Love a Good Listen

An excellent audiobook needs a compelling storyline, interesting characters and a dynamic narrator. An audiobook reader makes the story come alive for the listener. Readers can also let the book fall flat and disappoint their audience. Every book is a new adventure!

I love a good listen. Discovering an adventurous reader is a great joy as an audiobook enthusiast. If you have been following Adolescent Audio Adventures for the last month, you might have seen a trend - a Jim Dale trend. Jim Dale is well-known for his renditions of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. But before he shared his narration talents, Jim Dale was a singer, a stage actor and a Disney star. He is a very talented man and I am thrilled to be able to listen to his voice. If you would like a glimpse of Jim Dale's career, stop by his website: www.jim-dale.com.

Do have a favorite audiobook narrator? Let me know! I would love to hear about the books and readers you enjoy.

The Emerald Atlas

The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Kate's mother entrusted Kate with her two younger siblings. Kate was four years old. Flash forward ten years where the three siblings are shipped off to yet another orphanage. The eldest, Kate, desires to keep her family together. Michael continues to explore the world of dwarfs through a book from his father. Emma, the youngest, picks a fight with, well, anyone who crosses her. Their goal as a family is to remain together until their parents find them.

Cambridge Falls is their new location. They meet the adults of the orphanage Miss Sallow, Abraham and Dr. Stanislaus Pym. They explore their new home and find a blank book with an emerald cover. By sticking an old photo in the pages they are transported through time: Cambridge Falls in the past. New and ancient characters come to play - the Countess, Screechers, the Secretary and creatures from the mountain.

Stephans creates a fabulous fantasy novel. It's reminiscent of Lord of the Rings trilogy with magic, creatures and the hunt for a prized possession. Other reviewers comment about elements similar to Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia. It was very compelling read. The next book cannot come soon enough.

Jim Dale returns to read this new trilogy. He's a solid reader for such a fantastical tale. I hope the publishers will continue using Dale for the next installments.

Audio Book Details...
The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
Series: Book 1, The Books of Beginning
Read by Jim Dale
Produced by Listening Library
Number of Discs: 10
Total Time: 11 hours, 38 minutes

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

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz


"Are there any small children in the room now? If so, it would be best if you just...hurried them off to bed. Because this is where things start to get, well...awesome. But in a horrible, bloody kind of way."

If you prefer not to read about blood, gore, fights and magic, I would pass this title up...well, maybe. I would have to agree with the quote, it is awesome. Awesome, as in the definition of awe. Gidwitz put the classic tales and gave them new twists, while maintaining the old feel of blood, guts and gore. The original tales are not pretty. The original tales were gathered from the German people at that time and the folklore was bloody. Life is not always happy ever afters and those original tales reflected that feeling of right and wrong, revenge and reward. If you enjoy a good fairytale, find a copy of A Tale Dark & Grimm. Gidwitz wove the tale of Hansel and Gretal, but he offers a couple more stories on his website at http://www.adamgidwitz.com/tales-dark-ne...

Johnny Heller returns to read! I previously heard him read Flawed Dogs and Al Capone Does My Shirts. I enjoy listening to him read. When I placed the first CD in the player, it felt like welcoming a friend back. Thanks for a great listen, Johnny.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Additional book review at Waking Brain Cells.

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 Audio Book Details...
A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
Read by Johnny Heller
Produced by Recorded Books
Number of Discs: 4
Total Time: 4 hours, 45 minutes

Drizzle

Drizzle by Kathleen Van Cleve

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


Polly Peabody's family runs an unusual rhubarb farm. How unusual? Chocolate rhubarb and giant bugs for starters. Beyond those, it rains every Monday at 1pm. But one day...the rain stops. The plants try to share what's wrong, but Polly can't comprehend what they are trying to communicate with no words and all action. Polly's life is shattering before her. Can she find the source of the missing rain? Will she be able to save her family's historic farm?


The title Drizzle captured my attention. The illustrator's depiction of the famous Umbrella ride looked very merry for the cover. The Peabody farm is a juice farm with a hint of magic. Van Cleve's tale isn't as merry as a carnival ride. It's growing up story. Polly is learning about self-reliance, courage, family, friends and bullies. She's discovering new views about the giant bugs and love for her aunt. I would recommend this story for any upper elementary/middle school student.


Maria Cabezas shares Polly's story very well. Her voice is very believable for the eleven year old character.

Reviewed from a library copy.


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 Audio Book Details...
Drizzle by Kathleen Van Cleve
Read by Maria Cabezas
Produced by Recorded Books
Number of Discs: 7
Total Time: 8 hours, 15 minutes

Boom! by Mark Haddon

Boom! by Mark Haddon


Boom! or 70,000 Light Years' original title was Gridzbi Spudvetch. Neither title was an eye-catcher for myself. Science Fiction is not a genre a seek out. Why seek this title out? A review about audiobooks caught my attention. They listed Boom! as a fantastic book on CD. I completely agree. If you enjoy Science Fiction or not, you'll enjoy this story. Mark Haddon takes two average students an weaves an unbelievable story that even the characters cannot believe. Charlie and Jimbo want to spy on their teachers in the staff lounge. They plant a walkie-talkie and find out more than they wanted. The hunt begins to discover the language their teachers use, which leads to greater discoveries and a missing persons case. Strap yourself in for an excellent adventure.

Reader Julian Rhind-Tutt gives a dynamic performance of Boom! As an experienced actor, he shares his talent in his use of volume, variance and tone. Thank you, Julian for a wonderful piece of audio work!


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Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
Boom! or 70,000 Light Years by Mark Haddon
Read by Julian Rhind-Tutt
Produced by Listening Library
Number of Discs: 3
Total Time: 3 hours, 46 minutes

100 Cupboards

100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson


Henry York leaves his sheltered Boston life and moves to Henry, Kansas to live with his relatives after his parents go missing. Learning to live with his extended family and small town life is a new experience for Henry. But baseball, tumbleweeds and living in an attic are just the beginning! Henry and cousin Henrietta discover hidden doors in his attic room. The doors lead seem to lead ot other worlds...but are the other worlds safe?


The cover of 100 Cupboards compelled me the most. Who wouldn't want to explore a wall full of cupboards? Unfortunately, this was my second try at listening to this book. The storyline was a bit slow in the beginning. The pace didn't pick up until late in the book. The storyline wove through family history, adventures in other worlds, mysterious people and the struggle between good and evil which are excellent themes for any fantasy book. For myself, I am not certain I'll continue with this series. A big part was not connecting with the reader, Russell Horton. His voice didn't drive me want to continue listening to the audiobook. My goal was to finish the story to see if I should continue with the series, but it was a conscious effort to listen to this book versus the radio or music CD. All in all, I think this story would be better enjoyed by reading it in book form.

Reviewed from a library copy.
 
Audio Book Details...
100 Cupboards by N. D. Wilson
Read by Russell Horton
Produced by Listening Library
Number of Discs: 5
Total Time: 6 hours, 23 minutes

Bless This Mouse

Bless This Mouse by Lois Lowry


Bless This Mouse shows us a small glimpse into the lives of church mice. In only a few days, the mice experience a Great X and the Blessings of the Animals. Mouse Mistress Hildegarde watches over her colony and figures out what is best for everyone to survive.


I selected this book because it was new, short and a book by a well-known author. My first impressions were shot the ground. The direction of this book was nothing that I pictured in my head. Lowry shares the simple lives of mice - eat, sleep, mate, die. She also describes a church building and associated items found in a church. It's a book like no other. I struggled at rating this book. The biggest influence was the jarring conversation at the end of the story. Hildegarde walks to the front to receive a blessing. Father Murphy blesses her and then proceeds to hold conversation with a mouse, who understands and converses back! This is the only time in the book where that happens. It took my aback. Understandably, it's a small detail, but if you do not appreciate anthropomorphism, this book is not for you. If you enjoy animals that act like humans, pick up Bless This Mouse for a quick read on a rainy day.


Bernadette Dunne gives an excellent reading. I enjoyed her lower octave female voice. She is also a well-known audiobook voice.

Reviewed from a library copy.

 

Audio Book Details...
Bless This Mouse by Lois Lowry
Read by Bernadette Dunne
Produced by Listening Library
Number of Discs: 2
Total Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes