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Post by Azerane on Jun 21, 2011 17:38:17 GMT 9.5
While looking for audio files from the movie I stumbled across an audio version of Watership Down. I thought it may have been a reading of the book, but it's not, it's quite close to the book (so far, although BigWig appears to be portrayed as quite a bit older) but it's completely new in terms of dialogue etc. Are other audio books like this? I'm new to audio books and have never listened to one before, but I was surprised when I came across this. The site is here: www.archive.org/details/Watership_DownIt appears you can listen to the whole thing online, I'm currently still only listening to the first part. But it's quite interesting. Another new way to experience the book!  Also, if you scroll down to the bottom of this page with search results for WD, there's a two part interview with Richard Adams, I've not listened to that yet. www.archive.org/search.php?query=watership%20down |
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Blackavar
Junior Member
The council were merciful!
Posts: 62
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Post by Blackavar on Jun 21, 2011 20:18:01 GMT 9.5
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Tima
New Member
Posts: 21
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Post by Tima on Jun 22, 2011 5:19:30 GMT 9.5
I have listened to a part of a Roy Dotrice audiobook read of Watership Down. The narrator did acting for the voices of the characters, and there was some background music and ambient sounds in various places. However, I quickly realised it was an abridged version; that was a letdown and I didn't bother listening to the rest of the book after that realization.
In fact, I'm not too fond of audiobooks at all. I've tried listening to Harry Potter audiobooks by Stephen Fry as well. They were unabridged reads of the books and didn't contain music or background noises. Anyway, I learned that it's irrelevant whether music is used or not, or even if it's an unabridged read that leaves nothing out; fact is that I simply prefer reading the books myself. I can proceed with my own reading pace which is more quick than listening to some guy reading out loud the book.
I even tried to listen to an audiobook chapter as an mp3 during a walk in the park to see if that'd be more enjoyable, but I learned I prefer listening to music better.
I have a friend with an eye problem, and she told me she prefers audiobooks rather than reading books on her own. Her eyesight is not good and it strains her eyes to squint at the tiny text. Audiobooks are a good and helpful alternative for people like her, but I'm just not very fond of them.
That read on archive.org seems pretty interesting though, the way it alters things everywhere. That would make it a more fresh and different kind of read, and I think I might actually have to listen to it for all the differences in the story.
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Post by Azerane on Jun 22, 2011 10:54:43 GMT 9.5
Blackavar, that unabridged version is 15 hours long... lol. In that regard, I understand exactly what Tima is talking about in that most people can read quicker than it would take to listen to an audio book.
This is the first audio book I've tried listening to , and while different at first, I am enjoying it. It is difficult to tell the characters apart, which for most things doesn't really matter. But on occasion you do wonder who is talking.
Alternatively, I know that when I read Watership Down, I am already imagining in my mind the way the characters sound, and so for someone else to be reading it and putting their own interpretation on how a character should sound, it can often be a little bit strange.
I think I got up to the 5th or 6th section of the story last night before going to bed, I obviously have way too much spare time on my hands. So I might finish it off today.
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