HP-the post Star Wars obsession:) I am still struggling with "On Intelligence" by Hawkings-I have started and stopped it about a dozen times-I have heard about 70% it so far:)
Weird. For some reason I can't get to any of the HP books through Audible.com; it just comes back with a banner that says "Harry Potter fans: the series isn't available right now." I can get to them just fine in iTunes however.
@dburr: I guess it was mentioned on MBW (I think?) that Audible.com couldn't pay the licensing fees to get the HP audiobooks, but iTunes could. It's annoying; as if the audiobooks wouldn't sell as well if you could get them via an Audible subscription. rolling eyes Greedy publishers!
But isn't the audiobook part of the iTunes store run by Audible? Or did iTunes just license the Audible technology and are running it themselves? Sounds like the latter... dazed and confused
Oh well, time to start saving the sheckels (sp?)... I haven't read ANY of the HP books, and I do so want to...
i'm reading book 4 right now. on my way to 7. I don't think I'd enjoy the audiobooks as much as reading this on the bus and at lunch, plus the audiobook is $70, while the book is $18.
@dburr: Yes, it's a weird situation. I don't know how it is that it worked out, since the iTunes audiobook part is just Audible content. shrug
I'd recommend getting the paper books; much cheaper and you'd be able to get through them faster. :) You could buy the 7-book set whenever it is released...
If you can get your hands on the Stephen Fry version of the audio books they are so much better than the Jim Dale version... JD only seems to have 4 voices and most of them sound drunk :-)
@dburr: Oh, I didn't realize. So even a large print version would not be ideal?
The audiobooks are nice, especially since you can listen to them during a commute, while you're working, etc. They're just so expensive! You'd think by now the older audiobooks would've gone down in price.
Large print is better, but even with that, I still get terrible eye strain after any more than 20 minutes or so. Glare is also a big problem, mainly because too little light and I can't see anything, but too much light and the glare is horrific. I have to work in darkened spaces and I am extremely picky about the kinds of monitors I can use without getting really bad headaches midway through the work day. Fortunately my employers have been very accomodating.
I commute about 3 hours every day by bus. Even when my eyes were better, I found it hard to read; because of the bus motion, the pages shake around too much and it's just too hard to concentrate and focus in on the page. (This applies to most any moving vehicle really)
My eyes used to be not quite as bad (tho still pretty bad). I was born with severe nearsightedness due to albinism; best correctable vision is 20/400. However a few years ago I suffered a really nasty retinal detachment which made one of my eyes almost totally useless.
I can't say that my experience with Harry and the Hogwarts rivals that of LOTR, but it is a good book, and a subject matter (magic) that we need more in this day and age. But I have to throw a flag simply because J.K. Rowling is no Tolkien.
I heard you talk about it on Buzz Out Loud. I totally agree with you, everything was tied up very nicely at the end. I also have to say thanks for getting me de-blacklisted!
As much as I will suffer sadness at the prospect of no further HP books, I must admit, it is the first time a "children's" book has captured my attention and admiration so completely since I was young. For the series to end so well and still have me asking, "What next?" speaks volumes for JKR's ability to develop characters to whom we are so attached.
I'm with you there, on the enjoyability. Audio ip so much more portable with big books; I love actual hard copy but also love reading in snatched moments when walking, between appointments etc.
26 comments so far
Nice book, ain't it? I loved it. The ending was really gripping! :)
2 years, 3 months ago by fabsh
I need to catch up - not sure if I will do it via an audio book or the hardcover - what do others recommend?
2 years, 3 months ago by maushopgal
I did audiobook and found it much more enjoyable. They're very pricey though.
2 years, 3 months ago by ChiefTWiT
having only read the 1st one, and vowing never to touch another one of the series ever... you will burn in the furnaces of mordor for this.
2 years, 3 months ago by pfig
Leo, I have the books & the audo books. Jim Dale does SUCH a good job doing the voices, and I agree - Potter/LOTR/Star Wars - my trifecta of geekery
2 years, 3 months ago by Tuzy2k
HP-the post Star Wars obsession:) I am still struggling with "On Intelligence" by Hawkings-I have started and stopped it about a dozen times-I have heard about 70% it so far:)
2 years, 3 months ago by maximmuir
Weird. For some reason I can't get to any of the HP books through Audible.com; it just comes back with a banner that says "Harry Potter fans: the series isn't available right now." I can get to them just fine in iTunes however.
2 years, 3 months ago by dburr
@dburr: I guess it was mentioned on MBW (I think?) that Audible.com couldn't pay the licensing fees to get the HP audiobooks, but iTunes could. It's annoying; as if the audiobooks wouldn't sell as well if you could get them via an Audible subscription. rolling eyes Greedy publishers!
2 years, 3 months ago by jezlyn
Finally Leo :)
2 years, 3 months ago by skoops
But isn't the audiobook part of the iTunes store run by Audible? Or did iTunes just license the Audible technology and are running it themselves? Sounds like the latter... dazed and confused
Oh well, time to start saving the sheckels (sp?)... I haven't read ANY of the HP books, and I do so want to...
2 years, 3 months ago by dburr
i'm reading book 4 right now. on my way to 7. I don't think I'd enjoy the audiobooks as much as reading this on the bus and at lunch, plus the audiobook is $70, while the book is $18.
2 years, 3 months ago by danhendricks
@dburr: Yes, it's a weird situation. I don't know how it is that it worked out, since the iTunes audiobook part is just Audible content. shrug
I'd recommend getting the paper books; much cheaper and you'd be able to get through them faster. :) You could buy the 7-book set whenever it is released...
2 years, 3 months ago by jezlyn
I'd love to, but my visual disability really makes it difficult for me to read. Computer monitor is OK as I can adjust contrast and font size, etc.
2 years, 3 months ago by dburr
If you can get your hands on the Stephen Fry version of the audio books they are so much better than the Jim Dale version... JD only seems to have 4 voices and most of them sound drunk :-)
2 years, 3 months ago by ChrisHanson
@dburr: Oh, I didn't realize. So even a large print version would not be ideal?
The audiobooks are nice, especially since you can listen to them during a commute, while you're working, etc. They're just so expensive! You'd think by now the older audiobooks would've gone down in price.
2 years, 3 months ago by jezlyn
Large print is better, but even with that, I still get terrible eye strain after any more than 20 minutes or so. Glare is also a big problem, mainly because too little light and I can't see anything, but too much light and the glare is horrific. I have to work in darkened spaces and I am extremely picky about the kinds of monitors I can use without getting really bad headaches midway through the work day. Fortunately my employers have been very accomodating.
I commute about 3 hours every day by bus. Even when my eyes were better, I found it hard to read; because of the bus motion, the pages shake around too much and it's just too hard to concentrate and focus in on the page. (This applies to most any moving vehicle really)
My eyes used to be not quite as bad (tho still pretty bad). I was born with severe nearsightedness due to albinism; best correctable vision is 20/400. However a few years ago I suffered a really nasty retinal detachment which made one of my eyes almost totally useless.
2 years, 3 months ago by dburr
I just started rereading it - I really enjoyed it the first time around. After this, maybe I'll start from the beginning again!
2 years, 3 months ago by kasnj
I can't say that my experience with Harry and the Hogwarts rivals that of LOTR, but it is a good book, and a subject matter (magic) that we need more in this day and age. But I have to throw a flag simply because J.K. Rowling is no Tolkien.
2 years, 3 months ago by krawphisch
I heard you talk about it on Buzz Out Loud. I totally agree with you, everything was tied up very nicely at the end. I also have to say thanks for getting me de-blacklisted!
2 years, 3 months ago by Goldenatom
@Goldenatom: You are the infamous Joe, I presume? :)
2 years, 3 months ago by dburr
Sadly...yes. Its been a rough couple of days...
2 years, 3 months ago by Goldenatom
As much as I will suffer sadness at the prospect of no further HP books, I must admit, it is the first time a "children's" book has captured my attention and admiration so completely since I was young. For the series to end so well and still have me asking, "What next?" speaks volumes for JKR's ability to develop characters to whom we are so attached.
2 years, 3 months ago by AndyG
I just have one question, who raised little Teddy? Seeing that Harry was his God Father.
2 years, 3 months ago by Paulywood
all.is.well
2 years, 3 months ago by cbee
I'm with you there, on the enjoyability. Audio ip so much more portable with big books; I love actual hard copy but also love reading in snatched moments when walking, between appointments etc.
2 years, 3 months ago by Philhellene
I can hardly wait to read it - but I am about 3 books behind :(
2 years, 3 months ago by maushopgal