The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart

The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart by Mathias Malzieu

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I enjoy listening to Jim Dale's renditions of classic tales and new novels. Hunting through CDs available through my library system, I discovered a new book: The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart. I clicked to read more...Scotland, orphaned youngster, clockpart heart, adult book on cd. Interesting. Maybe this book has a steampunk twist? Did they shelve it incorrectly in the system? The book involves a baby turned young man. It could possibly be a young adult novel. Beyond the brief overview, I discovered the author is a French musician. It should be an intriguing read.


It was a very memoriable book. Malzieu wrote about the journey of love - its triumphs, its heartaches, its regrets. He also flavored his tale with revenge. The story begins with a newborn Jack. The clock gave him life when he was born on the coldest day on earth. (His cuck-coo clock was not a steampunk addition to his body.) Jack's life changed forever upon seeing Miss Acacia when he was ten. The young man grew up, discovered hate and love. Jack journeyed through his life searching for love, trying to overcome his strange wooden heart. The book was cataloged correctly, it is an adult novel. It's a haunting tale that includes a hero (if you can call him a hero).


Jim Dale read the complete story with Scottish brogue. He did is so well that I forgot it was Jim Dale reading the story.


Audio Book Details...
The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart by Mathias Malzieu
Read by Jim Dale
Produced by Blackstone Audio Inc.
Number of Discs: 5
Total Time: 5 hours


The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart: A Novel at Amazon (Affiliate)

Peter Pan

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie


Are you familiar with the flying little boy who never grew up? It's a play. It's a movie. It's a book! I would recommend this title to anyone who never wished to grow up.


Narrator Jim Dale returns to read another classic tale. I did expect to hear him break into Disney songs, but that never happened while I listened. I did follow the Disney storyline and stage storyline throughout the book version. Of course, none of the three versions are the same, so it's an interesting listen.



Side notes about Peter Pan --

-- Jim Dale received a Grammy Award Nomination in 2007 for his audiobook.

-- The royalties from sale of this audiobook benefit the Great Ormond Street Hospital for children located in London.

-- J. M. Barrie's inspiration for Peter Pan came from the Llewelyn Davies family.

Reviewed from a library copy.


Audio Book Details...
Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
Read by Jim Dale
Produced by Listening Library
Number of Discs: 5
Total Time: 5 hours, 14 minutes

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll


Ready for the magic of living in dreams? Take a journey with Lewis Carroll's Alice. Alice journeys to places only dreamed about by little boys and girls around the world. Can you imagine growing so large you tower over the world or shrinking so small you nearly disappear? It's a wonderful adventure of imagination. I would encourage you to take the trip.

Many narrators voiced this work of art over the years. I selected Jim Dale's rendition of Alice. He's a talented stage, screen and voice actor. It's a pleasure to listen to his soothing British accent. He cleverly creates voices for each character in the book. On a Disney note, I kept waiting for Mr. Dale to burst into song. He share Carroll's poems, stories and a ditty or two, but never a mainstream song that so many of us know by heart. Thank you for a great classic rendition, Mr. Dale.


Reading with My Ears also reviewed an audiobook of Alice in Wonderland.

Reviewed from a library copy.

 Audio Book Details...
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Read by Jim Dale
Produced by Listening Library
Number of Discs: 3
Total Time: 2 hours, 57 minutes