RotE Audio Books

[Valarya]

It also took me a while to get my head around her English accent, as well as some of the overall pronunciations from both ladies eg Trehaugh pronounced 'Tre-horg' whereas I think of it as 'Tree-harg' ,

Interesting.. I have always said it 'treh-HOG' which is just the americanized version of 'tre-HORG' as the DH audio-reader pronounces it. I rather liked her.

these beings lack the patience to go through audio books. they take far more time than reading them does.

I completely agree with you there 'thul beings, however I find that sometimes I can get two books down at once with audio. I can plug one up in my car and listen to it whilst driving, and then of course the 'main' book I inhale tends to be print (ebook, pdf, paperback, etc). Also, I always READ a book first before listening - so the audiobooks become a sort of entertainment for me during my drive to and from work rather than an unfolding of a story (as I've already read it).

Sometimes, however, I'll get irritated at the pacing.. but most often it's just a pleasant thing that makes me forget traffic. If I ever find my mind drifting, I'll pause the audiobook so I don't miss any.

...the huge problem for me with an audio book is that there's no time to sit and think, and ponder, and turn back, or scribble a little note in the margin or on the inside back cover (should you have any room left there, of course...which I don't).

Oh my god you write in your books!? I could never......... this actually was just so shocking to me I choked as if you'd burned one.

Really, the only audio books I'd like to listen to would be the Harry Potter series. As I understand it, Stephen Fry does an excellent job and turns his voice rather wonderfully to the various characters. That's my main worry, I think, the voices.

Stephen Fry reads the British release of the Harry Potter audiobooks... but I can tell you, the guy who does the American audiobooks, Jim Dale, is equally as British and one of the most brilliant voice-doers you will ever hear. He has won awards and I tell you, when he makes Hermione (or anyone) speak, you know who it is. He's just brilliant. The most wonderful audiobooks I've ever had the pleasure of listening to, though I haven't done many.

Actually I found it quite difficult even listening to Robin do readings, as she reads with her American accent.

I've found that Authors tend to be horrible at reading, which is hilariously ironic, hahah. Some authors like to do their own audiobooks and it's just terrible. Just terrible. Only author I think is good at reading would be Neil Gaiman.

and the pronunciation of some of the names eg Chalced and Chalcedians grates like serrated knives against my knuckles.

Do we have a pronunciation thread around here anywhere? I'd be interested to see how other people pronounce some of my favorite names in literature!!

Myself being American, as Robin herself is, I probably pronounce them close to how she would. As to the comment about reading certain characters in different voices in your head... that's impossible to me. Everyone in my head has an attitude, and a personality.. but all very American. Maybe some will sneer or drawl more, but typically I'm just reading fast and taking in the actual CHARACTER and not worrying about a voice. For some reason ( ) Fitz with an American accent fits perfectly for me. Haha

there are still no audio versions of the Tawny Man series as yet

I have a friend who has done the entire series out so far (all 12 books) via Audio because he never reads. So there most definitely are Tawny Audiobooks available. If they aren't on audible.com or any other audio book online store, there's probably a Library of Congress version (for the blind). I'll ask him.