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37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
Stephen Fry is a genious
Most of these reviews concentrate on praise for J K Rowling, and as I agree with all that has been said, I won't add to them, but instead heap praise onto Stephen Fry. His narration is far and away the best that I have listened to over many years of enjoying audio books. Each and every character has their own distinctive and perfectly-judged voice, so that you know...
Published on 2 Mar 2007 by Elizabeth Trigg
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5 of 67 people found the following review helpful:
It was okay, but.....
It is okay, but the problem is there is only *ONE* GUY doing all the reading! What *I* want is a *DRAMATIZED* version, with all different people taking the parts, and different sound effects used, to make it more life like. (Also, the CD's are mono, not stereo, so it sounds even more flat). I sure wish they'd make a "drematized" version! ~Cindy!
Published on 30 Jun 2002
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37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
Stephen Fry is a genious, 2 Mar 2007
Most of these reviews concentrate on praise for J K Rowling, and as I agree with all that has been said, I won't add to them, but instead heap praise onto Stephen Fry. His narration is far and away the best that I have listened to over many years of enjoying audio books. Each and every character has their own distinctive and perfectly-judged voice, so that you know instantly who is speaking before the name is given. This makes it so much easier to simply enjoy the wonderful story without being distracted by confusion as to who is saying what, as so often happens with other narrators. I would probably never have bothered with Harry Potter if the unabridged Philosopher's Stone had not been broadcast on Boxing Day several years ago. We had a very long drive home after a family visit, and thought that this would wile away at least part of the journey. Part of it! We were completely enthralled all the way home, and then made a dash for the house, and frantically retuned the radio. We sat at the kitchen table until it was finished. We have bought all of the others as they came out, and they have all been great. I recommend listening to these stories whilst curled up on the sofa on a Winter's evening over any T.V program that I can think of.
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
Primus Inter Pares, 10 Jul 2001
Primus Inter Pares means "first among equals"--that describes Mr. Fry! Not many realize, I didn't know myself before I'd heard him reading Rowling's work, that Mr. Fry was a Hogwarts' lad. His inimitable style is positively magical.I live in the U.S. and the only Harry Potter CDs and cassette tapes available here are narrated by Jim Dale. Thus, most people here are not familiar with Fry's HP tapes. I don't like to insult Mr. Dale but his voice and manner of doing the characters made me shudder. He's not right for Harry Potter, at all! My husband agreed and we rushed the CD back to the store. After a little time and a lot of effort I learned I could only obtain Fry's versions of Harry Potter from the U.K. What a blessed day it was when finally Fry's tapes were delivered to my door. After listening to the first one, my husband asked me to order the other three Harry Potter audio sets by Fry, at once. I was only too thrilled to oblige. Now we listen to them all the time: when we first wake up and as we are falling to sleep at night. Stephen Fry combined with J.K. Rowling is an unrivaled treat. I prompt you to try them all! _Teri
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45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
Read by the ideal presenter, 14 Mar 2002
By A Customer
I hope this will qualify as focused upon content, as the content of the audiobook is more than the story being told. American audiobook customers are offered a competent but lackluster reading by someone calling himself Jim Dale (come now, is that Joe the stockroom boy, or what?). His pronunciation is acceptable and his apprehension of the story sufficient, but his voicing of a not-short narrative provides no interest of its own and begins to drag down the proceedings. UK fans are blessed with direct access to what amounts to a brilliant performance in Stephen Fry's reading of Harry Potter's first four adventures. Any other performance this striking, with distinct characterizations and pace-conscious narration, would be likely to distract from the story. But Stephen Fry must be every bit the magician Harry Potter is, because he brings subtle detail and wild dynamism to every paragraph, and inhabits the story like a dragon inhabits his scales. It's a feat of alchemy equal to anything in the books. If I had to go down to the bank and change my dollars for Euros I would have this audiobook collection by overseas shipment. My wife, the family's true Harry Potter fanatic, opines that Stephen Fry would have been ideal in the motion picture series in the role of Hagrid, the animal lover. When Hagrid regards the baby dragon he says, "he knows his mummy," and when Stephen Fry reads the line, I'm inclined to agree with her. When a job calls for whimsy and gravitas in equal measure, Fry has no equal.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Absolutely Fantastic!, 25 Nov 2001
By A Customer
This is the best read story tape I have ever listened to! Stephen Fry is the most beautiful reader one can possibly imagine hearing. Over this side of the Atlantic, we get Jim Dale, and he is just simply not very good.Stephen Fry really does put you into the scenes and makes the whole idea of the Harry Potter world believeable and realistic. If you live in America, do not hesitate for one moment to go out and get the Stephen Fry version. You won't be sorry!
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38 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
Six Stars!, 10 Jul 2001
Teaming the peerless talent of Stephen Fry with the genius of J.K. Rowling was a masterful stroke. The two together make for one powerfully magical time. He's perfect for reading Harry Potter! I love the character voices he does--they are so natural, so real, you forget you're listening to a narrator. Sometimes when you read a book, you get so lost in the story you forget you're reading. That is how I feel when I read J.K. Rowling and it's how I feel when I listen to Stephen Fry. His voice is so classy! I love to hear him do Draco Malfoy's drawling tone and Dumbledore's wise and gentle intonation. And, Hagrid--perfect!!!I have all four audios by Mr. Fry. My mom and dad love them more than I do--and that's a lot! I listen to them when I'm on my bike or when I'm traveling in the car. I also listen to them every night before I go to bed. I also like the fact that I learn all kinds of details that I didn't notice when I read the books, which I read more than once, believe me! The people in the U.K. are lucky because in the U.S. all we have is Jim Dale. His voice is so yucky! I hated to hear him ruin the characters. It doesn't sound at all like I think they should sound. My dad talked to our local bookstores and had to send to England for the Stephen Fry tapes. I was happy, indeed, to finally get them. Whew! Thank you, Mr. Fry and Ms. Rowling!!!!!
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18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
CD Magic!!!, 19 April 2001
By A Customer
Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone read by Stephen Fry is the best CD book I have ever listened to. I am sure most people will agree that J.K. Rowling is a genius at writing the Harry Potter books, which over the last few years have become an international phenomenon. Now, with a lot of help from Stephen Fry they have put together a magnificent masterpiece, they have put it all on to CDs. I really don't think they could of chosen anyone better to read Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone than Stephen Fry. I am not the slightest bit surprised that he won a Talkie award for his reading of it. I would recommend this CD book to anyone.Ashley Bickerstaff (Age 10)
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16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
Simply brilliant, 4 Aug 2003
By A Customer
A long time after watching the movies, I finally decided to listen to the books. Having a lot of spare time in the car meant that the Audio CD's would be the best way to read the books, and Stephen Fry has done this proud. I felt the Philosophers Stone movie was rushed but to read/listen to the unabridged book was brilliant. Stephen Fry's voices and energy bring the book to life.
I was so impressed I have just bought the Chamber of Secrets, and The Prisoner of Azkaban. I'll start saving for the other 2.
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16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
The book, 5 stars, Fry's fantastic reading, 6 stars., 18 Mar 2002
By A Customer
Being an adult, and having never read a Harry Potter book, I was sceptical. I hoped that the book would have done enough to enchant me, but Fry's reading brings the book to life. It was more than a great book; it was a superb audio theatrical production.
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17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
A great book brought to life on tape, 20 Feb 2002
By A Customer
I really like audio books; they are a great way to really get into a story. You can listen to your favorite books over and over again. They really let you analyze a story. This is exactly what this set of tapes does for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.I think there are few people these days who haven't read the book, but listening to it is very different. We all know Stephen Fry as Melchett from "Blackadder", but his talents don't end there. He brings Harry's world to life beautifully in this. He does all the different voices really, really well. He does Hagrid espeacially well, just the way I'd immagined it. Stephen Fry was a very good choice. As for the story, as most people know already, it's brilliant, really exciting and funny. Take my advice, if you haven't already read it (or listened to it) you reeeeeeeaaaaaaallllllly should! This is well worth buying.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
Better than chocolate frogs!, 25 Jun 2001
By A Customer
One of the best stories ever written. Read expertly by Stephen Fry. A magical story that is suitable for the whole family. Thanks Jo!
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