Harry Potter - the full-cast Audible edition

[TheNeighboursComplain]

Has anyone started this yet? The first book was just released today.

I'm only a couple of chapters in, and I really want to love it, but I'm not blown away so far. The narrator is good; I do like her voice - it's a nice and soothing voice. I really like the cast voices, but their voices are too quiet and sometimes quite tinny sounding. The sound effects can be really distracting, and too loud - it's quite hard to hear the cast voices over them. I'm hoping it improves!

I had to google it, because it confused me too - Rebecca Root is trans.

I’m finding that now I’m not blinded by my love for Alan Rickman, it’s really hitting home what a nasty piece of work Snape actually is - a bitter, mean, twisted bully.

His love for obsession with Harry’s mum absolves him of nothing, in my opinion - it just makes him creepier. Harry and Ginny should have given Albus Hagrid as his middle name instead.

Teach me not to Google the name.

Um, interesting.

@MadameSzyszkoBohusz

I agree, he is petty and cruel.

But Dumbledoor is reckless, the danger he puts Harry in.

Plus a lot of cruelty to animals in the book, which is more noticeable when spoken.

I have read the book a lot (admittedly some time ago) but it is really interesting how my mind has made parts of the films facts, much of the real story I had forgotten.

JK Rowling said the Voldemor(t) think a few years ago. I can't remember why she said she'd never corrected the film pronunciation?

So the chat on here regarding what it actually says in the book versus what it says in the films that we think is "book" as we listen to audible full cast.

I am wondering with the new Netflix version what they will go by.
A couple of tiny examples but there a hundreds.

I am sure everyone thinks Hermione says (one of emma watson's worst spoken lines) "Nearly headless-how can you be nearly headless??"
When in fact in the books it is Seamus Finnegan.
Mr Weasley "repair-o's" Harry's glasses not Hermione.
Harry thinks of flying out of Gringott's on the dragon. Not Hermione.
And so many more!

Will it be too distracting if they put it right? Or will they carry on with the film universe?

I just hope they don’t do Ron’s character the disservice the films did. Was listening to the bit in the Shrieking Shack last night in which he stands up on a broken leg to try and protect Harry. And in the films they reduce him to nothing more than comic relief.

Think they are performing the text: minimal changes.

I’m liking the interpretation of Snape. Bullying, prejudiced, slightly cowering. Quieter. Alan Rickman’s age/person and interpretation, though brilliant, wasn’t close to the original character.

I suppose when he started playing Snape he didn't have the benefit of knowing the character in the way that anybody playing him now would. The first film was made in 2000 when the fourth book had only just been published. The last book wasn't published until 2007.

I didn't really like how Gambon played Dumbledore in the films, especially in Goblet of Fire. It just wasn't true to the character or books. I hope that will be better in the HBO series.

Agree @medievalpenny . I liked Jude Law a lot more! Or Richard Harris in philosopher's stone.

Gambon just didn't have the charisma.

Do we have a TV dumbledore yet?

It's John Lithgow.

I dislike on principle as he is American.
He is also 79 years old so will probably not make it to all 7 books.

Sigh

editing to say I was wrong. He is actually 80.

@MrsMitford3 😱

Disappointing. Take it the British roles aren't applying this time!

I only know him from a voiceover in Shrek.

Its been many years since I've read a HP book or listened to Frys audiobooks. I sometimes watch a bit of the films if they are on but I'm not a huge fan and the books are vastly superior.

I've really enjoyed the first 3 releases. I've not had any problems with the sound ( I mostly listen via Alexa Dot) although I could do with less sighing/huffing & puffing - or they could turn all the sighing/hufffing & puffing down a bit in the mix.

Otherwise I thorougly loved them & I look forward to the rest of the series being released.

I've pre-ordered number 4 😊

Me too!! Think out Feb 10th?

Two annoyances:
Man playing Mme Pomfrey - very male voice. Doesn't really work in this for/mat.

And is Neville meant to be so sniveling & annoying? I thought he was more nervous & anxious in thee arlier books? can't wait for some character growth for him as the voice of Neville seems overly whiney & annoying.

The sound effects really bring Quiddich games, the animals etc alive.

counting the days - I've listened to the first 3 twice.
Might squeeze in round 3 before the 4th

Totally agree with madam pomfrey!!

Also found Mdme Pomfret jarring...but still really appreciate Cush Jumbo narrating, which cancels out the occasional irritation.

Cush Jumbo is wonderful - what a voice!
I also think she sounds quite a bit like JKR from time to time - or at least JKR adjacent.

Agree Cush Jumbo’s narration is excellent. Am a fan of hers from the Good Fight

We are loving these - Sirius Black and Lupin were both perfect. I was worried as I really really love Gary Oldman!

It’s so nice to have the book version, and hear all the original twiddles that were (quite sensibly) omitted from the films. I guess the new TV version will have the space to stay more true to the books.

I've not started book 3 yet, as DD shares my audible and has been listening on her kindle. I can't start it until she finishes it otherwise it loses her place 😭

I'm loving the series though, I found it difficult at first to get used to all the background noises (nobody groans that much in real life!) but I think Ron is my favourite, I love how he pronounces his A's although I've no idea what accent that is meant to be!

Madame Pomfrey being voiced by a male is very jarring, I don't know why they would do that because the character isn't trans and Rebecca Root's voice does not pass for female at all. Snape also isn't menacing enough, he sounds more like a petulant teen to me.

Loving Mark Addy as Hagrid, there are certain parts where I'm convinced it's Robbie Coltrane 😥

Can't wait for the TV show, I really hope they do the books justice because there's so much more to explore than the films ever went into.

I have limited myself to a chapter a day and started around Christmas. I figure this way the last 4 books should have enough chapters that I shouldn’t run out.

Am loving the narrator. Some of the dialogue being inaudible in the first book wasn’t great. Only discovered this week that headphones make a huge difference.

Snape keeps making me think of film Horace Slughorn. Must be difficult for anyone playing Snape in anything. He is forever Alan Rickman.

I was also annoyed by the Weasley twins being the same actor. There’s something a bit jarring about it. But it’s also made me noticed how often they say things together in the book.

Just started Goblet of Fire.

I did have a double take as Harry def sounded much older and yes-the Golden Trio have all been replaced for books 4-7 which I was unaware of pre reading.

The 2025/2026 Audible
Harry Potter full-cast audiobooks feature Frankie Treadawayas Harry Potter for books 1–3, with Jaxon Knopf taking over as Harry for books 4–7. The series is narrated by Cush Jumbo. This major production features a massive cast, including Hugh Laurie as Dumbledore and Matthew Macfadyen as Voldemort.

It is def the right thing to do-he sounds very teen ager-y and age appropriate.

ooh its the 10th!!! I'll get on to GoF right now.

thanks for the info re change of cast