I am not sure if I have ever mentioned this before (probably not), but ever since I first started blogging about books, I have often casually wondered about how it would have been if I had started blogging & recording my thoughts about books ever since I first started reading them.
Well okay, I don’t mean first literally here – that would have been way too soon. But you know what I mean, in my tweens/early teens when I first began seriously exploring the world of books.
If I had indeed started blogging back then, I can only imagine how wonderful it would have been now to go back and read the posts that I wrote, as I discovered my childhood favorites, especially the Harry Potter series.
Because these books were the reason I fell in love with reading in the first place, so it would have been interesting to read my first impressions of a book series that began my love affair with books. Interesting and…. impossible now, as we cannot go back and change the past. Sigh.
But anyway.. recently I reconnected with my favorite series in a different format, and while it’s nowhere near the same thing as discovering Harry Potter for the first time, this experience was wonderful in its own special way.
Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone – Audiobook Review
Okay, so like I mentioned earlier, this is not my first time reading Harry Potter, though it’s my first time listening to it on audio, which is why this review is essentially my thoughts on the audio experience, and just random insights from re-reading Harry Potter after all these years.
Now, I must admit, that going in, I fully expected to like it, because it’s Harry Potter after all, what’s not to like? Though what I did not expect, was to fall in love with it, because well, I was skeptical about the audio format.
So if you have similar reservations like I did, don’t even worry about it. This story is every bit as magical in the audio format as it was in print.
Though I guess what made this experience better was the fact that it’d been quite some time since my last reading of Harry Potter, and the details had gotten kinda hazy in my mind, so it was almost like re-discovering one of my favorite stories of all time in a new format, which was an incredible experience.
Now did I get any new insights into the story? NO. But then I wasn’t expecting to. Since I had read/re-read and dissected the initial Harry Potter books more times than I would like to admit, it would have been a miracle for me to find new information.
But you know what they say about re-reading a book that you truly love? You almost never leave empty handed from the experience.
I enjoyed re-discovering the wonder of Hogwarts, and all the firsts that Harry went through in this book, and also re-connecting with Ron, Hermoine, Neville, Dumbledore & everyone else really.
It was an interesting nostalgic experience, difficult to explain, but in a very weird way it was almost like re-connecting with myself, with the person who I was all those years back, when I first read Harry Potter.
Strange how human mind works, right? Strange how these things called books hold so much more than the characters & stories written within them!
Recommendation (For Audio)
Okay, as far as this book/series goes, of-course I recommend it to everyone on this planet, but I’d recommend the audio format only for re-reads.
And I’m possibly biased here, but according to me this story unfolds best on paper, though like I said, this is not an objective opinion, so take it with a pinch of salt.
But for re-reads/listens, this version narrated by Jim Dale is pretty darn good, and does complete justice to the original, which is saying a lot.
GET THIS BOOK HERE:
Amazon One Link: Paperback | Kindle | Audiobook
Amazon India: Paperback | Kindle | Audiobook
That is all from my end folks. I would love to hear from you. Have you listened to this series on audio? Or any of your old favorites on audio? How did you find the experience?
Oh and for people who haven’t yet started with audiobooks, I feel like listening to your old favorites is a great place to start. You already have familiarity, so you don’t have to worry about not being able to understand or losing track, and it also gives you a chance to reconnect with your favorite books and characters while you do your household chores. Win-Win!
PIN THIS POST!
Obsessivemom
I still find it kind of cute that someone can begin their reading journey with Harry Potter, but then I’m quite a dinosaur from the Enid Blyton generation. This year I had/have an audio book on my list of books to be read and I did try but I find my mind wandering each time I tune in. It is too passive a form for me. I haven’t given up, though and I like your idea of making a start with re-reading an old favourite.
Obsessivemom recently posted…Slowing down
Shanaya Tales
Oh don’t give up yet. Try an old favorite or possibly a funny memoir?
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Quarterly Goals Update + Food Blog Sneak Peek #ChattyBlogs December Linky
Vishal Bheeroo
I am a huge HP fan and this year I am revisiting the series for the third time…will get back to the third installment when I should have reached number 6 by now. I am such a slow reader, in fact, becoming one. Somehow, I feel that I may not get used to listening….guess it’s in the head as well. How I wish the first time we discovered the magic of reading, we could have blogged about it, right! Love your post, Shanaya. Agree, the joy of holding a book in our hand is priceless but at the same time, devices like Kindle has made things easier for us, in particular the books that get too difficult to ship from India when we are out of the country. Have a good day.
Shanaya Tales
True, I love books in all forms. While physical books have my heart, as they are my first love, I grown to love my kindle just as much. They all represent the same thing. An escape from the real world to the wonderful world of stories.
Thanks for stopping by, Vishal. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Quarterly Goals Update + Food Blog Sneak Peek #ChattyBlogs December Linky
keerthi vydyula
Audio books can be convenient at times for sure. But as u mentioned in the latter part of ur post. There is no comparison when it comes to reading it on our own with book in hand!
Shanaya Tales
Oh absolutely. No comparison at all. This is just one more alternative to fit in reading when you otherwise cannot, like while cooking, driving etc.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Quarterly Goals Update + Food Blog Sneak Peek #ChattyBlogs December Linky
Parul
I need to first start with Harry Potter and then the audio books. Sometimes I think it’s too much of fantasy and I may get bored. 😉 I know just another excuse.
I love re reading books so I agree that I can try listening to an old book 🙂
Parul recently posted…#ThursdayTreeLove – 26
Shanaya Tales
Yes an old favorite is a great (and safe) place to start when it comes to audiobooks. And as far as the Harry Potter series goes – please try it. Please, please, please?
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Quarterly Goals Update + Food Blog Sneak Peek #ChattyBlogs December Linky
Sanch @ Sanch Writes
Hmm I still haven’t got into audiobooks but I’d heard Harry Potter series was narrated by Stephen Fry and was really good so was hoping to give that a go. I’m guessing that’s the British version and you heard the American version?
Sanch @ Sanch Writes recently posted…For another day #FridayReflections
Shanaya Tales
Yes, I have heard good things about the British version too, so I guess it’s just a matter of preference.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Quarterly Goals Update + Food Blog Sneak Peek #ChattyBlogs December Linky
Shailaja Vishwanath
Hiding this post from Gy because if she gets a whiff of the audio book option, effectively she will do little else in life. ?
I like podcasts although I haven’t tried audio books. Not really sure why. I am not good at multitasking so that may be one reason. I can’t even talk to people when I’m cooking. I lose track of what ingredients I added and what’s missing! If I ever do start an audio book it will probably be HP, because let’s face it. That series is amazing.
Shailaja Vishwanath recently posted…For the love of writing and reading
Shanaya Tales
Yes, Harry Potter is a great place to start – always. When in doubt it’s best to pick the much loved fail-safe series. 😀
Oh and I strongly second hiding this post (specifically), and the concept of audiobooks (in general) for as long as you can. It’s easy to get hooked on to this format and never discover the joy of flipping through pages of a book, and what a tragedy that would be!
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Quarterly Goals Update + Food Blog Sneak Peek #ChattyBlogs December Linky
Alana
I rarely use audio books, but I have listened to them from time to time on long trips. So much depends on the narrator, I think and you are right, there are books on audio that stand on their own and others where you really need to have read the book first. I’ve even heardof people (the book Lincoln in the Bardo seems to be a book that benefits from this treatment) reading and listening to the audio at the same time. So, as to Harry Potter – I am one of the few people on the planet that just couldn’t get into the books (and the movies were totally uncomprehensible to me). Perhaps audio is the key for my getting to enjoy this series.
Alana recently posted…The Trees Speak – Thursday Tree Love
Shanaya Tales
Yes I have heard about that too – many people enjoy switching between print and audio for the same book. I personally have never tried it, but I guess that could be fun too. Oh and I hope you enjoy the Harry Potter audiobooks.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Quarterly Goals Update + Food Blog Sneak Peek #ChattyBlogs December Linky
Nidhi GS
I have an audiobook of Harry Potter too… its as truly as amazing as the book… I couldn’t agree more with you that its for re-reads…
Shanaya Tales
Yep, great for re-reads/listens, but print is always the best choice for first time readers (in this case at least).
Shanaya Tales recently posted…10 Gulab Jamuns by Sandhya Acharya | Book Review
Shilpa Gupte
I haven’t experienced an audio-book yet, so I could give it a try..esp a Harry Potter book. In fact, I and my nephew could listen to it together! Thanks for the review, Shantala, and also for the info on audio books.
Shilpa Gupte recently posted…Something’s fishy! #Flavoursometuesdays
Shanaya Tales
I hope to make a more detailed ‘How To’ post on audiobooks. It’s something I have been procrastinating for the longest time. Hopefully I’ll be able to get to it soon.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…10 Gulab Jamuns by Sandhya Acharya | Book Review
lisa thomson
This was a great series. I began reading these books when my daughter read them (she was in Gr 2). She’s a pretty good reader. All of the books are enchanting. Good to know the audio book (almost) lives up to the written word. I think listening to “To Kill A Mockingbird” on audio would be fantastic. I’ve read it so many times but an audio version would give it a whole new experience, like you say. Thanks for sharing your review, Shantala.
lisa thomson recently posted…Happy 6th Blog Birthday!
Shanaya Tales
Yeah, old favorite classics could be really good on audio as well. If you do check out the audiobook of To Kill a Mockingbird, do let me know how you liked it.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…10 Gulab Jamuns by Sandhya Acharya | Book Review