August 25, 2014

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

By Douglas Adams

Narrated by Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry is wonderful and did an awesome job of narrating this version of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.  I would give this 4 stars for his narration alone.  I think Stephen Fry could read the telephone directory and I’d love it.  His reading performance made the Hitchhiker’s Guide alive and exciting.  The story was a bit dated, but still entertaining.  It was fun listening to it in 2014, realizing that much of the science fiction was not reality in 1978, when the original BBC radio series aired.  I was a little let down by the ending, which kind of came out of nowhere.  It might have worked better, and even have been necessary, with the radio series.  I’m interested enough to read more in the series to see where they go with the story. Good book with a great narration… and a very good listen!

China Dolls

By Lisa See

I have read and loved all of Lisa See’s books.  Her books are always well researched, full of history and culture.  China Dolls was not my favorite.  I think this is because of the time period and cultural setting, rather than See’s writing.  It was set during WWII and revolved around San Francisco and the ‘Chop Suey Circuit’, just prior to and during the war.  The book was interesting and everything, including the dialogue, seemed authentic.  For some reason, it just didn’t resonate with me.  I read the entire book and didn’t hate it.  I just wasn’t as engaged as I normally am with Lisa See’s books.  China Dolls was an interesting read, without the same emotional impact as her other books, such as Snow Flower and the Secret Fan or Shanghai Girls. 

Below the Stairs

By Margaret Powell

Narrated by Mary Wells

Below the Stairs is a case of another good book with a very good narrator.  Mary Wells provided a great first person narration of this Audible version of the book.  Below the Stairs is the memoir of Margaret Powell, a kitchen maid and cook in the 1920’s.  Originally published in 1968, Amazon.com claims that this book was the inspiration for ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’ and ‘Downton Abbey’.  It definitely conveys what life was like for those living downstairs.  Powell describes her various jobs with wit and good humor.  Having enjoyed both television series, I found Below the Stairs an enjoyable listen… and would likely have felt the same reading the book, too.