[December] What are you hearing?

[Mark CMG]

Got a copy of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens on audiobook format and, of course, there's a new Dragon's Landing podcast to download.

 

[Mycanid]

Have been listening to a version of the Narnia books released by "Focus on the Family Radio Theatre" ... thought it might be cheesy, but it actually turned out to be the best "performed" version I have yet come across! Immediately mp3'd and put on the mp3 player....

Have also been re-listening to the "Unabridged Hobbit" recording and am enjoying it quite a bit.

What do you think of the Great Expectations version, btw? I LOVE Dicken's books, but that one was one of the ones I least enjoyed. Sometimes a good performance of a book can make all the difference, though....

 

[Elf Witch]

I have been listening to a bunch of Dr Who audio's from Big Finish. Next I am going to start listening to the Dark Shadows and Sapphire and Steel from Big Finish.

 

[demiurge1138]

Not an audiobook, but The Two Towers: The Complete Recordings. Mmm... Howard Shore...

Demiurge out.

 

[Mark CMG]

What do you think of the Great Expectations version, btw? I LOVE Dicken's books, but that one was one of the ones I least enjoyed. Sometimes a good performance of a book can make all the difference, though....

As a book (years ago), I found it depressing. As an audiobook (30 years later), I am charmed by its humor and catch myself laughing out loud at the turns of phrase written by Dickens. How the narrator can manage to speak clearly with his tongue so firmly in cheek is a wonder.

 

[el-remmen]

Still Reading China Mieville's Iron Council

with occasional dips into Webslinger: Unauthorized Essays on your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-man

 

[el-remmen]

You know I totally misread the title of this thread as "reading". . .oops!

 

[Mark CMG]

Well, the ending is still depressing but ther's a lot more humor in Great Expectations than I remembered from young adulthood.

Time to start on two: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and, to give myself some breaks from that rather large undertaking, a true tale of survival (i love these) in the form of Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival by Dean King.

 

[Mycanid]

Well, the ending is still depressing but ther's a lot more humor in Great Expectations than I remembered from young adulthood.

Time to start on two: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and, to give myself some breaks from that rather large undertaking, a true tale of survival (i love these) in the form of Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival by Dean King.

Ooooo. Count of Monte Cristo would be a good one to listen to. I am still listening to The Hobbit, having interspersed my listening with other things and been unusually busy of late.

Off topic a bit Mark ... what is your favorite Dickens book? Mine was Bleak House, followed closely by Pickwick Papers. Especially with the latter I laughed so hard I found myself crying ... often.

 

[Mark CMG]

Ooooo. Count of Monte Cristo would be a good one to listen to.

I began to get bored by it and have set it aside for the moment. I'm sure it will grab me again later.

I am still listening to The Hobbit, having interspersed my listening with other things and been unusually busy of late.

I re-listened to that one earlier this year. I enjoyed it again, very much.

Off topic a bit Mark ... what is your favorite Dickens book? Mine was Bleak House, followed closely by Pickwick Papers. Especially with the latter I laughed so hard I found myself crying ... often.

I have not read/listened to either of those but will get the latter on your recommendation and have at it soon.

In the meantime, Skeletons of the Zahara was much as expected, a true tale of survival. If you like tales of life-gone-wrong and those who manage to overcome such, this should be one worth your time. I liked it and particularly because, as the book points out, it wasn't about explorers going off and getting themselves nearly killed, but rather about people doing thier jobs and then having to overcome hardships that would likely have destroyed most others in similar circumstance.

I also set aside Thud by Terry Pratchett long enough to pick up an audio version of his Going Postal. As always, funny, funny stuff.

Before I get back to Dumas, I have queued up A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson because I happened upon it and was told I'd get a chuckle from it. So far, so good.

Thanks for the Dickens Report. I am sure I won't be disappointed!