read-aloud time ;)

i'm still somewhere in the middle of the J&J audiobook and am really enjoying it (liberally peppered cuss words and all, hehehe) and wonder if agents or audio book editors (if there's such a thing) can tell if an author is able to read his/her own work and reel in an audience without putting them to sleep.


great examples are Neil Gaiman (who reads like he's talking to a friend or doing a bedtime story for a slumber party of 4-5 guests) and Roald Dahl (playful tone of voice when reading Charlie & the Chocolate Factory) --yes, Julie Powell is included. Honorable mention for Lynn Reid Banks for doing a colorful reading of The Indian in The Cupboard.


not so good examples are Lemony Snicket (whose reading style has been described to me as someone utterly bored with reading his own stuff --and i did fall asleep while listening to his reading of The Miserable Mill from "A Series of Unfortunate Events.") and possibly any author who's penned those entrepreneurial bestsellers or self-help titles (who fail to translate their enthusiasm from print to audio)


hence, hiring actors who have (preferably) done voicework. Tim Curry tops my list (hello, Mr. Nigel Thorneberry, or is it Dr. Frank N Furter?) as the narrator of The Hostile Hospital by Lemony Snicket (I actually wanted to finish the whole audiobook in one sitting, never mind if it took hours)


Miranda Richardson (the Missus from Chicken Run! the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland --and let's not forget that b*tchy terrorist in The Crying Game) is nearly toe-to-toe with Tim Curry in the vocal characterization department. I love how she brings Horrid Henry (scheming and somewhat misdirected) and Perfect Peter (whiny and weak) to life.

the sprout has his favorites too: from a spectacularly-read Anthony Horowitz's Granny;


to the imaginative Dick King-Smith's The Crowstarver


Runners-up are Anthony Horowitz's Stormbreaker (Alex Rider rules for the sprout);

and the somewhat funny Viking at School.



I've yet to give this a listen, it's still in its cellophane wrapping. But I like Sue Townsend's wry wit (The Queen & I and the Adrian Mole series) so what's the harm?

eh?

...it's so boring (he says about the first chapter)

...wait till he gets to the really good parts (riches, revenge, redemption!)

small blessings

the sprout is now a year older


he won a couple of books, thanks to the book blogger challenge :D (you made his day FB! Thanks!)



Pepper Lunch Shangri-la gifted me a free Pepper Rice Meal :) (which the sprout enjoyed...and i managed to treat my mom to lunch as well out of my own pocket, hehe, worth it naman.)

i ended up with the Murakami book i (really really really) wanted, thanks to a generous author who was getting rid of part of her book collection.


an amazing book :D (still reading it)



just glad this didn't grow to the size of the garage (it's a ball of pure sticky cellophane tape i found when cleaning the sprout's junk!)

syaping-syaping

yes, it's about that four-letter word: SALE
just kidding. i love discounts, am a sucker for them, and in fact am in hot water thanks to some scam artists who decided to sell NFA rice under the guise of jasmine rice (the con-man had quick hands and almost convincing patter --and i forgot to put on my sungit face that day, dammit).

so in the span of two days i go to nbs & fb to indulge in some bargains and get what i wish for (and a discounted Steve Martin paperback, woohoo! More on that next time.)
the sprout gets his Alex Rider fix with Ark Angel (so exciting he snuck it into his schoolbag! and he's so grounded! i hate doing this but it's been impounded for the rest of the week...and i get to read it! *evil laugh* ...but seriously, i hate it when that happens)

what every nerdy parent needs to know, backed by scientific proof.

found an audiobook (battered cardboard, but otherwise scratch-free CDs) of Julie & Julia which i'm currently listening to on my mp3. Thankfully the author is no Daniel Handler (sorry man, i love your books, but your reading voice needs a lot of work, it's great that Tim Curry took over that job though), and I'm looking forward to finishing it within the week.

yes Aina, if you're reading this, this is what i'll be lending you soon (once i'm done reading it of course)

and who doesn't love an Italian man who adores wine, women and song, can solve mysteries, whips up a meal like breathing? unfortunately he's fictional, hehehe.