Age Level: Children
Format: Unabridged Book on CD
Reader: Jim Dale
Let me begin my review by saying that I am an avid listener to audio books. I unfortunately don’t get a lot of time to read novels, so when I am driving in my car I listen to novels. In a year, I will listen to 30 or 40 audio books.
However, no listening experience of any novel compares to the reading of Jim Dale of the Harry Potter series. It has been a complete delight to listen to these novels over the years as read by this very talented and gifted performer.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows completes this series and the reading by Jim Dale is again extraordinary. He has created a new voice for each and every character in the story. An immense achievement in reading, considering the hundreds of voices he has had to work with over the past years.
How do you review the story? It is as gripping as any other of the books. Revelations come fast and furious, especially on the later CD’s when the battle which we have been waiting for finally appears to be forthcoming. It is the type of story which makes you drive one more time around the block because you don’t want to turn the car off yet.
This is the most adult of the books in the series. Harry has some moments of childish indecision, but for the most part he is coming into his adult hood and his experiences are processed as an adult. Jim Dale reads his character with all the confusion and angst of the late teenage years but with an understanding of his characters.
The series is a true masterpiece of the audio book genre. If you have not experienced an audio book before, this series is the perfect introduction. If you have read the books, the audio books give you a whole new perception of the story. Can you tell I like them?
Reviewed by Rob Lesher
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