|
Post by grinch on Sept 9, 2021 23:00:52 GMT
Mega Monster (2021)
Read by David Walliams alongside Steve Pemberton, Jim Broadbent, Samantha Bond, Frances de la Tour and many others!
I don’t know Audible were the first to pioneer full cast readings for audiobooks but I certainly think the format has proven to be a success. And much like a lot of Walliams’s’ work I think it’s very entertaining although the Dahl influences seem a lot more overt this time around.
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Sept 11, 2021 23:04:58 GMT
E.F. Benson’s Ghost Stories
Specially selected and read by Mark Gatiss. I must admit this was my first exposure to the works of E.F. Benson (Have read more M.R. James personally) but I thought these collection of stories made for a terrific introduction.
And what excellent stories they are. ‘The Room in the Tower’ and ‘Caterpillars’ were especially terrifying.
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Sept 19, 2021 23:38:07 GMT
One Hundred and One Dalmatians (Dodie Smith)
Read by the master of audiobook narration himself; Martin Jarvis. It’s interesting how despite Cruella Deville being very much the face of the franchise Disney created when adapting this work, in the original book it is very much the dog’s story. In fact, she hardly appears in it all!
Still, found it very enjoyable and I’ll be sure to check out what I’ve heard is it’s truly mental sequel sometime down the line.
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Sept 20, 2021 23:22:49 GMT
The Cats of Salisbury Road (Tom Slemen)
Read by Nicholas Patrella. In which the writer of the Haunted Liverpool books turns his hand to comedy. At least I think it was the same bloke.
Patrella makes for a decent narrator making sure to give all the many and varied characters distinct voices. The New Yorker cockroach was particularly memorable. I do find it rather amusing though that for a story set in Liverpool there isn’t even an attempt at a Scouse accent.
Honestly wouldn’t mind seeing more stories with these characters as it is pitifully short and did end rather unexpectedly. Still, best keep them wanting more eh Slemen?
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Sept 23, 2021 18:44:55 GMT
The Phantom Lollipop Man (Pamela Butchart)
Read by Susan Calman. After listening to this, it’s clear why she was chosen to own a few new stories for The Secret Seven.
She really captures fully the voice of a child and to be honest I think the double meaning of the book’s title is nothing short of brilliant.
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Sept 28, 2021 16:28:58 GMT
Tall Tales for Little People (Tom Slemen)
Read by Ethan Ahlin.
Has nice tales in it but I do find it interesting how Slemen’s own fictional tales are completely indistinguishable from the supposedly true stories that have made him famous. In very, very small circles I might add.
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Oct 3, 2021 13:10:26 GMT
The Detective Dog (Julia Donaldson)
Always interesting to see what Mrs Donaldson produced post The Gruffalo.
|
|
|
Post by elkawho on Oct 3, 2021 15:16:48 GMT
The Girl With the Louding Voice (Abi Dare)
What a fascinating book about a part of the world I know nothing about. It's hard to believe this story is happing in 2014 and not 1960 or earlier. The narrator does a remarkable job of characterization. Excellent.
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Oct 4, 2021 8:30:18 GMT
Mary Poppins Comes Back (P.L. Travers)
Read by Olivia Colman.
A change of reader this time around. I must admit I really think I’m beginning to fall in love with this series. It’s just so imaginative and charming that it’s hard not to. And Olivia Colman makes for a superb reader.
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Oct 7, 2021 7:36:23 GMT
The Curse of the Gloamglozer (Paul Stewart/Chris Riddell)
Read by Alex Jennings. Finally, managed to get my hands on the audiobook of this first chronological instalment in the Edge Chronicles. Still just as good as I remember it and looking back it sets up so many plot threads and ideas that would become so significant later on.
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Oct 10, 2021 23:41:35 GMT
Bad Dad (David Walliams)
Read by Peter Serafinowicz and Sarah Alexander. It’s a fun little crime caper and I have to give Serafinowicz his dues for voicing most of the male characters and making them all seem distinct from one another.
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Oct 16, 2021 22:36:36 GMT
A Bear Called Paddington (Michael Bond)
Read by Stephen Fry this time around. It’s strange, although I do like his take on all the other characters I’m too keen on his performance of Paddington himself. In that department, I greatly prefer Bernard Cribbins.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2021 22:43:35 GMT
A Bear Called Paddington (Michael Bond) Read by Stephen Fry this time around. It’s strange, although I do like his take on all the other characters I’m too keen on his performance of Paddington himself. In that department, I greatly prefer Bernard Cribbins. As an 80s kid, it's Michael Hordern's narration of the TV shorts that are Paddington to me. The music, Michael''s voice, Bond''s stories - it's truly the best of British. www.youtube.com/watch?v=mClA14WQFu8
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Oct 17, 2021 11:40:16 GMT
A Bear Called Paddington (Michael Bond) Read by Stephen Fry this time around. It’s strange, although I do like his take on all the other characters I’m too keen on his performance of Paddington himself. In that department, I greatly prefer Bernard Cribbins. As an 80s kid, it's Michael Hordern's narration of the TV shorts that are Paddington to me. The music, Michael''s voice, Bond''s stories - it's truly the best of British. www.youtube.com/watch?v=mClA14WQFu8Oh, naturally Michael Horden is uncontested in the role. I do think Bernard Cribbins comes a close second though.
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Oct 22, 2021 21:05:39 GMT
Haunted Liverpool 23 (Tom Slemen)
Read by Nigel Peevers. A lot better than any audiobook like this has really any right to be. I get the sense a lot of work was put into this and Peevers makes for a brilliant reader. Definitely one of the best I’ve ever heard.
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Oct 25, 2021 22:23:52 GMT
The Beast of Buckingham Palace (David Walliams)
A drastic change of setting from Walliam’s usual and I think it makes for a breath of fresh air myself. The cast are all great especially Joanna Lumley and Andy Serkis who makes for a truly loathsome figure in the character of the Lord Protector.
I must admit it is weird hearing the voice of Horrid Henry play a well behaved and virtuous child though.
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Oct 27, 2021 22:57:34 GMT
The World’s Worst Teachers (David Walliams)
Read by the likes of Jan Ravens, Helen McCory (RIP) and Jon Culshaw among many others.
I do like the separate short stories approach but I have to say, for someone who has been regarded as the “obvious” successor to Dahl he does rely far too heavily on gross out humour for my liking.
But then again, what do I know?
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Oct 29, 2021 19:05:33 GMT
Mary Poppins Opens the Door (P.L. Travers)
Read by Olivia Colman. It’s very strange how there is such a note of finality in this one yet several stories were still released after this.
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Oct 30, 2021 16:02:15 GMT
Groosham Grange (Anthony Horowitz)
Read by Nikolas Grace. Remember desperately wanting to read this back in Primary School but I never got the chance.
It’s quite funny in places and I do think it’s rather a shame this only got one sequel. I suspect the sudden popularity of the Harry Potter put the nail into the coffin when it came to further stories for the students of Groosham Grange.
|
|
|
Post by grinch on Nov 4, 2021 21:05:27 GMT
Haunted Liverpool 32 (Tom Slemen)
Read by Nigel Peevers. The latest instalment of the Haunted Liverpool series. At least on audiobook. Has some truly terrifying stories in this and made me look over my shoulder a few times when I was walking alone at night.
|
|