapore now and he's promised to buy the HP audio books for me. I just can't wait. :D

I did not get them on Amazon (special thanks to ComicBookWorm who told me how to go about it; thank you :)) mainly because of the price. They are expensive and I was scared in case I got landed with faulty ones.

Hubby had been to London a few weeks ago, but did not have the time.

Now, he says he'll try and he'll be coming back today/tomorrow and I just can't wait. *does a small dance* :D

Listening to these books when I go for walks or when I do my house work. YUMMMMM!

I Just Can't Wait. I only hope he gets the whole set or least gets HBP and DH. :D

You can try ebay, too. I got half of mine from ebay, for half of the original price. And if nothing else helps - keep asking around among the kids in your acquaintance and borrow them from them. :)

oh, and amazon marketplace is great as well.

They are expensive and I was scared in case I got landed with faulty ones.
If you bought it from Amazon and not Amazon Marketplace (independent sellers), they would replace them if they were damaged.

You can try ebay, too. I got half of mine from ebay, for half of the original price.

Thanks Fleur! I won't need to if I the husband gets the whole thing tonight. *sings in happiness* :D

And if nothing else helps - keep asking around among the kids in your acquaintance and borrow them from them. :)

:lol:

I don't even know any kid who is even remotely as interested in HP as I am here. :D

The problem is I don't know anyone here who buys stuff from Amazon and ebay. That was why I hesitated to buy from them.

I'm expecting a call from him anytime now. :D YAY!

I borrowed the Stephen Fry DH from the library the other day. It's strange to listen to, but I'm only a few chapters in so I'm going to stick with it a while longer.

I don't like audio books at all. I'd rather read and make myself smart than listen to audio books and fall asleep from the man or womans boring voice.

I don't like audio books at all. I'd rather read and make myself smart than listen to audio books and fall asleep from the man or womans boring voice.

Not boring! Jim Dale does the American audio books, he's fantastic. It's like listening to all the different characters there at once. Some people have trouble reading while traveling, the audio books are preferable there. :)

I don't like audio books at all. I'd rather read and make myself smart than listen to audio books and fall asleep from the man or womans boring voice.
Not only are audiobooks a great benefit for commuters, who find themselves spending two to three hours a day commuting, with no personal time left for reading, but the books can also bring description and dialog to life and can be a lot fun depending on the author.

And, in my case, I have great difficulty reading and have to rely on the audiobooks. And I also listen to history, science, politics, and philosophy books and I haven't noticed any drop in IQ yet. In fact, it's taught me to listen more carefully and to focus more intently, so I don't lose the train of thought from the book.

I adore Jim Dale -- he stays in-character so well and has such a fantastic range. I love the audiobooks immensely. I have, at times, been in hysterics at his interpretation of some minor characters who, while I never noticed much before, really stand out which his reading. He certainly gave the series a whole new dimension for me -- I am hooked on those audiobooks.

My son was recently hospitalized and I comforted him with one of the audiobooks (in this case, it was CoS) and he loved it.

They are fantastic, also, in that one can experience an entirely new appreciation of subtelty in the books when they are heard aloud -- while this is true of most fiction, in this series it is particularly applicable.

I think they're fun too! :D

I got DH, HBP, POA and GOF yesterday. :D

I am right now downloading DH on to my computer and ipod and hope to listen to some of it today. I have the ones by Stephen Fry and I heard the first chapter, and I think I'll like it. :D

I think you'll be having some very great days ahead, Green Woods!!! Have fun! :D

Yes! :D

I am listening to DH, Fleur, and it's amazing. This is the first I've heard an audio book and the experience is new and truly wonderful. :D

I can't wait to get to the TPT. I am planning to go in reverse order; so after DH, it will be HBP, in a few days time. :D

When you listen to them, how do you use them to find certain quotes? I find it difficult to remember where I stopped and to remember where what is I find impossible. In that case I prefer the books, they are easier to skim and to find things.

I dunno. I have only just started. I am just enjoying the novelty for the moment. I think they help you spot certain things you may skim through, when you're reading a book. But at the same time, if your mind is not on what you're hearing, then I think you'll also miss out a lot. To find quotes, I think the books are best.

I think it depends. For most people, the audio books are impractical to find quotes, etc, but for people who are used to them, for example someone impaired of seeing, it is quite different. We had a girl at university who was blind, and since the majority of books weren't available in Braille print, her parents read out the other text books and recorded them. It worked for her; she worked with her mp3s just as successfully as the rest of us with the normal textbooks.

I think it depends. For most people, the audio books are impractical to find quotes, etc, but for people who are used to them, for example someone impaired of seeing, it is quite different. We had a girl at university who was blind, and since the majority of books weren't available in Braille print, her parents read out the other text books and recorded them. It worked for her; she worked with her mp3s just as successfully as the rest of us with the normal textbooks.

I think you have a point. I never thought of the usefulness of these things. For those who cannot see, I think these audio tapes would be equal to reading a book for us. I am used to looking through the books to search, and so may find it easy on account of sheer habit. :)

These audio books are probably a boon to those who cannot see.

Having them is just something extra to have, since I'm on campus I don't read as much cause I don't commute. It's nice to have something on when I'm doing schoolwork or in my mp3 when I'm doing errands. I actually don't like Jim Dale, I like the Stephen Fry versions.

I use the audiobooks when I'm running errands too.

I am trying to get my Grandma into the HP series by listening to the audio books with her.

I love the audio books!

I love the audio books while I am driving to work, but I love the books also. When DH came out, I took my vacation then so I could take the whole week to read the book slowly and savor it, but I also bought the audio books to listen to after I read the book. If I want to look at a certain scene or quote I go to the books, but I love hearing Jim Dale read them with all the different character voices he does! I love everything HP, including the books, the audio books, the movies and everything else! Wish I could hear Stephen Fry's version, I'd probably love that too! (Not as much as Jim Dale, though).

When it was first release I received SS in book and audio (cassette) form, which means Jim Dale is the reader. I tried to listen to the audio book at that time, but I found it moved too slowly for my eagerness. Now that I have read that book several times, I have now decided to try the audio book again, but I still have the same opinion.

Though Dale does a fantastic job, I feel as if he is intruding upon my own interpretation of the book (his intrusion is my own choice, of course). The voices he uses do not comply with the voices I hear in my head while reading, which makes me dawdle on the voices instead of the story. I also feel as if the audio book limits my imagination, for it moves at a set pace. When I read I often read a sentence and simply think about it for thirty seconds. With the audio book, I am merely allowed the break between sentences.

I have often thought about listening to the audio books while driving to work, but my vehicle's cassette player is broken. I believe I would find them much more enjoyable if I used them when I could not read, but when given the choice between listening to Dale or reading the book myself, I will always choose myself.

Nevertheless, I believe I will attempt to buy the rest of the series on audio book (preferably all on cassette, since it is tremendously less expensive), but they will act more as souvenirs than actual tools.

I have often thought about listening to the audio books while driving to work, but my vehicle's cassette player is broken. I believe I would find them much more enjoyable if I used them when I could not read, but when given the choice between listening to Dale or reading the book myself, I will always choose myself.

I can't sit down and listen to an audio book. No matter which one. Totally doesn't work. I need to do something else, usually driving, cleaning, cooking, or at least a crossword puzzle if nothing else is available. Even on train rides, I prefer reading, unless I'm sleepy, then an audio book is fine, too. Besides - one cannot really compare reading to listening to an audiobook, can one? Totally different. To me, an audiobook is a bit like a film of a book I like. A very close adaptation, obviously, but still an adaptation.

I can't sit down and listen to an audio book. No matter which one. Totally doesn't work. I need to do something else, usually driving, cleaning, cooking, or at least a crossword puzzle if nothing else is available. Even on train rides, I prefer reading, unless I'm sleepy, then an audio book is fine, too. Besides - one cannot really compare reading to listening to an audiobook, can one? Totally different. To me, an audiobook is a bit like a film of a book I like. A very close adaptation, obviously, but still an adaptation.
I don't think it's very different from reading at all. A film version has only a small percentage of the total book, while an audiobook has every word. It's just as easy to not pay attention to what you're reading as to what you're listening to.

The only major difference I find is that it's easier to skim when reading--skip back to check a detail you might have missed or forward when you've got the idea of a paragraph and don't want to read every word etc. I think reading a translation would be further from reading the original than listening to the book, personally.

I can't just sit and listen either. 90% of the time I'm driving. If I ever bring one inside I usually play Sudoku while I listen :)

I listen to the narrations by Jim Dale.

I was skeptic at first, too.

As I listen to the audiobooks while playing solitaire(lol), I'm surprised at how much attention I paid to the story rather than the game.
You'll be able to catch some of the data, rather than reading in some aspect.
Not to be underestimated.

I moved my audiobook CDs (Jim Dale's) over to my iPod this month. It took some time because importing each CD took about 10-15 minutes. But it was worth it. Now I can listen to HP while I'm grocery shopping, cooking, driving, riding the bus, walking, whatever. I've noticed though that they take a LOT of space on the IPOD.

SS/PS takes 500 MB
CoS takes 472 MB
PoA takes 623 MB
HBP takes 973 MB
Goblet of Fire alone takes up about 2 GB.

I haven't put all of OoTP on there because there's not enough room left and DH needs to wait because I've listened to that one more than the others.

I also listen to the audiobooks while playing solitaire and sudoku! You're not alone.

That just has to do with the bitrate used for importing the CDs. I think you used a setting that would be good for a music CD (perhaps the iTunes default), but is unneeded for a voice recording. Most commercial audiobooks that come already converted to MP3 format use 128kbps or sometimes 96kbps. In fact downloads from Audible are only 32kbps, although they do sound somewhat hollow or tinny at times. Even as low as 64kbps (the minimum for true stereo), usually sounds fine. If space is an issue, I'd suggest lowering the setting and reimporting.

My audiobooks are 64kbps.
I'm not too particular about the quality unless it sounds really crappy.
Mine are clear, so I'm not complaining.

I used VBR (variable bit rate) which gives a higher quality for less space. The operating system sees them as if they were 128-196kbps CBR (constant bit rate), but they are around 70-80kbps in size. 64kbps is about as low as you can go and have decent sound. I have quite a few in that range and they do sound fine. I wish Audible would up their bitrate to 64kbps.

You could try Goldwave, it's a pretty good software

I must have a dozen different audio programs. I can't read anymore so I have to use audiobooks. I'm a retired techie and seemed to have shifted my usual computer skills to computer audio manipulation.

But thanks for the suggestion, I will take a good look at Goldwave.

I'm not a tech-geek, but Goldwave is the easiest program, so there you go ;)

Just something i want to chat about quickly.

Being from the UK i kind of got into listening to stephen frys version of the HP audio books but latly ive been listening to jim dales. I think hes amazing and he does a great job. Considering the amount of characters there are he has so many voices. Its fun to here in all fairness.

One thing though that rubs me up the wrong way is his portrail of hermione. He does it in a very winey annoying voice. Am i the only one that feels like this. Or does anyone else have little pet peeves of there own with the auio book voices. I what hermiones character is like and how she acts but i feel his portrail of her isent that good.

So what does everyone else think.

Everyone who has ever expressed an opinion about the Jim Dale audiobooks has hated his Hermione.

Notice that every time Hermione says Harry's name, it's always that same meek worried tone.

harrry

I'm nearly finished with Stephen Fry's Deathly Hallows and although it took me a little while to get used to it, I love listening to it now. I pick up on things that I didn't notice just reading it myself.

I finished listening to StephenFry's DH yesterday and have started with the HBP.

It was an amazing and a totally awesome experience IMO. I never realized hwo much I missed, the audio books are simply awesome. *can't praise them enough* :D :clap:

It brings the dialog and descriptions alive. I tend to skim slightly over descriptions and I can't do that with an audiobook. And if it is a good narration, it can actually be better than reading. Lenny Henry narrates Anasi Boys by Neil Gaiman and he has a blast using various Caribbean and African accents.

Anyway, I posted this earlier, but I'll repeat it. Jim Dale does more voices so it's easier to tell the kids apart (and the adults don't all sound the same). But Stephen Fry does a better dramatic reading, convery mood and texture in the narrative and descriptive sections.

It's actually important to make distinctive voices for characters since it's hard to follow dialog some times. So I have a mixed verdict for both of them.

However, I despise Jim Dale's Hermione. It makes me want to scream.

Besides - one cannot really compare reading to listening to an audiobook, can one?
Considering the occasions that I have listened to the audio book were in the place of reading, I, at least, can compare the two.
The only major difference I find is that it's easier to skim when reading--skip back to check a detail you might have missed
This is why I dislike the audio books. While reading I always want to recheck a fact or sentence I may have read without truly understanding. With an audio book, I have to stop the recording and rewind (though I have had my book in hand while listening) to check the fact. It is impractical for my style of reading Harry Potter.
It brings the dialog and descriptions alive. I tend to skim slightly over descriptions and I can't do that with an audiobook.
I am the opposite. The audio books are so confining for me that I frequently tune them out and just start to read by myself. Like I said in a previous post, the recording moves at a set pace, but I find that, while reading, the pace should be slowed down for certain descriptions and actions, but this is not true with the audio books.
One thing though that rubs me up the wrong way is his portrail of hermione. He does it in a very winey annoying voice. Am i the only one that feels like this. Or does anyone else have little pet peeves of there own with the auio book voices. I what hermiones character is like and how she acts but i feel his portrail of her isent that good.
I agree. I have only listened to his SS, but Hermione is by far the most irritating imitation. The only voice I can truly tolerate is Hagrid's, which was his least favorite to do.

I completely agree about Jim Dale's 'Hermione voice', especially when he says 'Harry'. It's more like 'Hawee'. It's just really irritating.

I think the only voices I like better from Jim Dale over Stephen Fry is Mundungus Fletcher and Kreacher. Jim Dale's Mundungus voice is extremely close to how I thought he would sound. It kind of reminds me of my dad's voice. Kreacher is described as having a 'hoarse, deep voice'. Stephen Fry's Kreacher voice is too high pitched.

I just finnished listening to the first audio book by Jim Dale during work. It seems like he only has a few different voices/accents. I had some major problems with some of the major charactors.

Hermione-Jim Dale's portrayal made her sound retarted.
Dumbledore- Dale didn't make Dumbledore seem like the grandfatherly figure that he was supposed to be.
Harry, Ron, Neville-I had no problems here.
Mcgonnogal- The only problem with this character is that I never thought of her as Scottish. Other than that, Dale made her the strict but fair teacher that she is.
Firenze, Bane, Ronan- I thought of them as wise creatures that were always deep in thought. Dale's portrayal made me think of them as stupid horses with Scottish accents.
Snape, Hagrid-perfect

Any other thoughts? Are the British versions any better? Do the Jim Dale books get better as the series progresses?

I thought Jim Dale's Dumbledore was fine. And he does use a lot of different voices so it's easy to tell many of the kids and adults apart. However, Jim Dale's Hermione turns me into an ax murderer every time I hear it. I don't know anyone who doesn't hate his Hermione.

Stephen Fry doesn't do many voices at all, and it's hard to tell which kid is talking most of the time. And all his adult women sound the same. But he does a much better dramatic reading, conveying much more emotion and mood in the narrative. And his Hermione doesn't turn me violent.

I have not heard Jim Dale. I have only Stephen Fry's books and I am very happy with them. I think they are great and I noticed a lot of things I missed while reading. :)

I prefer reading the books, although I had to buy another copy of them to put up in my shelve since mine looked so old and tattered already from the carrying around people would have mistaken them for a copy of the Prince's Potions Book...

I listen to the audio books whenever I'm traveling, like to school or my weekly 4 hour journey to Limerick and 4 hour journey back home. Or on the plane, but I usually fall asleep there.

I prefer Stephen Fry, however. His voice fits the series better, like the actors, I'm very glad they didn't chose Americans, because it would destroy the old English feel of the series and the world Jo built.

I prefer Stephen Fry, however. His voice fits the series better, like the actors, I'm very glad they didn't chose Americans, because it would destroy the old English feel of the series and the world Jo built.

What?! :wow:

You mean you wouldn't want to hear Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon affect English accents for the roles of James and Sirius? Macauley Culkin as Draco? Miley Cyrus as Hermione? Tom Hanks as Arthur Weasley? Jack Nicholson as Mad-Eye? Rosie O'Donnell as Tonks? Dick Van **** as Aberforth?

I'm shocked. :rolleyes:

"****"? Oh, for heaven's sake! It's a proper name! Darn filtering software!

What?! :wow:

You mean you wouldn't want to hear Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon affect English accents for the roles of James and Sirius? Macauley Culkin as Draco? Miley Cyrus as Hermione? Tom Hanks as Arthur Weasley? Jack Nicholson as Mad-Eye? Rosie O'Donnell as Tonks? Dick Van **** as Aberforth?

I'm shocked. :rolleyes:

"****"? Oh, for heaven's sake! It's a proper name! Darn filtering software!

If you put it that way... the movies would have turned out so much better, or why not try Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, I still didn't recover from those two imitating English/ Irish accents :lol:

I prefer Stephen Fry, however. His voice fits the series better, like the actors, I'm very glad they didn't chose Americans, because it would destroy the old English feel of the series and the world Jo built.

Jim Dale (who reads the American copy) is a British stage and screen actor who has lived in America for some time.

There are no American voices reading Harry Potter and Jim Dale does a variety of accents. I can always tell who is speaking (of the top dozen or so characters) but I couldn't begin to tell you what region/city they represent.

I have Jim Dale's readings of HBP and DH on CD. I load them on my i-Pod for long trips.

"Voldemor" is a French-style pronunciation of the name (with the t silent), which in French actually means either "Theft of Death" or "Flight from Death". This always seemed quite appropriate to me.

Harry always goes with me on long trips. It sure does make the time pass quickly.

I got my sister "reading" Harry by playing them on the audio system of the car (I was driving, she was supposed to be sleeping). I gave her DH book 3 days after it came out, and she waited for two (2) months for our first car trip to listen to it instead (even though she still hasn't given me the book back :err:).

I adore the audio books; I have 5 and 7. I love to have them on road trips (as they run with the car and don't take up battery power) and my whole family HATES them. They always complain about having headaches (they're lying). But I love how into the books Jim Dale gets, and how even incidental characters have unique voices. The only one I'm not really fond of is Hermoine; it sounds forced sometimes. But he is a male trying to make a "normal" female voice, so I can understand. think it's just because she has so many lines, that you notice it more. However, I love McGonagall and Snape!

I have all the audio books ( except POA) read by Jim and I LOVE him but for some reason all the voices he does in Deathly Hallows sound totally different compared to the other books..his Mad Eye voice in this one really throws me off..anyone else notice that?

Since this thread is about the audiobooks, I have a question. Does anyone have part two of the Jim Dale interview from Mugglecast? The webpage (http://www.mugglenet.com/mugglecast/index.php?page=jimdale.php) for the interview has both parts linked. The first part works. The second link opens up iTunes and directs you to the Portus Preview podcast. None of those podcasts will download. My friend and I are both having problems. Does anyone have part two of the interview?

Oh, and I have an opinion about the audiobooks. I prefer Jim Dale over Stephen Fry. I heard a few samples from Stephen Fry's narration and they were not good at all, especially when he reads the "Weasly is Our King" part from Order of the Phoenix. I am in the minority here when I say that I have no problems with the way Jim Dale voices Hermione.

I've so far only heard the PS/SS on CD and I thought it was enjoyable. After mid-way through I began to read along with the CD and it made it even more enjoyable.

My first thread here, I hope this is the right forum.

If you go to this link: Click (http://www.thisishoop.com/work/271)

They have photos (I think they're photos and not digital art) of some special Audio Books of Philosopher's Stone and Chamber of Secrets. I was just wondering if anyone here has heard of these. Do they exist or are they just concept art? If they are real, where can they be purchased? Thanks in advance!

Have to say, I've never seen these or heard of them. Looks intriguing, but I imagine someone would have brought it up or mentioned it if these were released. I've never seen them, no matter what websites I've checked over the years. They look really cool; but I can't be of much help in finding them! :D

The only bit I've heard from Fry's narration is the "Weasley is our King" bit from OotP. It is ghastly. It's very, very bad. So, after hearing that, I decided to not listen to the audiobooks narrated by Fry.

If there is anything I would and a whole lot of folks out there would que up for is a Audio book featuring the voices of the principal movie cast... That would be solid and could sell as fast and as much as the actual books could ever sell... It brings together all fans from the movie fans and book fans...

As it where closing the circle of the entire saga...

Who's with me on this?

never heard the audio books but am thinking of buying them would like to try reading and listing at same time

The only bit I've heard from Fry's narration is the "Weasley is our King" bit from OotP. It is ghastly. It's very, very bad. So, after hearing that, I decided to not listen to the audiobooks narrated by Fry.
It's not ghastly. He's not going to sing it...
I think Stephen Fry is perfect to read them, personally. I don't think that you can judge him reading seven whole books on one small section, though

If there is anything I would and a whole lot of folks out there would que up for is a Audio book featuring the voices of the principal movie cast... That would be solid and could sell as fast and as much as the actual books could ever sell... It brings together all fans from the movie fans and book fans...I agree that it would be a great idea and fun to listen to. I'm not sure about selling as much as the books though :lol: A lot of people don't like audio books at all and I'm not sure a full cast recording would change their mind. I'd definitely buy it!

Not all actors can do audiobook narration successfully. Some tend to overact, and some forget to act and sound like they are reading a bedtime story in a singsong voice. Others sound stiff and stilted. Some tend to let their voices rise and fall in volume for dramatic effect, and it will drive you wild since it will either be too soft or too loud. And I'm talking about some well established actors making these mistakes.

It's not ghastly. He's not going to sing it...
Why wouldn't he sing it? It's sung in the book.

I don't think that you can judge him reading seven whole books on one small section, though
I was mistaken about that being the only part from the Fry narration that I have heard. I listened to the first chapter of PS/SS and I did not like his voices for the characters.

When I listened to snippets of the audio books on line I hated it. Last year a friend gave me the entire seven audio books narrated by Jim Dale and I loved them. There were a couple of voices I didn't care for, like Snape, but for the most part I loved the narration. As much as I love Dale I have heard that Fry's narration is even better. I may get at least one and compare.

As much as I love Dale I have heard that Fry's narration is even better. I may get at least one and compare.
Here's (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC_jFkL_zbc) a sample of Fry. Seek to 1:30.

Here's (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC_jFkL_zbc) a sample of Fry. Seek to 1:30.

Thank you JLTucker! I really enjoyed Fry's narration and judging by that clip would say he's better than Dale.

Judging by that clip I'd say I prefer Dale actually. Fry's not bad, but he sounds like his nose is stuffed up.

Judging by that clip I'd say I prefer Dale actually. Fry's not bad, but he sounds like his nose is stuffed up.

That settles it! I'll just have to have both sets then. :lol:

Thank you JLTucker! I really enjoyed Fry's narration and judging by that clip would say he's better than Dale.
Talk about a backfire. :lol: I was hoping you would dislike Fry after hearing the "Weasley is our king" bit.

never heard the audio books but am thinking of buying them would like to try reading and listing at same time
I had to listen to my audio book of SS in this manner. I attempted to purely listen to it, but as I used the audio book to replace my regular nighttime reading, I could not get comfortable. Also, as I read, I constantly recheck facts, sentences, etc. (especially with the Harry Potter books), so I found just listening to the audio book unbearable. By the second chapter I had retrieved my copy and read along with Jim Dale. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable experience to have the accompaniment of the audio.

I like Jim Dale's voices for Dobby and Snape.

Talk about a backfire. :lol: I was hoping you would dislike Fry after hearing the "Weasley is our king" bit.

After listening to Jim Dale sing it I liked Fry better. :lol: I guess I'll just have to listen to all the Dale CDs and then all the Fry CDs and do some comparison testing. I know! It's a tough job but somebody's gotta do it. :lol:

After listening to Jim Dale sing it I liked Fry better. :lol: I guess I'll just have to listen to all the Dale CDs and then all the Fry CDs and do some comparison testing. I know! It's a tough job but somebody's gotta do it. :lol:
Jim Dale's version of that song isn't good either, but at least he sings and sticks to the source material.

Thanks for posting the link to Fry. I have heard he is good and always wanted to get one of his.
After listening to it though I must say that I much prefer Dale.

I had to listen to my audio book of SS in this manner. I attempted to purely listen to it, but as I used the audio book to replace my regular nighttime reading, I could not get comfortable. Also, as I read, I constantly recheck facts, sentences, etc. (especially with the Harry Potter books), so I found just listening to the audio book unbearable. By the second chapter I had retrieved my copy and read along with Jim Dale. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable experience to have the accompaniment of the audio.

I did that for a while, but then one night I was just too tired to read, and ever since I don't need the book. I know the urge is there, but I like having someone else read to me while I lounge around with my eyes closed! :D

I've just started listening to my GoF tapes (yes, tapes) in my car since I'll be making an hour drive back and forth for the next few days for the holidays, and I really do enjoy them. I have CoS, PoA, and GoF on tape (Jim Dale versions) and I used to listen to them a bit but was never obsessed or anything.

Anyways, not a huge issue or anything, but Dale's "Winky" voice made me crack up in the car tonight! He reads the part describing her voice as a very high pitch, higher than Dobby's even, and then he speaks in her voice and it sounds like an old man who smokes heavily. I realize Dale is a man, but I just expected Winky's voice to be a little higher pitched, haha.

Why wouldn't he sing it? It's sung in the book.

Because he's not a singer. Things like that are usually sung by other people in audiobooks anyway.

Because he's not a singer.
That argument doesn't hold water. Fry won't narrate a book because he isn't a narrator. Wait! He eventually narrated for an audiobook! See what I did there? I also had no idea that one has to be a singer to sing a passage from a book. You know what? I am going to go even further by saying that I didn't know one had to be a singer to sing along with a song. The fact is that he didn't stick to the source material. I doubt he even sung the bit from HBP where the radio is playing at the Burrow.

Things like that are usually sung by other people in audiobooks anyway.
And this means that those narrating for audiobooks should follow this tradition? I can see doing that if the singing in a book is described as being beautiful, but the "Weasley is our King" was sung by many, many students. It's pretty obvious that it will not sound good.

JIm Dale can't sing for ****, if I go by his singing in the audiobooks. But he clearly followed the source material.

JLTucker, let's not lie, it's not a question of the type of singing etc. The point is that you will never convince a British person that Stephen Fry is worse than anyone at pretty much anything. It's just part of our national make-up. We are British ergo we love Stephen Fry.

Must agree on Frye, it's his versions that I have. I've heard the Dale version's and his voices are just downright awful in some places.

I too enjoy Stephen Fry. I listened to a bit of Dale and thought he was great. Then I listened to a bit of Fry and thought he was amazing, and to me, better than Dale. I really enjoy that way Fry read the Harry Potter books.

I just listened to that clip of Stephen Fry. Thanks for the clip, I always wanted to hear his version, to compare with Jim Dale. Now I know that I love Jim Dale's version the best!
I just finished book 7 again, I guess I'll have to start over with book 1 again!

just my preference...but i prefer Jim Dale!...i also prefer the music at the start lol

I did that for a while, but then one night I was just too tired to read, and ever since I don't need the book. I know the urge is there, but I like having someone else read to me while I lounge around with my eyes closed! :D
I could not do this without falling asleep! :lol:

Earlier this year I had to drive one of my cars back and forth on a series of two hour trips - a vehicle that only has a radio and a cassette player. My collection of cassettes is very slim now, though, so I thought I would have to depend on the radio until I remembered my first Harry Potter gift: the Sorcerer's Stone audiobook. I found I was able to listen to the audiobook while driving much more easily than simply sitting in a chair at home. At times I certainly wanted to rewind the tape to rehear a sentence, but I trained myself to simply continue to listen. It was an enjoyable experience that made my trips seem to go by much quicker, and I am now looking to purchase the rest of the series on cassettes for those long journeys in a car (it will save me quite a bit of money this way, and I do prefer cassettes over CDs).

My only problem now is that I have always recorded how many times I have read the series, but I now I have to include, "Oh, and I've listened to Sorcerer's Stone once." :lol:

I noticed while listening to the PoA audiobook narrated by Jim Dale that he pronounced Voldemort as "vole-duh-more". He stopped doing that in the later audiobooks.

I never thought that I would enjoy the audio books. I've always seemed to have a problem when being read to. It used to bore me when I was required to listen during school, the narrators always seem to read too slow. :grumble: A couple months ago, I decided to give DH a try and I simply fell in love with it! Jim Dale is simply wonderful.


I could not do this without falling asleep! :lol:

Earlier this year I had to drive one of my cars back and forth on a series of two hour trips - a vehicle that only has a radio and a cassette player. My collection of cassettes is very slim now, though, so I thought I would have to depend on the radio until I remembered my first Harry Potter gift: the Sorcerer's Stone audiobook. I found I was able to listen to the audiobook while driving much more easily than simply sitting in a chair at home. At times I certainly wanted to rewind the tape to rehear a sentence, but I trained myself to simply continue to listen. It was an enjoyable experience that made my trips seem to go by much quicker, and I am now looking to purchase the rest of the series on cassettes for those long journeys in a car (it will save me quite a bit of money this way, and I do prefer cassettes over CDs).

My only problem now is that I have always recorded how many times I have read the series, but I now I have to include, "Oh, and I've listened to Sorcerer's Stone once." :lol:

That's how I was the first time I listened to DH. It took me forever to finish the story. We went on a short trip to visit an uncle who was ill, I enjoyed listening to it very much so. I was able to concentrate on the story when watching trees go by. It also helped drone out the four screaming toddlers in the back. :tu:

I plan on purchasing HBP for the trip to go see the college I will be attending. Its a 9 hour drive, and I think it will do very well. :relax:

im currently listening to Jim Dales audio books at the minute, which i think are great! :tu: i have to admit though, i do fall asleep very quickly :lol: but it doesnt bother me, it just means the books are going to last longer than if i was reading them myself :lol:

however there are a few voices he does for the characters that i dont like...Dumbledores, Hermione's, and McGonagalls :(

What's wrong with their voices? :huh: I don't find anything wrong in the ways in which he portrays any of the characters. I got HBP in the mail a few days ago, and I haven't been able to get past Chapter five. I keep getting distracted and not paying attention to it. :err:

its not that i find something wrong with them, they just dont sound the way i picture the characters in my head :lol:

I've only listened to the Goblet of Fire audio book and I think it's incredible. Jim Dale has an amazing voice and incredible talent for making audio books, especially for the Harry Potter series. According to Guinness Book of World Records, he holds the record for "Most Voices by an Individual in an Audio Book;" 146! He shares the record with Stephen Fry, who records the UK version of the Harry Potter series.

I've only listened to the Goblet of Fire audio book and I think it's incredible. Jim Dale has an amazing voice and incredible talent for making audio books, especially for the Harry Potter series. According to Guinness Book of World Records, he holds the record for "Most Voices by an Individual in an Audio Book;" 146! He shares the record with Stephen Fry, who records the UK version of the Harry Potter series.
That's pretty cool! I guess it would be a Harry Potter reader who'd get that honor with so many characters in the books.
Though a lot of them sound very similar--there's not really a noticeable difference between some of the Weasley's and other random students, but still a neat stat!

I've only listened to the Goblet of Fire audio book and I think it's incredible. Jim Dale has an amazing voice and incredible talent for making audio books, especially for the Harry Potter series. According to Guinness Book of World Records, he holds the record for "Most Voices by an Individual in an Audio Book;" 146! He shares the record with Stephen Fry, who records the UK version of the Harry Potter series.

Wow, that is pretty amazing! Imagine having to. Do 146 ddifferent voices. :wow: I don't think I'd be able to do that. :cool:

I love the little difference they throw in simple for variety, like adding a lisp to some random student cause they have no other way of differentiating them. Another cool thing is, from my American point of view, is the simply massive variance in accents. I keep wondering if Frye is simply applying an accent based on vocabulary (i.e. Hagrid's) or if he simply made them up. Tonk's is the one I'm most interested in since the one word that seems to possibly give away her accent is her greeting (wotcher).

Originally Posted by lil_snuffles
I've only listened to the Goblet of Fire audio book and I think it's incredible. Jim Dale has an amazing voice and incredible talent for making audio books, especially for the Harry Potter series. According to Guinness Book of World Records, he holds the record for "Most Voices by an Individual in an Audio Book;" 146! He shares the record with Stephen Fry, who records the UK version of the Harry Potter series.

WOW:wow: 146 voices?? thats incredible!! :tu:

WOW:wow: 146 voices?? thats incredible!! :tu:

:agree: Its amazing. I want to listen to the rest of the audio books so bad. I've only listened to GoF so far and that was because in one of my classes back in high school, we had a sub for a week and she decided to put it on.

I think the audio books are quit useful to listen to when your double-tasking. Not to mention their dead fun!

:agree: Its amazing. I want to listen to the rest of the audio books so bad. I've only listened to GoF so far and that was because in one of my classes back in high school, we had a sub for a week and she decided to put it on.

ive listened to all of the Jim Dale versions, except Deathly Hallows! which i will be starting very soon!! :D;)

I love Stephen Fry's audio books. His voices for Dobby and Hagrid are exactly like their movie counterparts. Tonks and Susan Bones had voices that were noticeably atrocious.

I think the audio books are quit useful to listen to when your double-tasking. Not to mention their dead fun!

I do the night shift, they are a freakin' godsend.

I do the night shift, they are a freakin' godsend.

AMEN brutha!! :lol:

On another note i should really try and get hold of the Stephen Fry versions, to see how they compare :hmm:

I have the HBP and DH ones out from the library, but I have not listened to them yet.

My daughter's boyfriend was able to get a hold of a Stephen Fry version of SS for me(YAY!) and um, it's not bad but I much rather prefer Jim's version.

My daughter's boyfriend was able to get a hold of a Stephen Fry version of SS for me(YAY!) and um, it's not bad but I much rather prefer Jim's version.

i was able to get ahold of Fry's CoS, and didnt like it as much as Jims version myself! :)...but i don't know if it was because i had heard Jims version first, and therefore was more used to it, so prefered it :yuhup:

I have a question about the audiobooks but I'm not sure if anyone will know the answer. How comes the audiobooks available in Canada are the American versions (Jim Dale) and not the British ones (Stephen Fry)? The books in Canada are the British editions so I find it strange that the British audiobooks aren't sold here.

The Fry ones used to be available in Canada, but now only the Jim Dale ones are available. I think it probably has to with licensing, perhaps limited to the North American Continent. The licensing for the books is separate so the Canadian Raincoast books are the British version. I've taken advantage of that to acquire them so I can see the differences between the two versions.

You can actually order the British audiobooks via the UK Amazon website. You'll pay more shipping, but it is worth it if you want them bad enough. I've done that for several audiobooks that are unavailable in the US. Other British sellers of audiobooks will also ship to the US. ISIS doesn't even charge extra shipping costs.