Comments on: Complete set of Harry Potter audiobooks at Amazon.com http://aldoblog.com/2008/01/complete-set-of-harry-potter-audiobooks-at-amazoncom/ Michael Alderete’s Weblog Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:00:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: shelladawn http://aldoblog.com/2008/01/complete-set-of-harry-potter-audiobooks-at-amazoncom/#comment-20776 shelladawn Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:20:57 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/2008/01/complete-set-of-harry-potter-audiobooks-at-amazoncom/#comment-20776 I have listened to all seven HP books read by Jim Dale and Stephen Fry. I've had the Jim Dale version for a while and couldn't wait to listen to the Stephen Fry version. I was very disappointed. Don't get me wrong, Fry is good, but in my opionion, he doesn't come close to Jim Dale. With Dale you know whose voice your hearing without being told, but not with Fry. It seems that Dale is acting, but Fry is just reading. Again, Fry is OK, but he sounds the same as ten other talented British narrators I've heard. Dale is one in a million! I have listened to all seven HP books read by Jim Dale and Stephen Fry. I’ve had the Jim Dale version for a while and couldn’t wait to listen to the Stephen Fry version. I was very disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, Fry is good, but in my opionion, he doesn’t come close to Jim Dale. With Dale you know whose voice your hearing without being told, but not with Fry. It seems that Dale is acting, but Fry is just reading. Again, Fry is OK, but he sounds the same as ten other talented British narrators I’ve heard. Dale is one in a million!

]]> By: jensenly http://aldoblog.com/2008/01/complete-set-of-harry-potter-audiobooks-at-amazoncom/#comment-20775 jensenly Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:47:10 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/2008/01/complete-set-of-harry-potter-audiobooks-at-amazoncom/#comment-20775 I managed to get my hands on three of the Jim Fry audiobooks while I was in Ireland this last April (COS, GOF and DH). They were terribly expensive and even more so since the US dollar is at an all-time low against the Euro ( I just decided to bite the bullet - who knows when the opportunity will arise, again?). I have managed to listen to the COS audiobook and I must say Stephen Fry is, indeed, as amazing as I had heard. While I also aprreciate Dale's reading, I think Fry has a slight edge. Can't quite pinpoint why I like Fry more, but maybe after listening to the other two audiobooks, I'll have a better idea. I agree with you Michael, I think Fry is a bit more understated. I am particulary anxious to listen to DH with so many characters making an appearance. I'll check back later... I managed to get my hands on three of the Jim Fry audiobooks while I was in Ireland this last April (COS, GOF and DH). They were terribly expensive and even more so since the US dollar is at an all-time low against the Euro ( I just decided to bite the bullet – who knows when the opportunity will arise, again?).

I have managed to listen to the COS audiobook and I must say Stephen Fry is, indeed, as amazing as I had heard. While I also aprreciate Dale’s reading, I think Fry has a slight edge. Can’t quite pinpoint why I like Fry more, but maybe after listening to the other two audiobooks, I’ll have a better idea. I agree with you Michael, I think Fry is a bit more understated. I am particulary anxious to listen to DH with so many characters making an appearance.

I’ll check back later…

]]> By: Alderete http://aldoblog.com/2008/01/complete-set-of-harry-potter-audiobooks-at-amazoncom/#comment-20665 Alderete Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:23:12 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/2008/01/complete-set-of-harry-potter-audiobooks-at-amazoncom/#comment-20665 @Mark Gibson: I could not agree more that Stephen Fry deserves more than the 15 minutes I've given him. I'm a *huge* "Stephen Fry":http://www.stephenfry.com/ fan, and I'm quite certain I'll enjoy his performance, once I get to hear it. But as you point out, it's ridiculously expensive to get access to the complete set of Fry-narrated books. It's not just that the set is $275+, but the Fry performances are _impossible_ to get in the U.S. So it's Amazon.co.uk, and the big shipping charge that'll come with it. So I'm waiting for the deluxe sets, so I only have to buy them (both Fry and Dale) once. (And don't get me started on the children's vs. adult's editions of the Fry performances -- the artwork on each is amazing, and wildly different. I want both!) @Mark Gibson: I could not agree more that Stephen Fry deserves more than the 15 minutes I’ve given him. I’m a huge Stephen Fry fan, and I’m quite certain I’ll enjoy his performance, once I get to hear it.

But as you point out, it’s ridiculously expensive to get access to the complete set of Fry-narrated books. It’s not just that the set is $275+, but the Fry performances are impossible to get in the U.S. So it’s Amazon.co.uk, and the big shipping charge that’ll come with it. So I’m waiting for the deluxe sets, so I only have to buy them (both Fry and Dale) once. (And don’t get me started on the children’s vs. adult’s editions of the Fry performances — the artwork on each is amazing, and wildly different. I want both!)

]]> By: Mark Gibson http://aldoblog.com/2008/01/complete-set-of-harry-potter-audiobooks-at-amazoncom/#comment-20664 Mark Gibson Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:53:58 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/2008/01/complete-set-of-harry-potter-audiobooks-at-amazoncom/#comment-20664 Just came across the above discussion and was suprised to hear that a different narrator had been used for the American version. Retrospectively maybe I should not have been as the comments mad by Alderete seemed most sensible. My only bone of contention was that of the comments made about Stephen Fry's narration which to my mind, is absolutely brilliant. Hence the many audiobook awards he has been given. Please US readers, give him every chance as 15 minutes does not give him the respect he deserves. Having said all that, I will have to listen to Jim Dale's narration now. This is going to cost a fortune! Just came across the above discussion and was suprised to hear that a different narrator had been used for the American version. Retrospectively maybe I should not have been as the comments mad by Alderete seemed most sensible.

My only bone of contention was that of the comments made about Stephen Fry’s narration which to my mind, is absolutely brilliant. Hence the many audiobook awards he has been given. Please US readers, give him every chance as 15 minutes does not give him the respect he deserves.

Having said all that, I will have to listen to Jim Dale’s narration now. This is going to cost a fortune!

]]> By: Jensenly http://aldoblog.com/2008/01/complete-set-of-harry-potter-audiobooks-at-amazoncom/#comment-20645 Jensenly Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:02:22 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/2008/01/complete-set-of-harry-potter-audiobooks-at-amazoncom/#comment-20645 Very much looking forward to your review of both box sets somewhere down the line...... Very much looking forward to your review of both box sets somewhere down the line……

]]> By: Alderete http://aldoblog.com/2008/01/complete-set-of-harry-potter-audiobooks-at-amazoncom/#comment-20644 Alderete Sun, 23 Mar 2008 23:57:50 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/2008/01/complete-set-of-harry-potter-audiobooks-at-amazoncom/#comment-20644 @Jensenly: It seems like it's not unusual (and perhaps common) for audiobooks to have one narrator for the recording released in the US and a different one in the UK. I suspect it has to do with accents; what is pleasing or understandable to the British ear may not be so to an American. There are also definitely textual differences, at least in the Harry Potter novels, but they're mostly trivial. But they necessitate extra time in the recording studio, additional pre- and post-production effort, etc. I imagine at that point doing an entirely different performance isn't as huge a deal as it might seem, especially if there are different aesthetic goals for each. I have listened to only the first 15 minutes of the Stephen Fry performance of HP #1, so it's very hard for me to judge his qualities as a narrator for the series. Fry's performance seemed more understated than the Jim Dale recordings, which I love. While I very often prefer the more subtle sensibilities of British vs American actors, in the case of the fantastical and whimsical Harry Potter books, I suspect that Jim Dale's more energetic narration will be my preference. I plan to purchase complete box sets of both the Dale and Fry performances, though, and will give them a complete review once I've listened to them thoroughly (which means it'll be a year or two before this gets done). @Jensenly: It seems like it’s not unusual (and perhaps common) for audiobooks to have one narrator for the recording released in the US and a different one in the UK. I suspect it has to do with accents; what is pleasing or understandable to the British ear may not be so to an American.

There are also definitely textual differences, at least in the Harry Potter novels, but they’re mostly trivial. But they necessitate extra time in the recording studio, additional pre- and post-production effort, etc. I imagine at that point doing an entirely different performance isn’t as huge a deal as it might seem, especially if there are different aesthetic goals for each.

I have listened to only the first 15 minutes of the Stephen Fry performance of HP #1, so it’s very hard for me to judge his qualities as a narrator for the series. Fry’s performance seemed more understated than the Jim Dale recordings, which I love. While I very often prefer the more subtle sensibilities of British vs American actors, in the case of the fantastical and whimsical Harry Potter books, I suspect that Jim Dale’s more energetic narration will be my preference.

I plan to purchase complete box sets of both the Dale and Fry performances, though, and will give them a complete review once I’ve listened to them thoroughly (which means it’ll be a year or two before this gets done).

]]> By: Jensenly http://aldoblog.com/2008/01/complete-set-of-harry-potter-audiobooks-at-amazoncom/#comment-20635 Jensenly Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:05:23 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/2008/01/complete-set-of-harry-potter-audiobooks-at-amazoncom/#comment-20635 Do you know why there are two different narrators for the Potter series? Jim Dale does the US audiobooks and Stephen Fry does the UK versions. I have heard that it might possibly be due to the textual differences between the UK and US editions, but the differences are so slight it doesn't make sense. Also, where there are differences, couldn't the same narrator just read it twice and have it edited for whichever country? This has perplexed me from day one, as I have heard Stephen Fry does an amazing read and it's a shame we don't have access to him here in the States. Any information, insight ,or guesses as to what the deal is? Thanks - Do you know why there are two different narrators for the Potter series? Jim Dale does the US audiobooks and Stephen Fry does the UK versions. I have heard that it might possibly be due to the textual differences between the UK and US editions, but the differences are so slight it doesn’t make sense. Also, where there are differences, couldn’t the same narrator just read it twice and have it edited for whichever country?

This has perplexed me from day one, as I have heard Stephen Fry does an amazing read and it’s a shame we don’t have access to him here in the States. Any information, insight ,or guesses as to what the deal is? Thanks –

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