To be read by Christopher Lee! So far I've resisted buying this rehash of previously-available material, but this is a must...
I still haven't purchased The Children of Hurin yet, partly for the same reason as you, partly because my local store only holds the hardcover edition illustrated by Alan Lee, the price of which is really steep, so I'm waiting for a more affordable paperback. But this audio book does sound promising. Christopher Lee is an outstanding actor and has one of the best voices, barring James Earl Jones.
Christopher Walken, yo. <--- The dude with the voice that would be entertaining to hear. Anyways, why not read the book yourself? *still doesn't understand why humans enjoy the audio sorts of bookses* I have a great speaking voice, though.
I find audiobooks just the thing to fill the dead time spent driving to work (at least 1.5hrs per day, often more). But I like my audiobooks unabridged if possible, and read well. I'm sure CL will deliver the goods, so I'm quite excited about this one. Reading time, by contrast, is so limited. I've nothing against the idea of CoH really. It is certainly worthy of stand-alone publication.
Hi Mikey C, You are indeed in for another deep magical experience. This book is just incredible. Don’t listen to pretentious toffee-nosed critique. Of course it hasn’t the scope and depth of the “The Silmarillion” or "Lord of the Rings” (what does?). But I do indeed put it above everything other then the two aforementioned titles; this book is beautiful. Tragedy on account of pride is a good teacher, and Tolkien knew that all too well. Just wondrous!
I've read the book, but the fact that this is read by Christopher Lee is interesting. In fact, I am leaving the for the Public Library right now to check it out and hear it for myself!
I did manage to check a copy out. Disc 1 is Christopher Tolkien reading the preface and introduction. This is interesting, but the clarity is not as high as the performance by Lee. I like it though and it is a nice bonus to have Christopher reading these sections. It goes along well with the "Tolkien Audio Collection" that has him reading from the Silmarillion. Discs 2 - 8 are Christopher Lee reading Children of Hurin. And his reading is very epic as you can imagine. I might actually buy this audio-book. I would not mind if Christopher Lee was hired to do more Tolkien readings!
I'm currently listening to The Silmarillion during my own commute to work each day and would love to hear one of The Children of Hurin. Especially if Lee is the narrator. Is there anything that man hasn't done? ;*) It is available through ILL so I naturally placed a request for it!
Children of Hurin is the only book I hadn't read/listened to till now...and it was awesome! I got both the book and the audiobook and the whole shebang is really well done. It doesn't read like something rehashed or drawn out for the sake of it. It is a great story in the Silmarillion, of course, but this version is so much better. It explains everything in depth that was only skimmed over in the previously published version. And the audiobook performance by Lee is very good. He reads it just like it should be read, like an old legend.:*D
Christoper Lee!!! No way wow didn't know he did an audio version. I literally just got the Silmarillion on Audible the other day. Going to get Children of Hurin now. Thanks for letting us know of this gem!
Spoiler alert - If you are a fan of the old Hammer films, you may hear more echoes of Dracula than Saruman in some of the more dramatic moments. 97% of Lee's reading is masterful - but that overly dramatic rendition of "Dooooooooowwwwwwn to the SEEEEEEAAA" and a few other phrases are, well, to my ears, jarring. As someone who listens to audiobooks daily, my preference is for a narrator who does not get in the way of the words, and Lee does just this, once too often. It has been 11 years since I bought it, and in that time, have never listened to it again. Of course, that is just one hobbit's opinion; your mileage might vary.
