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Audiobooks

marmalade_sunrise 11 Dec 08 at 7:42 a.m. GMT

I didn't know where else to put this topic, although it's obviously not television or film, it is an alternative medium.  Does anyone else here seek out and enjoy the audiobook versions of Christie's novels? Of course I actually read novels, but the audiobooks have an interesting, often relaxing, story-telling quality. What are some of your favorites? Are some versions better than others? Any comments or suggestions on this topic would be helpful.

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go_leafs_nation 12 Dec 08 at 12:58 a.m. GMT

Why, yes, I do like a good audiobook of AC. David Suchet reading "Death on the Nile" and Hugh Fraser reading "Mrs. McGinty's Dead" remain my two favourites.

detectivepauljohn 12 Dec 08 at 2:20 p.m. GMT

books are better

marmalade_sunrise 13 Dec 08 at 12:35 a.m. GMT

detectivepauljohn, I am an English literature major in college. I read more than one book at a time. Not only do I read books, but I read *literature*. Sometimes I need a break. I don't watch much tv, in fact I rarely turn the thing on. I think that listen to an Agatha Christie audiobook is a more quality way to relax than watching a stupid sitcom. I also watch the film interpretations with David Suchet. By reading the book or listening to the audiobook (the story being told to you, same word for word as the book) you get a very similar experience. Believe me I read much more than most people. In fact, I took some Education classes in my first few semesters of college, and during that time I did observations in pubic middle school classrooms: I noticed that audiobooks are frequently used by English teachers to bring alive a book that is already being read by the class. Don't discount audiobooks.

drdavid 14 Dec 08 at 3:08 p.m. GMT

I am a great fan of audiobooks. It probably reminds me of being read to by my granny when I was a child. I find the distraction of having Hugh Fraser read to me when I am undertaking a tedious journey the most joyous thing. He is so good at voices ~ check out Dumb Witness as an example of this.I recently had Stephanie Cole reading Sleeping Murder to me and, as it was the unabridged version, I listened to it most of a dull and rainy day. I enjoy the tv adaptations, though some take such liberties that I am driven back to t he original texts just to check that I had not been mistaken, but the books come first and then these delightful "talking books" come a close second. I admire Hugh Fraser's output ~ I think he has recorded the majority of the Christie books and he does a great Poirot.

Marc_Anton 15 Dec 08 at 8:46 a.m. GMT

About Hugh Fraser's audiobooks. Since I don't like to read in bed (I need a comfortable chair and a good reading lamp) I like to listen to audiobooks (of any kind) before going to sleep.

As far as Christie concerned, Fraser is the best. He reads in a very quiet and comfortable tempo and since Christie's books are often mostly dialogue, you never have to ask 'Who is he doing now?' Also he doesn't do 'types' (over-the-top-funny-people) and in fact his Poirot is even better (at least on audio) than David 'Poirot' Suchet himself and also his Inspector Jap is very good. Of course he is terrible doing American accents (Jane Wilkinson!) but you can't have everything (most British actors are).

Did anyone ever listen to dramatisations (with multiple characters) of Christie books, like a radio play? I listened to a few dramatised Dorothy Sayers audiobooks recently (with Ian Carmichael) and they were quite good. I am not so sure about Christie though. Of course these are not the complete novels.

pghfan 16 Dec 08 at 4:37 p.m. GMT

I, too, am a fan of Hugh Fraser's audiobooks. He has found just the right balance of voice and acting for me to understand the character and what is going on. Some readers act so much that I can't understand the words or end up turning the volume up and down throughout because they are alternately yelling and whispering. Though I still love to read "off the paper", I have the complete Christie canon of mysteries on audio to listen to in the car when I drive. I also have a number of the BBC audio versions which I like a great deal as well. They seem far truer to the books than many of the TV adaptations. I can't remember which one it is, but Philip Jackson of the Suchet series plays Japp in one of the BBC adaptations! It was a very welcome treat.

Tommy_A_Jones 21 Dec 08 at 4:11 p.m. GMT

I love listning to Audiobooks and have a large collection of Readings as well as Dramatisations but I do think the idea of Hugh Fraser reading stories that don't have Poirot or Hastings wrong although the only one I have got is The Unexpected Guest, I think books should be read by people you can envisage in one of the roles and as he plays Hastings I can't imagine him in a non-series book, I suppose he could play Raymond West at a push.

evie_beth 23 Dec 08 at 6:02 p.m. GMT

I love audio books to get my Christie fix when I'm driving or cooking. I get them out of the library (whereas I own the "real" books) mainly because the quality and my enjoyments SO depend upon who is reading them. For instance, I thought the Alex Jennings version of "The Secret Adversary" (my favourite AC) is fabulous, while I can't bear John Woodvine reading Third Girl. Seriously, I know it's one of the more poorly written books, but the audio version is laughably bad! Thanks for the comments on other actors - I'd be grateful for any particular recommendations or otherwise!

Tommy_A_Jones 26 Dec 08 at 1:43 p.m. GMT

evie beth, although I have not got that Audio I agree John Woodvine is an odd choice to read Third Girl, I managed to read that book after my first attempt failed many years ago. Has The Murderm of Roger Ackroyed been put on Audio Cassette? I know there is a Dramatised version on Audio Cassette with John Woodvine playing Dr Shephard perhaps John Woodvine should read that one and if David Suchet or John Moffet couldn't perhaps the Actor who played Dr Shephard on Television or Edward Hardwick would have been better at reading third Girl, by the way Great Topic.

pamills 22 Feb 09 at 7:35 p.m. GMT

I,ve been listening to the audio books since last year and listened to 26 so far.Hugh Fraser is by far the best narrator and does a fab Mrs Adiane Oliver.John Moffat & David Suchet are also good.The only one's i,ve not enjoyed is Why didnt the ask Evans (Emilia Fox) and The Seven dails mystery (Emilia Fox).My fav so far is Peril at end house,mystery of the Blue train,Orient Express,Partners in crime,Appointment with Death,5 little pigs,Mrs McGinty's dead and 10 little niggers 10 out of 10. Its my aim to listen to all of books before 2010. If you can get your hands on it i would highly recomend 3 blind mice read (over the top camp) by Denholm Elliott.

Tommy_A_Jones 23 Feb 09 at 4:28 p.m. GMT

pamills they should always get someone you can imagine in one of the roles and I can't imagine Emilia Fox in either of those books, although thinking about it I can imagine her Father playing Battle, I know it might sound stupid but if they were going to get a young woman to read the books they should get someone with Dark Hair like Julia Sawalha or Honeysuckle Weeks but probably they should have got Francesca Annis or Cheryl Campbell who were in the Adapts of WHY DIDN'T THEY ASK EVANS and SEVEN DIALS MYSTERY respectively, I love the Audio Cassettes I wish I had more and I also wish there were more in Dramatisation.

discoteca 06 Apr 09 at 1:25 a.m. GMT

The audiobooks/dramatisations are something I enjoy very much, depending on who is narrating them. I was most disappointed by Emilia Fox, but highly pleased by Samantha Bond's narration on the abridged Tommy & Tuppence stories. Special mention must go to Carole Boyd's excellent telling of Murder In Mesopotamia - she is an actress highly experienced in radio and spoken word and therefore a good choice for the job. Not so fond of Hugh Fraser having the monopoly on the newer, unabridged versions - I think there needs to be a greater range of actors used.

The BBC Radio dramatisations are also wonderful, with the John Moffatt version of "The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd" a particularly splendid example of how good AC can be on the radio.

Treat yourself to a few of these - they're as valid and enjoyable (sometimes more so) than the television adaptations of Christie's works.

Tommy_A_Jones 06 Apr 09 at 2:39 p.m. GMT

I will make a point of looking for the Samantha Bond ones as I can see her as Tuppence which would fit my criteria and she is an Actress whose work I admire greatly, (I loved her in the Joan Hickson version of 'A Murder is Announced) I do not recall who Carole Boyd is and I think that Hugh Fraser should only narrate the books Poirot appears in, I have an Audio Cassetrte of him reading The Unexpected Guest and it doesn't feel right.

jolley74 06 Apr 09 at 6:46 p.m. GMT

i enjoyed curtain read by hugh fraser a great narrator in my opinion and i have listened to the bbc drama the mysterious affair at styles.audibooks are great for when your too tired to read a book and you still get great enjoyment!!

aranea_draco 13 Apr 09 at 3:04 a.m. GMT

I collect the audiobooks(old and new),radioplays along with the books,graphic novels and movie interpretation of AC books. 

I must say the that Hugh Fraser is a wonderful narrator for the new audio books more so then David Suchet. His skill of voices is far superior to that of the beloved DS.

I will go against the grain and declare that I love Emilia Fox's narration of The Seven Dial Mysteries.

But if you get the chance try the Hound of Death audiobook as narrated by Christopher Lee, his voice lends a tone to the stories that is quite fitting to the supernatural elements of the stories.

Tommy_A_Jones 13 Apr 09 at 11:40 a.m. GMT

Arena draco is that the one where some of the stories are told by him and some by Anna Massey? I have it and I thought his voice was totally unsuitable for a Christie Audio Cassette, it shows how people think differently doesn't it, I have nev er been able to finish it just like Anna Massey reading 'They Do It With Mirrors although oddly I think she would make a great Miss Marple.

aranea_draco 20 Jul 09 at 1:43 a.m. GMT

Hi WINNEBAGO1901,

My copy only has Christopher Lee narrating, it is really old tape copy and is the unabridged version by Chivers Audiobooks.

As you said every has their type, I have the same problem with The Thirteen Problems read by Joan Hickson because her voice by itself after about 2 hours is grating and yet she is my favorite Miss Marple.

Go Figure?

Tommy_A_Jones 20 Jul 09 at 10:48 a.m. GMT

I actually can't remember the Audio Cassette with Christopher Lee, I think I got fed up with it some way through, like an Audio Cassette of They Do it With Mirrors, I got very bored with that, I personally love the Audio of The Thirteen Problems, it is over three lots of Cassettes and I lovce it but don't like the Audio I have with Hugh Frazer Narrating, I have 2, one is 'Triangle At Rhodes' he also reads 'The Unexpected Guest'and I want to keep on saying 'Put Emotion into it' he always sounds to me as if he is reading the Electoral Role but each to his own, I love David Suchet reading the short stories especially 'The Clapham Cook'