CoSForums Archive - Harry Potter Audio Books

Mistress of Magic

December 19th, 2002, 9:14 pm

Well did any one? I have it with me now, and when I have some complants. They have one guy doing all the voices and it don't sounds right. When I heard Winky talk, I hought she would have a high voice, but instead, it sounds like the natarrator has a soar throat. I have others but there are too many to write. By the way, I heard Darco talk, I stated crackin' up:D I laughed soooooo hard, I try to imagine what it would be in real life but he didn't look or sound right, I was crackin' it was soooooooo funny:elaugh: I was rolling on the floor:rotfl: Well, email me and tell me what the 411 is.

Mr Ollivander 382

December 19th, 2002, 10:12 pm

which one do you have .... ?
I have the 4 books on cassettes by Stephen Fry , the British version .
and he sounds very very good to me .
he realy did a good job with Dumbledore and draco , and Winky did have a high voice .
but I don't know about the American guy , I haven't heared him .

Mistress of Magic

December 19th, 2002, 10:16 pm

Its the american one, its HORRIBLE!!!!!!!

Cat

December 19th, 2002, 11:07 pm

Stephen Fry's rendering of Hermione is quite comical. But the voices shouldn't matter, you're only listening to the one voice (whoever it may be) after all.

Mr Ollivander 382

December 19th, 2002, 11:18 pm

actually I liked the way Stephen Fry did Hermione's voice in PoA when she was so tired and almost cracking up from over studying ..... :)

and his Lupin and black voices were realy good .

Mickey

December 20th, 2002, 4:18 am

I've got the version with Jim Dale on CD. Quite good, IMO. I can now identify the characters by the voice he uses, rather than the words.

Would it have been better if they actually had different people for all the voices? Probably, but it also would have cost a heck of a lot more to make. :) I'm happy; it beats listening to commercial radio while in the car.

Stellar Ray

December 20th, 2002, 11:57 pm

I was thinking about buying the cassettes, but then I saw how many tapes there were for GoF. :wow: I figure it would be better if I just read the book instead. But the cassettes sounds funny though.:)

Dobby

December 21st, 2002, 3:44 am

My friend borrowed one and she said it was really slow. She said she was like 5 chapters ahead of them when she was reading.

LoOLoO

December 21st, 2002, 7:11 pm

Yea I have all 4 of them with Jim Dale, i think he did a good job.. Im american and all so the british accent always makes me laugh... i think its the cutest thing i ever heard in my life.... i like the way he seems to get so into what hes doin and now when ever i read the books (i make it a habbit to read at least one of them at least once a week) i always have his voice reading the words to me... i just dont like how he sometimes messes up the character whos speaking but, hey, hes human.:o

Emma

December 21st, 2002, 10:49 pm

I have the Jim Dale tapes. I think that they are good. After all he is reading the books alone. I like them.

I heart Sirius

December 22nd, 2002, 6:04 am

I got the tapes from the library so i dun remember who did the voice. But oi it did just kind of drag on. Er, i know book 4 is long but listening to it for 20 hours (not straight of course ^^;;) just drags it on a lot!!

Mistress of Magic

December 22nd, 2002, 1:54 pm

Man, I could do a better job I mean I an imitate the voices of the way the actors say it really good, I mean REALLY good, I just don't say it in a different voice, now that was crappy!

dobbygirl

December 24th, 2002, 9:27 pm

I have books 1,2 and 4 on cassette (Sam's Club didn't have 3 when I wanted to buy them :grumble: ). Jim Dale is the narrator and I think he does a fine job. My only complaint is for Winky and Dobby. I always imagined their voices higher. But Dobby's voice isn't very high in the movie either. They're great to listen to in the car.

Aoife Diggle

December 28th, 2002, 12:46 am

I wanted to get some of the tapes today, I love Stephen Fry and I have heard him read some of the books already on tv. Only problem is they are really REALLY expensive, â‚¬80 for GOF and â‚¬35 for PS, I didnt look at the rest as I only had a few euro on me!

houseelf

December 31st, 2002, 4:34 am

I have the first two on tape and the other two on CD and I think they're great! I think they're read by Steven Fry.:tu: He has different voices for every character. He even keeps the accent whenever Vicktor Krum is talking and when people are eating he makes chewing noises.:bite:

Sabrina

January 3rd, 2003, 7:37 am

i`ve basicly memorized them allllllllllllllllll...........lol..how shallow,eh?no offense!:sorry:

Sabrina

January 3rd, 2003, 7:38 am

i`ve basicly memorized them allllllllllllllllll...........lol..how shallow,eh?no offense!:sorry: and i own them...

dumbleedore

January 3rd, 2003, 10:36 am

I want to get them on CD so I can listen to them as I drive, but it could be distracting...

hermiones mum

February 13th, 2003, 11:05 pm

Are there more than two versions. I know that Jim Dale has the US franchise and Stephen Fry the UK. I prefer Jim Dale.

After seeing the film of the book I tend to merge the two together in my mind picking up the best bits.

the audio books should be an excellent version of someone reading the story to you - so of course it will take longer to read though.. even they pause for effect.

Don't doubt the impact of audio remember what War of the worlds did when it was broadcast over the radio!

crookshanks76

February 13th, 2003, 11:31 pm

Welcome to books on tape. :td: Once upon a time I tried books on tape and I thought it stunk to high heaven. :banghead: So I totally understand your frustration. You'd think they could do better for the price an unabridged version will cost you. Needless to say I stick with the books now.

houseelf

February 14th, 2003, 5:47 am

Originally posted by hermiones mum (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=171142#post171142))
the audio books should be an excellent version of someone reading the story to you - so of course it will take longer to read though.. even they pause for effect.
but when you read it by yourself you have to stop when your eyes get sore.

roz

February 14th, 2003, 9:48 am

I have both the Jim Dale and the Stephen Fry readings on tape. I love audio books in general so it was obivous I was going to get the Harry ones. I got the Jim Dale ones first because I was living in the US at the time. Then I heard some extracts of Stephen Fry and I had to get those too. I like the Jim Dale recordings but I much prefer the Stephen Fry ones.

Roz.

nimbus2006

February 17th, 2003, 9:34 pm

I've never listened to a book on audio tape.. Is it worth it to buy them all?

Vanilla Coke

February 17th, 2003, 10:46 pm

I have the Jim Dale version. It's ok, but Snape's voice changed in the third one. I don't like winky's voice at all. If I could change anything about the recordings, I would have a woman doing the female voices, Jim Dale just sounds funny doing the women's voices!

Starseyer

February 19th, 2003, 6:55 pm

My best friend has COS and GOF on tape. (I got him COS for Christmas :-)). We listened to GOF over a few days and I loved it. I'd already read the book (probably twice) but I love the tape. Especially the "flesh bone and blood" and "priori incantatum" chapters. The whole thing just made my mouth go dry and my hands shake -- even more than when I read the book. And I love the part where Harry's and Voldemort's wands connect and those people come out of Voldemort's wand (including Harry's parents) and help Harry get away. This is easily my favorite scene in the first four books.
http://pages.prodigy.net/fammagallon/hp/heart_james.gif

Animagi Girl

February 21st, 2003, 1:32 am

I have the Jim Dale tapes from the library. I think that they're quite good!

FRED ASTAIRE

February 21st, 2003, 2:11 am

I have ALL of them (I have also pre-ordered # 5) on tape! I did not like it at first! It sounded blah and boring! but I have gotten used to it!

I listen to it morning, noon and night; while eating, on the computer, taking a bath (hehe) washing my hair and most of all diving; especially if my mum comes with me IN that car, eheh! I can't live with out my tapes, they are getting very old thought, ehehhe!

Reeta

March 6th, 2003, 10:22 pm

I got a spam email the other night about Listening Library not using Jim Dale for book 5. Has anybody else heard about this?

I don't know how many people on this forum listen to Harry Potter, but I think he's great!

I wrote to Listen Library (part of Random House) and told them I thought they've done a great job and hope they don't change a thing for Book 5.

Maybe if enough people wrote to them, they might change their mind.

http://www.randomhouse.com/audio/listeninglibrary/aboutus.html

scroll down to find their email link.

Reeta

March 6th, 2003, 10:30 pm

How many of you have listened to HP on tape?

Have you listened to the the American version with Jim Dale

or the British Version with Stephen Fry...

Which did you prefer?

Hermoine

March 6th, 2003, 10:55 pm

Edit by Rotsie: Post removed for violating forum policies on piracy and file sharing.

Reeta

March 6th, 2003, 11:06 pm

Dedalus: Mr Fry and Mr. Dale give VERY different performances! I've got Stephen's book 2 and he is very much the reader, while Jim's version is much more annimated, the voices are very different. I wish I knew where there was a sample reading that I could post a link..

Hermoine

March 6th, 2003, 11:11 pm

Edit by Rotsie: Post removed for violating forum policies on piracy and file sharing.

Sat0shi

March 6th, 2003, 11:15 pm

I want Stephen Fry reading ours!!! Jim Dales good and all...but STEPHEN FRY!!!!

~~sat~~

HarryPottersfan

March 6th, 2003, 11:17 pm

Who the heck is Jim Dale? Never heard of the guy. I'm assuming he's a guy, correct? :rolleyes:

Dedalus

March 7th, 2003, 12:04 am

Originally posted by HarryPottersfan (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=203139#post203139))
Who the heck is Jim Dale? Never heard of the guy. I'm assuming he's a guy, correct? :rolleyes:

He's most famous for the Carry On films, but he's been in a fair few films, tv series and hosted some of his own shows, too.

Tarawyn

March 7th, 2003, 1:14 am

As this is on media and the books - sort of, anyway - I'll move this to Muggle Media (thanks, Qeomash). If anyone sees a better place for it, you're welcome to move it.

If it was a "spam e-mail," I'd look around for more confirmation. I don't follow the audio, but spam usually doesn't have too much truth in it. Well, some of it does, but it's usually distorted.

rotsiepots

March 7th, 2003, 1:15 am

Hermoine, please ensure that you familiarise yourself with the forum rules (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1801) before posting any threads which may have inappropriate content. For reference, CoS Forums has very strict guidelines pertaining to the discussion and advocation of file sharing activities. The forum rules state the following:

7. CoS Forums does not encourage members to openly discuss file sharing activities. Whilst we understand that file sharing is a fact of life and will be continued by a lot of people, we will not allow members to openly support this activity publicly. Any threads which discuss, request or encourage downloading of illegal material such as the HP Movies or MP3s will be deleted by staff. This will be followed by a cautionary Private Message from our staff advising [[username]] to refrain from posting such threads. They are supported by the forum rules and CoS Forums disclaimer, which justifies our right to remove such threads.

I'm happy for the discussion in this thread to continue, however, I do not wish to see any more members advocating or even discussing downloading the Harry Potter talking books.

----------
Edit: I've merged this topic with an existing thread about the pros and cons of listening to GoF on cassette. Please use this thread to discuss all aspects of the Harry Potter talking books. Some things you may want to consider:

Do the readers give each character justice? What do you think of Stephen Fry and Jim Dale's attempts at the female voice?
Are the books more "accesible" on cassette/CD? Do you find the story easier to focus on?
How long do you anticipate the talking books for OotP will be? Would you rather listen to OotP or read it?
Are the prices justified? OotP is going to be over $300 on CD, what do you think of this?

Please don't restrict yourself to these questions and feel free to debate or query any aspects of the talking books.

Happy posting. :)
----------

Catgirl

February 29th, 2004, 11:48 am

I know that these are very simular to the actual books. The version I have is complete and unabridged, which makes for about two days worth of Harry Potter.

I just wanted to know what people thought of the audio books. As there must be different versions in different countries, what's your version like and who reads it?

The one I've got is read by Stephen Fry. I know a lot of people praise him for it, but I don't like his reading of Harry Potter. i think it's to bland. He doesn't put any emotion into it. His posh voice gets on my nerves a bit too. I don't like the way he pronounces Malfoy.

I have all five audio books. As I have M.E. I often don't have the energy to read, so I've bought quite a few audio books lately. I've not listened to them all yet. I'm part way through Goblet of Fire.

Cat

February 29th, 2004, 3:27 pm

I also have the Stephen Fry versions. Well, no, that's a lie, my sister has them.

I think he's great! He is quite posh but it doesn't bother me (except the way he says 'broom' like 'brum' grates on me for some reason). His Voldemort is probably the worst aspect - he has a fairly deep voice and when he makes it higher it sounds quite comical. Voldemort sounds like he might be a train spotter.

I'm not really interested in audio books, though. I get distracted when I have to sit an listen to anything for too long. It would be alright if it was being played in the car. There's not much else you can do in a car.

freyasd

February 29th, 2004, 4:29 pm

I have the audio tapes by Jim Dale and I like them quite a bit. I listen to them in the car on the way to work, and they really make the 17 miles I drive go by quickly. I hardly notice the traffic! I am amazed that this one guy can do all the different voices like he does. Some voices are really good. His Harry is like his own voice, but younger. His McGonagall is great. Draco and Lucius Malfoy have just the right condescending drawl in their voices. The only voice I really didn't like was Aunt Marge. He made her sound quite drunk in that dinner scene (but I guess she was, wasn't she?). All in all, I really like these tapes.

GryffindorGr

February 29th, 2004, 4:46 pm

The Jim Dale ones are nice :)

I like listening to audio books when I'm cleaning or doing something I dont like to do. lol. I never really pay much attention to audio books in the car because I like music better. Although it's cool in traffic jams.

Dedalus

March 1st, 2004, 12:27 am

I have the ones read by Stephen Fry, except I don't yet have the Order of the Phoenix.

I love them! It's fun because you can listen and do other things, so if you can't sit still (like me) then you can pace the room and do other things, while listening intently at the same time. And he's a fantastic reader, does the voices very well and adds new excitement to scenes I'd read many times, so that it seems like reading a new book.

I don't think he's a bland reader. I think he's the opposite. I've listened to audio books where the readers do read in a very dull way, or worse in a sing-song way like they're trying to get the line out quickly so it's starts high, ends deep. But he isn't, he's a consistantly level reader, keeping you in all the time. And I like his voice, too :)

Muggle Tiff

March 1st, 2004, 6:23 pm

I have a couple of the American ones, narrated by Jim Dale. I haven't heard Fry's version, although I did see him hosting the BAFTA's and thought he was quite funny.

Dale is fine as a narrator, but it does seem as if he's reading more directly to children than to a general audience. I get the feeling like I'm sitting on the library floor, Indian-style, being read to by the librarian. I guess when I read in my head I am reading on my own level...and it is with the influence of the films, so that probably makes a difference, too. Overall I like them, but I still prefer to read straight from the book. However with my daily drive, it will be nice to listen to them in the car (whenever I remember to take them with me.)

Nys

April 9th, 2004, 5:19 am

We've just recentally bought all 5 audio CD's as my Mum is going to use them for her school kids, and it can be claimed on tax, but its still an awful lot of money to pay for the books. I mean it was about $750 AUD which is a fair amount of money for 80 odd CD's. I've just started to listen to them... but am liking them so far.

Dedalus

April 9th, 2004, 12:06 pm

Wow, because of merging repeat thread I look like I've replied the post 3 times, one time straight after the other, even :D

Nys

April 9th, 2004, 12:45 pm

I was wondering about that :)

Dedalus

April 9th, 2004, 1:24 pm

Yes, I was thrown by it, too, for a second. Wondered if my memory was going. I think I'd better go and delete a few of them, so I've just got the first one showing.
EDIT> Deleted them, so now I don't look insane :D

Erm... back on topic.

rayna k

April 10th, 2004, 6:12 am

the OotP by Jim Dale was really weird i thought. i mean, he did an EXCELLENT job. but i prefer to read it myself. that way i can hear the actual character speaking which just has more of an effect on me. for example, since i saw the movies, when i read hermione's parts i hear emma watson's voice.. and when i read ron's i hear rupert's.. ect. i just like it better that way.

Nys

April 11th, 2004, 9:20 am

yeah, I wanted them so that I could listen to them and maybe pick up on something that i missed in the books, don't quite know when i'm going to find the time though....

dog star

June 8th, 2004, 7:29 pm

It's not so much Jim Dale's female voices that bother me as his "apologetic" voice, which just sounds whiny, and his Luna Lovegood is WAY too deep and sort of scary. I don't understand why they needed to have two different readers if they're both British, so it's not that they wanted to have an American accent for the American version. Hmm.

Katarzyna

June 8th, 2004, 7:38 pm

Well, I typed this all up on a thread that was closed, so I'm re-posting. Hope that's ok.

In answer to the question of whether anyone has the audio books, I answered:

I do, but I have the UK version read by Stephen Fry. They're wonderful! His reading is superb, and, imo, adds a lot of depth, and humor, to the story.

I am an audiobook fan--Ialso have the LotR audiobooks, read by Bob Inglis, (as well as The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, and the BBC dramatization!) and while they're quite good, the HP reading by Fry is better.

Although I do own the books now, my first reading was listening to the audiobooks, and it remains my primary method of reading. Not only because Fry's version is so brilliant, but because I usually read, by sight, three books at a time, and that's quite enough.

I think the audiobooks have left me with a slightly different impression than most people, who sight read the books, have. There was a thread a while back about the casting of Mad-Eye Moody. Most people who posted there seemed to picture Moody as thin and gnarly, were surprised that the actor playing him would be a bit burly. I'd been listening to Fry's version of Moody, and had pictured a burlier man all along, and thought the casting was spot-on.

Similarly with Lupin--I've heard quite a few fans wanting Ewan McGregor or Jude Law to play Lupin, but after hearing how Fry read his voice, I couldn't picture those two at all. Thewlis was much closer to what I pictured... not exactly, mind, but closer than McGregor or Law.

I also think listening to the books creates a suspense one normally doesn't get when sight reading. Most fans I know read OotP in one day. I did not have that option, since the audio CDs went on for 28 hours. I mostly listen in my car, when I drive back and forth to work, and unfortunately had to turn the car off before I wanted to, so I could get to work on time. Having to wait to find out what was going to happen was a bit difficult, but really fun in a way. While listening to Goblet of Fire, I sat in the parking lot waiting until Dumbledore announced that Cedric Diggory was going to be the Hogwarts champion. I turned off the car and put in a 10 hour day at work, thinking that Harry hadn't been picked after all, wondering what he'd be doing on the sidelines. It was only when I was heading home that I found out a fourth name as pulled out of the Goblet. Heh, I might've actually mock-yelled at my car's CD player for playing such a trick on me!

Anyhow, the audio CDs are a bit pricy (the UK versions significantly more expensive than the US versions, at least in the US), but really worth it.

Edited to add: Order of the Phoenix came out at $300??? Wow! I bought mine for 52 British Pounds, and that included shipping to the US.

If the sixth book is that expensive when it comes out, I just may wait for the price to come down.

FATlady

June 8th, 2004, 8:55 pm

i started talkin about the tapes on another thread didnt notice this 1! Im a big fan of stenphen fry, he brings so much variety to the charcters. My mate has never read a book but avidly listens to the tapes. Ive lived off the books myself, but i found when i was doin art courseowk 4 hours and hours the tapes were really good- it made me want to keep goin bk to the courseowrk!

loony4moony

June 8th, 2004, 9:49 pm

Oooh, nice to see that there are some other audio-book nuts out there. I've got the Stephen Fry versions, and I'm addicted to them because like FATlady, I can do my art coursework and listen to them at the same time. It's so funny, because I can open a page of my sketchbook, look at a picture of a flower and say 'oh, yeah, that's the bit where they're all in the kitchen at Grimmauld place...'

I do also attempt to do other types of homework whilst listening, and I can inform you from experience that writing essays with PofA playing in the background is not easy...

I've got all five, and I especially like his reading of OOTP. I have to admit, his voice took some getting used to as it is quite 'posh', but once you are used to it it's completely non-intrusive; therefore you get all JK Rowling's genius, combined with Stephen Fry's genius, and a version of HP that allows you to do something else whilst indulging in it. Perfect!

He gets the dynamic and pace of the scenes just right, and it gets better and better throughout the series (for instance, in PS Hermione's voice is a bit squeaky and nasal- understandably as he's a bloke with a deep voice and she's an eleven-year-old girl- but by the time you get to OOTP her voice is fine). The emotional bits of the climaxes (like Harry's line 'I-don't-want-to-be-human!' and Lupin's 'he can't come back, Harry') are spot-on, which is astonishing as he is doing so many different characters.

I'd love to hear Jim Dale's interpretation sometime. If I ever go to America, I'll be sure to pick up some tapes.

Da_Chinkster

June 8th, 2004, 10:03 pm

I was thinking about getting audio books just for a change, but they're kinda expensive and I cant afford them

dog star

June 9th, 2004, 12:45 am

I was thinking about getting audio books just for a change, but they're kinda expensive and I cant afford them

Check them out at the library. That's what I'm doing. :) They're free that way. They pretty much stay checked out, but I just put them on hold and then when they come in, they call me.

jen15poms

June 9th, 2004, 3:17 am

I have PoA by Jim Dale and I think it's great! I enjoy listening to him act out all of the different characters' voices. It's highly entertaining.

Kat

July 29th, 2004, 12:49 pm

I'm an American spending the summer in London, so I've got the chance to buy UK editions of Harry Potter books and such (very exciting, although rather expensive, too). I don't have any of the audio versions of the books, and I was thinking of buying the UK edition of PS to take home with me.

If anyone has heard both versions of any of the audio books, which do you prefer -- American or British? Or, if you have only heard one and you want to vouch for it, go right ahead. None of my friends have the audio CDs and I haven't been able to find anything comparing the different versions, so I'm hoping I can get some help from you guys. :)

Mega

July 29th, 2004, 1:09 pm

I would love to buy the audio books but they are just too much! I reckon the UK version is best cause JK writes the books with an english accent in mind not American. There isn't a big difference but british slang will come across better.

nicolasa

July 29th, 2004, 1:15 pm

I have the audio book of SS. I would love to get the British version. These are British books, and you would be hearing everything the way it is suppose to be. Some of the words and slang are changed for the American versions. By getting the British version, you are hearing how the book was originally, before they made all the American changes. I hope your trip is going well. Have a blast!! :p

Kat

July 29th, 2004, 1:25 pm

i actually have the first 5 books in british paperback because i'm intrigued by the way the books were edited for america. everytime i come across a sweater/jumper or soccer/football difference in them, i get way more excited than should be normal. this is probably good enough reason for me to get one of the books in british audio while i'm here. it seems like PS is the best bet, since it's the first book...hmm.

i am very much enjoying myself here, especially whenever i walk into a bookstore and see a whole table filled with harry potter books and things. and i saw PoA at an IMAX theater, which was great fun! before the movie began they said the screen was 3 knight buses tall, or 6 hagrids tall. :)

Sturgis Podmore

July 29th, 2004, 2:41 pm

i have all of the british audio tapes and i couldnt listen to any other nations versions! Stephen Fry is i quote "the voice of Harry Potter"

Mundungus Fletc

July 29th, 2004, 2:41 pm

I can't help on the differences but Stephen Fry who reads for the British edition is absolutely brilliant for it. Prepare to be shocked by the cost.

Kat

July 29th, 2004, 2:55 pm

I can't help on the differences but Stephen Fry who reads for the British edition is absolutely brilliant for it. Prepare to be shocked by the cost.

mm, yes. i already know it's going to put me out a small fortune. otherwise i'd buy more than just one! :)

stupid dollar is so weak against the pound!

thanks so far for everyone's input...before i posted this thread i was merely toying with the idea of buying one of the volumes on CD, and now that i'm getting confirmation that Fry is wonderful, i can't wait to get off work and buy it. eeeeeeeee!

Aseldar

July 29th, 2004, 3:01 pm

I have Jim Dale's audio cds, and I love them. :)

Albusdaughter

July 29th, 2004, 3:02 pm

Why not try and see if you can listen to a sample on the UK version of iTunes or an equivalent? Even if you decide to buy a physical CD version rather than download it might give you an idea.

Alternatively, a lot of big music shops in the UK will let you listen to CDs in store before you buy. You could see if they have the title you want in stock and ask. - The worst they can do is say no!

I have PoA (12 hours) and OotP (22 hours) as read by Stephen Fry so far and love them, I have them on my iPod for long train journeys! I am saving up for the others but it takes a while!

Enjoy your trip

Kat

July 29th, 2004, 3:08 pm

Why not try and see if you can listen to a sample on the UK version of iTunes or an equivalent? Even if you decide to buy a physical CD version rather than download it might give you an idea.

Alternatively, a lot of big music shops in the UK will let you listen to CDs in store before you buy. You could see if they have the title you want in stock and ask. - The worst they can do is say no!

i wish i had the resources available to download and listen to sample tracks while i'm here...the problem is that the computers i do have access to either a) won't let me download, b) don't have sound or c) just plain don't work well enough. (the computer i'm on right now, actually, is stuck in 16 colors, so i can't even see the colors of the forums!)

i'm not sure if i've seen audio books in HMV or Virgin Megastore. i might have to look harder.

thanks!!

Albusdaughter

July 29th, 2004, 3:11 pm

i wish i had the resources available to download and listen to sample tracks while i'm here...the problem is that the computers i do have access to either a) won't let me download, b) don't have sound or c) just plain don't work well enough. (the computer i'm on right now, actually, is stuck in 16 colors, so i can't even see the colors of the forums!)

Ah well, can't be helped!

i'm not sure if i've seen audio books in HMV or Virgin Megastore. i might have to look harder.

They're probably only in stock in the really big branches. Should be available on Oxford Street or similar.

Kat

July 29th, 2004, 3:15 pm

They're probably only in stock in the really big branches. Should be available on Oxford Street or similar.
i JUST found out about the gigantic HMV on Oxford Street, and am definitely going there. can't wait to check it out!

toryvic

July 29th, 2004, 3:36 pm

If HMV or Virgin Megastore doesn't stock the audio books (it's mostly bookshops that do) I'm pretty certain that MVC does stock them and also has a listening facility instore. Enjoy your stay in London!!

Stephen Fry has got a wonderful voice, and can do the accents and wotnot very well indeed, I can't understand the 'supposed to be in an English accent' argument though.

Jim Dale (of Carry On fame) is English as well, so really the argument is only out of who has the better voice, and Fry wins hands down as far as I'm concerned!!

Kat

July 29th, 2004, 4:06 pm

If HMV or Virgin Megastore doesn't stock the audio books (it's mostly bookshops that do) I'm pretty certain that MVC does stock them and also has a listening facility instore. Enjoy your stay in London!!

oooh...thanks for mentioning MVC! i looked at their store locator, and it seems that the closest one to me happens to be right down the street from where i'm working right now. i know where i'm going after work!

thanks a bunch!!!

Selyr Black

July 29th, 2004, 4:30 pm

i am very much enjoying myself here, especially whenever i walk into a bookstore and see a whole table filled with harry potter books and things. and i saw PoA at an IMAX theater, which was great fun! before the movie began they said the screen was 3 knight buses tall, or 6 hagrids tall. :)

Oh, well that's cool. Enjoy your holiday! Bring me back something! Please? >chuckles<

Anyhow, I'd say it's up to you. You could get teh Brisith Audio book if that's the one you want, but always remember; you sometimes only get once chance to do something.

So, if it's the only chance you get to buy the british audio book, go for it. Remember, you can buy the american one any time you want here in the states.

rotsiepots

July 30th, 2004, 2:43 am

Waterstones definitely stocks the talking books and they're everywhere in London. The largest is in Piccadilly, but you can't go far without walking into one. :D

I'm also merging this with an existing thread discussing the audio books.

OmarGama

July 30th, 2004, 3:14 am

Ms Weasley

July 30th, 2004, 5:54 am

I own GoF read by Stephen Fry and I absolutely love it. I really wanted to buy OotP but couldn't afford it. Heck, what am I saying, I couldn't even afford GoF. Thank heavens for creditcards.
I know that inAustralia they're not sold in cd-stores, but only in the main bookstores. I found mine after hours of searching bookstores at a Dymocks superstore.

deathfairy87

July 30th, 2004, 6:20 am

I'm thinking about buying the books on casstte, or cd would be even better. Does anyone know who the best narrator is?

Ms Weasley

July 30th, 2004, 6:52 am

I'd say Stephen Fry, but people are slightly divided on the issue. I forgot to check your location, but it looks like the Stephen Fry version is also more expensive and harder to come by in the US.
If you're in Europe it would be more widely available.

Stephen Fry has won several awards for his renditions of the books, and I'd say he earned them fair and square.

Albusdaughter

July 30th, 2004, 8:38 am

nicolasa

July 30th, 2004, 8:53 pm

it seems like PS is the best bet, since it's the first book...hmm.

i am very much enjoying myself here, especially whenever i walk into a bookstore and see a whole table filled with harry potter books and things. and i saw PoA at an IMAX theater, which was great fun! before the movie began they said the screen was 3 knight buses tall, or 6 hagrids tall.

I was thinking PS is best more because of the whole Philosopher's Stone/Sorcerer's Stone difference, not just the fact it is the first. If you want something Harry Potter but British, it is right in the title. I am SOOO jealous :sad: , it sounds like you are having such a blast! :p Keep enjoying your visit, and take tons of pictures, trust me. :D

house elf 13

August 10th, 2004, 6:40 am

I enjoy the Jim Dale tapes. Sure, sometimes the voices are silly. However, having read Sorcerer's Stone aloud, and now reading it aloud again (because we don't have that tape set), I'm impressed that he's able to keep from becoming monotonous over time.

I'm a very fast reader so even when I try to slow down, I can miss things. When I hear books aloud, I think about them in a different way. I'm also a visual learner, not an auditory learner. I'd probably have to take notes if I were hearing a book for the first time, rather than hearing it after I've read it. I also like to flip back to check my ideas against what I've already written. Listening to a book is too linear for me. However, my partner has a very hard time reading without getting distracted and annoyed, so it's either read aloud or get audiobooks if I want to share literature that I enjoy. We're finishing Sorcerer's Stone now, then we'll listen to the CDs of Harlan Ellison reading Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea. Then we'll probably listen to The Order of the Phoenix, which we both actually read when it came out, but we want to be strategic about it. It's 27 hours long, which means we can travel across more than 1/3 of the US while listening to it!

Nobody's mentioned the tape vs. CD issue. I'd rather get the CDs, but I find audiobooks on CD really frustrating because you can't forward or reverse them, only go to the nearest section break. This gets really tedious if you're not able to finish a section before stopping, or if you want to back up and hear something again. What's your experience with these two media?

Albusdaughter

August 10th, 2004, 12:51 pm

Nobody's mentioned the tape vs. CD issue. I'd rather get the CDs, but I find audiobooks on CD really frustrating because you can't forward or reverse them, only go to the nearest section break. This gets really tedious if you're not able to finish a section before stopping, or if you want to back up and hear something again. What's your experience with these two media?

Yes you can, you just press and hold the forward or back button and it will skip through the track. It will play a snatch of sound every second or so, so that you can tell how far you have got.

I vastly prefer CDs as I have ripped them onto my computer and downloaded them onto my iPod - not an option with a cassette! Plus if you fancy starting halfway through it is easier to skip to the bit you want rather than forwarding a cassette.

BTW Kat, I saw the collecters edition of Philosopher's Stone audio book on CD yesterday and it is GORGEOUS. Inside the silver cardboard cover the discs come in a black canvas book a bit like a small photo album and each envelope or page containing the disc has the tracks on it is silver and a lovely silver illustration embossed. The illustration then appears on each disc as appropriate, silver on black disc. The Sorting Hat, a flying key, the Mirror of Erised, a spellbook etc etc. Inside the front cover in silver it is 'autographed' by JKR and Stephen Fry. I don't know how much extra the collectors edition is over the ordinary one but it is a thing of beauty so is well worth a bit more if you can afford it.

I have just started listening to Philosopher's Stone, I have had OotP & PoA for a while and it is interesting how Stephen Fry has evolved the voices a bit. Harry and Ron have higher voices in this first one, which is appropriate I suppose as they are only 11.

Hermione's voice is really irritating, I have only got to the Sorting Hat chapter so I am hoping she will sound less irritating after the troll episode as she is supposed to be irritating to Ron and Harry and first and then becomes less so. If it works out like that I will bow to Stephen's acting talent and complain no more, but if she still sounds irritating it will spoil my enjoyment - she does not sound like that by PoA.

Nymph

August 10th, 2004, 1:48 pm

sometimes it doesn't sound right but it's fair enough. I'm a layzy personn so I can't complain someone is reading it for me. But my problem is more about some accent and intonation than about voices... it's difficult to have all the voices right but (I 'm talking about Dale's version here) when Hermione speaks it's always in a kind of wisper like " Haaarrrrry" I don't like that at all, and when I read it Harry sounds more sarcastic.. stuff like that.

Kat

August 10th, 2004, 2:02 pm

thanks for the input, everyone!

i decided to go with stephen fry's rendition of PS on CD, even though it cost me £26 (~$50 US!!). i just couldn't resist! plus, i had a crappy week and needed something uplifting. and it most certainly is -- i've been savoring the audio book, so i'm only on chapter 3 as yet, but it's wonderful. stephen does a great job, even though i have no comparison (however, i found out that my mom has SS on cassette back home, so i will get to compare the two narrating styles! yay!).

BTW Kat, I saw the collecters edition of Philosopher's Stone audio book on CD yesterday and it is GORGEOUS. Inside the silver cardboard cover the discs come in a black canvas book a bit like a small photo album and each envelope or page containing the disc has the tracks on it is silver and a lovely silver illustration embossed. The illustration then appears on each disc as appropriate, silver on black disc. The Sorting Hat, a flying key, the Mirror of Erised, a spellbook etc etc. Inside the front cover in silver it is 'autographed' by JKR and Stephen Fry. I don't know how much extra the collectors edition is over the ordinary one but it is a thing of beauty so is well worth a bit more if you can afford it.

i saw the collector's edition in the Waterstone's on Piccadilly, and it intrigued me a whole lot...but it was £50, and i just didn't feel right dropping that amount of cash on it. so i sighed and put it back on the shelf. it would definitely have been great to get it, though! oh well.

(just to mention to those who were helping me out earlier...i went to the only MVC in london and i didn't see any audio books. the ONLY audio book of PS on CD i found was in Borders on Oxford Street. i was gonna try Harrods, but they were closed on the day i went to go look, and i didn't think it'd be any cheaper than the one at Borders.)

michelle3654

August 20th, 2004, 3:22 am

After reading the books I listened to chapter 1 of GoF just to see what the audio books were like. I didn't like it at all.

DuFF

August 20th, 2004, 3:52 am

I seriously cannot stand Stephen Fry's renditions of Susan Bone's (member of the DA) and Tonk's voices. They are absolutely horrible! I understand that he needs to sort of make a unique voice for each character but I think he can do better than that. He gives Susan Bones this horrible lisp, like she's spitting on her "S's" and Tonk's voice is way to manly. Oh well, neither of them have too many lines.

ComicBookWorm

September 29th, 2004, 5:47 am

I'm really interested in hearing from people who have heard both versions and can say which one is better.

starutena

September 29th, 2004, 6:22 am

I have listened to all of Jim Dale's versions but only part of Stephen Fry's OotP and GoF. I have to say I really prefer Jim Dale. I found his reading to be much more in line with my personal vision of the books. In the spirit of full disclosure, I had listened to Jim Dale many many times prior to Stephen Fry, so I am probably biased by familiarity.

Lady Greyjoy

September 29th, 2004, 10:52 am

Based on the recomendations in this thread, I intend to rent the audio cd's from the library...with my luck, I'll get hooked on them and rake up astronomical library fees trying to extend my borrowing period. :)

I'll give my review of Jim Dale's version when I get them in a few weeks.

ComicBookWorm

September 29th, 2004, 11:00 am

Well I was going to buy them so I could have them. And I just priced Stephen Fry's version and it was so much higher than Jim Dale's version, that made up my mind. I'm getting Jim Dale's.

TheMagicHat

December 22nd, 2004, 2:55 am

Howler

December 31st, 2004, 1:23 am

Having read through this thread, I'm very interested in trying out the HP audio CDs myself. Can anyone point me in the direction of some good online sellers that would have either the US or UK version (or both) available for ordering?
I normally get my HP audio CDs (UK version) from Amazon.co.uk (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/1067060/ref=br_bx_1_c_2_0/202-4476074-7397422). I have always found them to be reliable and their goods come well packaged.

The US versions are available on Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/series/-/1/audioCD/unabridged/ref=pd_ser_bind/103-8561910-6556611).

I've only listened to Stephen Fry's readings (due to living in the UK!), and I think he does a fantastic job. I was lucky enough to get the Chamber of Secrets CDs as a Christmas present this year. :)

Miss ERB

December 31st, 2004, 1:39 am

I think I heard part of the British one once I started laughing when the narrator did Hermiones scream..

Of course I was maybe 10 at the time..not the most mature. I havent heard it since then.

PadfootLives_On

December 31st, 2004, 11:43 am

I own all 5 books on audio tapes, which are read by Jim Dale. I think he does a fantastic job and they basially make up the soundtrack of my life- I play them (almost) 24/7. YAY for Jim Dale, he really does an amazing job of it!

Zonko7

December 31st, 2004, 12:01 pm

Jim Dale's books on tape are fantastic. Whenever a new book comes out, we buy two copies of books, one for me and one for my wife, and we buy the book on tape too. Listening to Harry out by the pool is excellent.

huckleberry

January 1st, 2005, 5:13 am

Whats an audiobook??

starutena

January 2nd, 2005, 7:33 am

Whats an audiobook??

I'm going to answer, pretending that it is not obvious.

In short, its the book on tape or cd. In the case of Harry Potter, all five books are read unabridged- meaning no cuts. The US version is done wonderfully by Jim Dale. He does voices for all of the characters and really dramatizes the prose. I'm not too fond of Strephen Fry in the UK audio books, but he does a decent job.

I highly recommend going to your local library and loaning out a copy of all the audio books. You'd be surprised what you pick up while listening. There was loads of stuff I missed or forgot while reading. Of course that teaches me to not speed read like I usually do.

djjoshuacarl

February 1st, 2005, 6:40 pm

Man, i read the books of course... loved em
but I have a nice hour commute to the city...
what better way to kill time.
bought poa, gof & OOtp on cd

JIM DALE IS THE MAN!!!!! wow.... he is truly a pure talent.

http://www.jim-dale.com/

Snout

February 1st, 2005, 6:48 pm

Who is Jim Dale? Does he read the books on cassette in America? In England Steven (or Stephen?) Fry does them.

Pythia

February 1st, 2005, 7:02 pm

Who is Jim Dale? Does he read the books on cassette in America? In England Steven (or Stephen?) Fry does them.

Yeah have to echo you on this one - Who is Jim Dale?
Had a quick look at the link that was provided but was none the wiser even though it had a picture.
Seems that praise is due to the guy though as he won an award for the OotP audio book (I'm assuming America?)
Also interested to note that he had been awarded an MBE in the honours list so some British people must know him.

djjoshuacarl

February 1st, 2005, 7:12 pm

oh wow... i didnt even know there were different readers for the US.

Snout

February 1st, 2005, 7:26 pm

oh wow... i didnt even know there were different readers for the US.

So he does do the audio cassettes for the U.S.?

(By the way, i'm English and it doesn't say where Pythia is so what d'you mean by differnet readers in the U.S.?)

Yummy

February 1st, 2005, 7:29 pm

I'm in the states, but I have the Stephen Fry version, which I love. I've heard that the Jim Dale audiobooks are really great and that he does excellent voices for the characters. Stephen Fry doesn't really do voices as much, but he reads so well that I thought his were fantastic. I've got to listen to a Jim Dale version someday to check him out.

Snout

February 1st, 2005, 7:31 pm

Stephen Fry has a soothing voice and he reads excellently, his voice is the most brilliant voice to read the HP books, and i think he should play a Wizard in one of the movies because he is also a briliant actor :).

djjoshuacarl

February 1st, 2005, 7:35 pm

Its the voices that get me with dale.
esp in goblet of fire, you'd think there was 5 people readin at once.

Ill have to look into the other... Id be interested in hearing him.

By the way, Im in Boston, MA

and all the stores Ive seen all carry the Jim Dale Versions of the AudioBooks... :tu:

Pythia

February 1st, 2005, 7:42 pm

Hi I'm in England too which is probably why I don't know who the Mysterious Jim Dale is. Perhaps somebody who does know could tell us

By the way snout I agree with you about Stephen Fry, always been one of my favourite actors and I would love to see him in one of the movies - but that is a whole different thread.

By different readers I think djjoshuacarl means different versions of the audio books

djjoshuacarl

February 1st, 2005, 7:46 pm

I dont know if they work, but there are sound bytes on Jim Dales Site

Yummy

February 1st, 2005, 9:41 pm

I think Stephen Fry was interviewed about the HP books and asked if he wanted to be in the movies. I think (someone more resourceful could correct or support me on this), but he said that he had acting conflicts and could not participate in one of the movies at one point. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's something I remember. I'd love to see him in either of the next two. He'd be an asset, but what character? Wait - don't answer that - I'm going to start a new thread on this particular topic.

banyopp

February 1st, 2005, 10:27 pm

I just finished listening to GoF by Jim Dale and it was awesome. I think it is absolutely amazing that he, and any ausio book reader, can keep all the characters and their voices straight in their heads.

One thing that I thought was interesting was his pronunciation... He pronounces Voldemort - Voldemor...he does not say the t on the end. Alos he says Gryfffinder not GryffindOr.

All in all the CDs are a definate must buy for anyone who drives a lot.

djjoshuacarl

February 3rd, 2005, 2:55 pm

I also, this morning finished the last chapter of GOF on Cd...
I ordered OOtP Monday & should be gettin it anyday now!!!

VERY EXCITED!

they are very cheap on Ebay.... I paid 19.50 for the cd (it goes for 70.00 in the stores)
I dont care if its a duplicate (even though It says its not)

roz

February 3rd, 2005, 3:13 pm

I have both sets of audio books and I have to say that I prefer Stephen Fry's reading even if some of his pronuciations annoy me (malFOY instead of MALfoy). Jim Dale strikes me as being more condescending at it grates a bit.

For those of you who don't know who Jim Dale is he is the person who narrates most of the specials on the DVDs. He has been in lots of films. He is best known in the UK for being in the Carry On films (see http://www.carryonline.com/carry/jimdale.html).

By the way have you seen the Harry Potter Audio Books (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=3660) thread? It covers more or less the same topics as this one. It is always a good idea to search before you start a new thread. Duplicates get closed by the Admins.

Roz.