The Hobbit Audio Book?

T

teargift

The Shire
I want to try something new, so after reading glowing reviews, I ordered The Lord of the Rings BBC Dramatization in order to give audio books a try. Is there a comparable audio book for The Hobbit? I cannot find a version rated as highly as the Lord of the Rings. I am grateful for any guidance.
 
I'd recommend The Hobbit audiobook as read by Rob Inglis. I like it, but it's not a dramatization though (it's unabridged), just so you're aware. He's got a great voice, is able to create distinct voices for most of the characters, and I love how he interprets the songs in the book.
 
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I'd highly recommend listening to his (abridged, admittedly) recording of The Hobbit. The original LPs are now very rare but you can listen to the whole thing on YouTube.

With only his own vocal talents Williamson brings the whole thing to life and his rendition of Smaug is just *perfect* in my eyes.
 
...to the BBC one. I like most of the main voices (Elrond is a bit odd) even if many of the accents aren't really correct. I also really like the rendition of the Dwarves' "Misty Mountains" song from this version.
 
I love British accents for things that I perceive to be British.

The Mind's eye version of The Lord of the Rings is especially difficult for me ...because for example Aragorn sounds as if he is a cowboy from the south. It's just a personal foible that that sounds all wrong to me, I admit. I know I really shouldn't mind, after all, he is a Ranger. [sorry]
 
Interesting. While Aragorn certainly doesn't sound British in the NPR/Mind's Eye version of LotR, I've never detected any sort of southern drawl either. On the other hand, I've had a similar experience with thinking that Elrond seems to be from Atlanta or thereabouts in the U.S. audio drama of The Hobbit.
 
I just went and listened and I see what you mean. But it sounds like a western accent to me, not southern.

Does anyone know who this voice actor is, that is... and particulars on him? (Tom Luce is the name...)

I only ask because I was watching the 2nd (and last) season of Fairly Legal and there was a new character. He had a noticeably kind of flat American accent I couldn't quite place. It didn't exactly sound midwestern and I wasn't sure if it was western. I looked him up and he was Australian! So he was doing an American accent. I wonder if Tom Luce is a British actor trying to do an American accent but not quite understanding what *his* American accent would evoke. It's always seemed to me that, back in the day, affected accents were never realized with much success though. They've gotten a lot better. Sometimes I can't tell that a non-American actor's natural accent is not American.
 
Going to Canada for my honeymoon 36 years ago, and having some Canadians thinking I was from the Deep South because of my drawl -- and here's me, an Indiana gal, born and bred. [cool]
 
I was a bit surprised to find that Ohio was essentially a southern state. At least the southern end of it was. I mean, the northern end is just a stone's throw from Detroit!

I would wager Indiana has some southern vibes going on in its southern half, too.

I remember driving through Indianapolis. I remember being very impressed with the Veteran's Memorial ... as we drove past it. :-)
 
After listening to some snippets, I think I will start with the Nicol Williamson version. I guess I really don't have to choose, however. Why not enjoy each one in its own right in due time? Thanks so much, everyone, for ringing in.
 
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When I'd come home to visit in Michigan, family would accuse me of having an accent unique to each region!!!

"I BEG YOUR PARDON! Just because I had to rent a y'all-haul to get back home?"

And when I tried ordering some "pop" to drink, both regions looked at me like an alien from the North! *sigh*
 
It's fun to see what each production does with their own spin on the story. I love the youtube copy because you can hear the noise of the needle on the vinyl. RETRO-WONDERFUL! :D
 
is also rather wonderful. I find myself listening to that one the most. I'm such a chipmunk, I find I prefer to listen to Inglis' version at a faster speed ;)
 
I'll have to look for that.

He did the Silmarillion, which I have on cassette tape, and I tried to listen to it, but I never finished it.
 
Shaw reading the Sil puts me out like a light! haha...

but I seem to retain parts of it so if I listen to it over and over again, things stick in my mind.

Do you remember Smeagirl/Girllum's posts?: Why it is taking me years to read the Silmarillion
 
And I got that strange look from people when I ordered pop too. Don't they know a soda is a drink made with ice cream and chocolate syrup and soda water?[angelic]
 
Does a good American accent in House although he does say the sh & tion sound kind of odd. I'd never seen him in any British shows so I got a kick out of hearing him talk in his normal voice on the extras. He is so good in that role!
 
& people in the southern part of the state sometimes sound like they are from the south. My sister lives in Virginia & her husband (who was born & has lived in VA all his life) has a bit of a southern accent. People used to make fun of the way I said certain words until I trained myself not so say them that way. For example I'd pronounce the word "wash" as "warsh". My dad is from Eastport & has strange ways of saying certain words.
 
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