Personal Preferences > Harry Potter Audiobook > Stephen Fry or Jim Dale?

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message 1: by Ambar (last edited Aug 25, 2016 11:44AM) (new)

I listened HP Deathly Hallows through audiobook read by Jim Dale(US-version) and with Stephen Fry (UK-version). I have to admit that I enjoy Stephen Fry than Jim Dale. Probably because I listened him since book 1-6 and he has distinctive accent and british theater alike.
What do you think?

message 2: by Tina (last edited Aug 25, 2016 11:45AM) (new)

Jim Dale. He has done the others and he's wonderful. Love him.

message 3: by Tj (last edited Aug 25, 2016 11:46AM) (new)

I can't really say because I haven't listend to them yet. Just wondering though where did you get the Audiobook's?

message 4: by Tina (last edited Aug 25, 2016 11:46AM) (new)

I got mine at Barnes and Noble Book store. Any bookstore should have audio books. My son listens to them when he is going to sleep.

message 5: by Tj (last edited Aug 25, 2016 11:48AM) (new)

Cool thanks. I appreciate it. :D

message 6: by Hollyhocks (last edited Aug 25, 2016 11:50AM) (new)

I've gotten all mine from the library and they've been Jim Dale. I've gotten used to him but his voice is so darn melancholy I get almost sleepy .. but then again he makes Hermionie sound like a little whiner ... I'm glad I read the books before listening to them!

message 7: by Sarah Anne (last edited Aug 25, 2016 12:34PM) (new)

Jimmy rocks my socks!

message 8: by Meghan (last edited Aug 25, 2016 12:35PM) (new)

Jim Dale! He totally rocks! I also rented mine from the library.

I have the whole set for sale if anyone wants it.

I just finished listening to OotP, which I got out of the library. It's Jim Dale. With the exception of Hermione's voice, I think he did an excellent job! It's the first audiobook I've ever listened to (I took a 16 hour trip recently and NEEDED something good to listen to) and I think I might try listening to HBP next :)
Jim Dale is also the narrator on the new show Pushing Daisies, which is really good.

message 12: by Novin, whose favortie character is Sirius Black. (new)

off course JIM DALE !!

I have listened to all the books on audio with Jim Dale (also got from the library) and I think he is absolutely wonderful. It's a little weird at first, but he does give each character a distinct voice. Hermione does sound a little whinny, but I think it's very sweet. I prefer reading books, but you do get a new, fresh experience with the audio. I'm listening to Deathly Hallows right now, about 1/2 way through. I read it in two days when it came out, so it's nice to go back and get familar again with what all happened and also what will hopefully be in the last film. I'm already envisoning which scenes I hope will make the final cut! I have never heard Stephen Fry, and someday maybe I will check out his HP audiobooks. I'm sure he is very good as well.

I think that if one of them have a british sort of accent, that would be maybe just a tad better, I know when I read the books they talk in a british accent.

I haven't listened to any of the audio books, but I LOVE STEPHEN FRY!!!!!!! He kind of rules my life. I can't wait to see his latest film, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland! He's playing the Cheshire Cat! AWESOME!

Okay, I got a Jim Dale version last night and I almost fell aslep listening to it. He reds SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO slow it's like this: 'And then..... Voldemort.... said.... to... Snape.....' It took him like 20 seconds to say like 'Harry was bleeding.' I mean, he would still be on the econd or 3rd sentence and I would be done with the page. Yes, I was reading the book while listening on the CD.

Ella an audiobook is always going to be slower than reading. I can't read a book while listening to the audiobook. In my opinion, Jim Dale does the best reading of an audiobook I have ever listened to.

I am reading Deathly Hallows right now an crying. Mad eye and Hedwig just died. And yea I assumed it needs to read slower.

message 23: by Lindsay (last edited Mar 04, 2010 03:21PM) (new)

Jim Dale isn't slow! What's that comment about? If you're just going to read the book, why have the audio books? Besides, I use it to fall asleep. I personally like his Umbridge voice and Hagrid is good too.

Lindsay wrote: 'Jim Dale isn't slow! What's that comment about? If you're just going to read the book, why have the audio books? Besides, I use it to fall asleep. I personally like his Umbridge voice and Hagrid is...'
I dunno... I'm just a fast reader. Thanks for the idea about using it to fall asleep.

I first discovered Harry Potter through Stephen Fry's narration, and I couldn't imagine anybody doing a better job. I recently purchased a Jim Dale version of The Prisoner of Azkaban just out of interest and couldn't believe how awful it was! He makes it all sound so dull and monotone! And I too noticed how whiney and little girlie he made Hermione sound. I suspect that those of you who are raving about him have never given the Fry versions a go.

I haven't gotten to Hermione yet, only the 3rd chapter in OOP.

I am currently listenig to Goblet of Fire with Jim Dale. It is pretty good.

Shae wrote: 'I am currently listenig to Goblet of Fire with Jim Dale. It is pretty good.'
I am listening to Order of the Phoneix by Jim Dale, and I agree, it is good.

I am on the second-to-last CD and I am getting kinda bored with the dull emotions.

Yeah............ It'd be better if he had a mexican accent.

The Stephen Fry reading of the Harry Potter books is sheer genius. Obviously the books are better than the movies. But Stephen Fry's readings are magical. His voice is way deeper and richer than Jim Dale's. Even though I've read both the British and American editions of the books, it's like I read them in black and white, whereas Stephen Fry's readings are in colour. Also I have been surprised at how the Potter books really come into their own when they are read out loud. After listening to Stephen Fry's brillant readings I feel that one hasn't even begun to absorb these books, until you've actually listened to the Stephen Fry audio edition.

Yeah, when it read a sentence that's funny out-loud to myself in a british accent, it sounds so cool, like she meant it to sound cooler when it's read aloud then it would if you just sit by yourself and read it alone. Maybe that's why children and parent's read to each other...

I listened to an audiobook of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in 5th grade, and needless to say, whoever the reader was made the book boring for me and made me dislike Harry Potter for a good number of years before I finally picked it back up and read the entire series through by myself. I think it might have been Jim Dale, due to some reviews on here that say Jim reads too slowly and with a monotonous voice.

Haven't heard the audiobooks, but you'd be happy you'll never have to listen to the Swedish one. He pronounces Draco like Dracko. My little sister listened to them when she was younger, I always hade to leave the room when the guy said 'Dracko', it's soo ugly >_<

The Jim Dale version is complete rubbish. He mispronounces names and all of his characters sound the same. He completely ignores how a character should sound like, like Dobby. Dobby is introduced with a high voice but Jim Dale gives him the same slow, boring voice that he gives everyone else. The Stephen Fry versions are sooooo much better that there really is no comparison.

message 37: by Jamalam (last edited Feb 06, 2011 10:09PM) (new)

It might be a cultural difference (I'm a Londoner so was raised on Fry) but to me and every one of my Potter-geek friends, Stephen Fry IS Harry Potter. His reading is so much more impassioned, he injects so much more energy into the words and really brings the story to life. Dale is great, but I find Dale's reading is a little monotonous and his voices all sound vaguely similar. With Dale I'm always aware that I'm listening to an audiobook, whereas Fry creates such distinctive characters and describes the magical world so vividly and colourfully that listening to him is a deeply immersive experience. Fry also has this uncanny ability to create the perfect voice for every character, but he also really excels in the non-speech parts of the book. I haven't heard of anyone raised on Fry who listened to Dale after and was converted, but I've encountered many people accustomed to Dale who much preferred Fry's reading after trying. Any Harry Potter fan who hasn't sampled Stephen Fry owes it to themselves to, it's stellar. Oh and Fry's Dumbledore IS the quintessential interpretation of the character. Neither of the film actors have quite pinned down the man for me and Dale's Dumbledore sounds like a strong breeze would knock him over. Fry's Dumbledore gives off the sense warmth, deep intellect, wisdom, age balanced with inner youth and great strength and... just... Dumbledoreyness that Rowling wrote into the character. So yes... to summarise, I'm slightly in favour of Stephen. (I felt he needed more defenders in this thread!)

Stephen Fry!!! He rocks Im English too but Im all loud mouth cockney Londoner, He is all posh and stuff xD
Buy his Stephen Fry Up Walkers!! xD

I have been at work listening to Jim Dale b/c I haven't been able to find Stephen Fry just yet, but if it wasn't for my obsession w/ Harry Potter, I wouldn't be able to endure it! I don't want to go so far as to say that it's horrible, but I cannot stand the majority of his voices, especially Hermoine. I thought it was because I started with the movies, then the books. But it doesn't matter. He makes all the girls sound like idiots and it has nothing to do with the fact that he's a man. Because some of his men voices are a little indistinguishable like Mundungus and Hagrid to name a few, and I don't like the way he reads for Draco, I keep thinking of The Great Mouse Detective movie and the song The World's Greatest Criminal Mind.
But back to Hermoine, he elongates way too many of her words, I especially hate how she says Harry!!! But he does do this with other characters, but especially her, she sounds like she has no backbone and as others have pointed out, she just seems like such a whiner and I didn't get that from the books, yes she may be a tad emotional, who isn't, but he doesn't even accurately read to her emotions! Or anyone's emotions for that matter.
Sorry to rant, this has been a huge issue as I am really into audio books now, when I'm at work, and as I love HP I just had to share.
One more thing and I'm done. As they are in England, I feel he gives Scottish/Irish accents to a lot of characters, and I'm not sure if he's basing that on their names or he just likes to try and vary it, but it kind of takes me out of a chapter when he reads for certain people.

I don't find Jim Dale's voice boring or monotonous. I really like his voice. I've never heard the Stephen Fry version of any of the books, but I'm currently in the process of obtaining the first book of the series read by him.

Stephen Fry is much better. Totally agree with Jamalam

So, I was finally able to listen to the first book read by Stephen Fry and even though he did a totally amazing job, I still think I like Jim Dale's voices better. Now, if Jim Dale could just read with the same kind of energy that Stephen Fry does, that would be perfect.

I have not listened to Stephen Fry, but I absolutely ADORE Jim Dale! He does an amazing job! I love all the different voices, and then of course, his accent. So, my answer is JIM DALE!!!!

This is a very interesting discussion;)
I've also grown up listening to Stephen Fry, but seeing as there are so many faithful supporters of Dale, I'm going to check him out

I'm listening to Jim Dale right now - and I have to say... I'm digging Jim. Stephen Fry does a much better job with Hitchhiker's Guide than he does with Harry Potter - I think Potter is truly more Jim Dale's domain.

I'd always listened to Jim Dale and loved it. One thing I noticed though is that his pronunciations change from book to book (like with knut and Durvish and Banges). It's not necessarily a bad thing, just something I noticed which irks me a teeny bit.
I only just found out that Stephen Fry reads them too, and I'm pretty excited to give him a listen.

I love Jim Dale's performance for the HP series. I cannot wait to hear his performance for The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens. But if I had to choose between Fry or Dale, I would not be able to do so. Both performers have done a wonderful job. They bring their own flavor to the Series.

C wrote: 'I'm listening to Jim Dale right now - and I have to say... I'm digging Jim. Stephen Fry does a much better job with Hitchhiker's Guide than he does with Harry Potter - I think Potter is truly more...'
Thanks for that recommendation. I will have to check out Hitchhiker's Guide.

I have listened to the Harry Potter audiobooks read by Jim Dale so many times, I have dialogue nearly memorized. At my house, we listen to audiobooks almost every time we get in the car. Trust me, some narraters are a lot worse for those who don't like Jim Dale.
*especially the ones my grandpa gets. They ALL sound the same...*
I haven't heard Stephen Fry read the Harry Potter series, but I'm still mad at him for the Strombreaker movie, so I don't think I will for now.

Does anyone have suggestions for getting the Stephen Fry versions more cheaply? Here is Amazon's page:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_...
I also checked the Bloomsbury site. While I would love to pay full price, I simply cannot.
Is there a British equivalent of Half Price Books, or even Costco (big box/discount store)? I really want the SF versions, but the libraries that own them would not lend through Interlibrary Loan (this lending program is being cancelled due to lack of funding anyway).
Thanks for any tips you may have.
I really do think Jim Dale is lovely, but I do see the merit in the opinion that his voice can be a bit sonorously dull. He DOES hold the Guiness Book of Records for the most number of voices, but if you get too far into supporting characters, I find that they all start sounding like Hagrid.
I adore Stephen Fry and his plummy tones and can't WAIT to get my hands on the books. (If only I could splash out for the big, beautiful boxed set published by Bloomsbury...!)

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