Kim
4 journalers for this copy...
I tried, I really tried. But this has got to be on every list of "books you have to read before you die" for a reason. Hope you like it better than I did!
Hmm, DrSlump & I really like the printed version, and could imagine how a variety of voices and accents could even kick it up a notch. Well, only one way to find out...
Here is a perfect example of the beauty of BookCrossing: Pritzkit didn't enjoy this, so shared it on the Book Buffet at the 2011 Convention. This made DrSlump and myself very happy, because we just loved it!
A bit of googling confirmed what I thought, that Rudyard Kipling was born in India and lived there for quite a few years, though not while writing 'Kim.' Still, it's obvious he was drawing on affectionate memories and observations as he created this portrait of India during the end of the 19th century, still under British rule. Hearing this as an audiobook strikingly improved the book for me, because one of my bad habits is reading too fast and not paying enough attention to the descriptive sections. This way, I really got to savor the lovely scenery, especially as Kim and the lama travel the Grand Trunk Road. For me, this works as an adventure story, as a coming-of-age story, and as a travelogue.
And the reader! Sam Dastor is my new hero, right up there with George Guidall. His natural voice (I assume) is a perfect match for Kipling's very British, slightly archaic language. But the variety of personalities, ages, dialects and accents in this book gives him a virtually unmatched opportunity to show his range, and wow, does he ever step up to the mark.
I'm not quite sure who the next lucky recipient of this book will be; very possibly I'll be keeping it to enjoy again.
A bit of googling confirmed what I thought, that Rudyard Kipling was born in India and lived there for quite a few years, though not while writing 'Kim.' Still, it's obvious he was drawing on affectionate memories and observations as he created this portrait of India during the end of the 19th century, still under British rule. Hearing this as an audiobook strikingly improved the book for me, because one of my bad habits is reading too fast and not paying enough attention to the descriptive sections. This way, I really got to savor the lovely scenery, especially as Kim and the lama travel the Grand Trunk Road. For me, this works as an adventure story, as a coming-of-age story, and as a travelogue.
And the reader! Sam Dastor is my new hero, right up there with George Guidall. His natural voice (I assume) is a perfect match for Kipling's very British, slightly archaic language. But the variety of personalities, ages, dialects and accents in this book gives him a virtually unmatched opportunity to show his range, and wow, does he ever step up to the mark.
I'm not quite sure who the next lucky recipient of this book will be; very possibly I'll be keeping it to enjoy again.
Journal Entry 4 by JudySlump612 at By Mail, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Friday, October 14, 2011
Released 12 yrs ago (10/14/2011 UTC) at By Mail, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Mailed to jax as winner of the Audiobook RABCK drawing.
Journal Entry 5 by jax987654321 at Ealing, Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, October 21, 2011
Such a surprise to get this in the post. I am sure I will enjoy it. Thanks so much for sending it!
Journal Entry 6 by jax987654321 at Ealing, Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, February 5, 2012
I was a bit dubious when I received this book as I had read another of Kiplings books and had not really enjoyed it. I was pleasantly surprised.
The narrator made the book for me. The variety of voices he managed to convey was fantastic and at times I forgot there was one narrator and not a cast. I suspect this book is one that particularly lends itself to audio books as this is a way for the listener to fully understand the complexities and differences of the different languages, i.e. the sing song of the "vernacular" in contrast to the relatively monotone of the british language.
I loved the plot and did not have any idea what was going to happen at any stage of the story. The plot winded and twisted. I became at one stage concerned about what the ending was going to be .. were the lamma or Kim going to die? and how could such a complex book be suitably ended? I was not disappointed by the end, nor was it one I had expected.
I particularly enjoyed the complexity of the Indian religions and how these managed to live together, before partitian anyway.
I will be sending this shortly to the winner of the audio book sweepstake. I hope she enjoys it as much as I did and that it is a pleasant surprise as I expect by now she will have thought that all the books had arrived.
Oh and I read the journals after I've written mine, so was also struck by the differences in people's enjoyment of the book!
The narrator made the book for me. The variety of voices he managed to convey was fantastic and at times I forgot there was one narrator and not a cast. I suspect this book is one that particularly lends itself to audio books as this is a way for the listener to fully understand the complexities and differences of the different languages, i.e. the sing song of the "vernacular" in contrast to the relatively monotone of the british language.
I loved the plot and did not have any idea what was going to happen at any stage of the story. The plot winded and twisted. I became at one stage concerned about what the ending was going to be .. were the lamma or Kim going to die? and how could such a complex book be suitably ended? I was not disappointed by the end, nor was it one I had expected.
I particularly enjoyed the complexity of the Indian religions and how these managed to live together, before partitian anyway.
I will be sending this shortly to the winner of the audio book sweepstake. I hope she enjoys it as much as I did and that it is a pleasant surprise as I expect by now she will have thought that all the books had arrived.
Oh and I read the journals after I've written mine, so was also struck by the differences in people's enjoyment of the book!
Journal Entry 7 by jax987654321 at Ealing, Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, February 6, 2012
Released 12 yrs ago (2/6/2012 UTC) at Ealing, Greater London United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
posted to the winner of the audio sweepstake. Hope she enjoys it as much as I did.
Journal Entry 8 by jax987654321 at Ealing, Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, February 6, 2012
Released 12 yrs ago (2/6/2012 UTC) at Ealing, Greater London United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
posted to the winner of the audio sweepstake. Hope she enjoys it as much as I did.
Thanks so much looking forward to listening to this.
It took me a while but I got there and managed to listen to it all.
I had always wanted to try this and was not dissapointed.
I had always wanted to try this and was not dissapointed.