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!

How old are the new kids? They sound a bit old...

I don't know but the last book is when they are 17/18 so I guess they need to sound older.

I suppose they're all recorded! I'm not 💯 on Harry, Hermione is growing on me!

I think the problem for me with Harry specifically is that I was re-listening to POA until it came out as I had a small gap in my listening.

Harry def a child in that and the contrast to him sounding really more like a man than even a teen was jarring on early listening but I am getting used to it.
I googled and it looks like Jaxon Knopf (harry potter) was 16 when he got the part which I think was in 2024 as google not terribly helpful.
Jaxon Mum obviously not a MNer as if she was on the baby name boards she would not be impressed with opinions 😉

I think Hermione fine. To the poster above who didn't like F&G being played by the same actor-they are now different.

I appreciate they had to change from the children and think it would be impractical to keep changing so I think Harry will grow into voice.

I also agree with whoever said Hugh Laurie def morphs into Jeeves and Wooster/Black Adder voice and now I can't unhear it.

Do enjoy Percy's character which I think the movies really missed out on.

Think they also have better balance with background noises etc,
overall a good listen!

I'm really enjoying TGoF. These full-cast editions work well for the later books. I always thought the film version of TGoF didn't capture the horror of Harry's experience in the graveyard at all, and I'm hopeful this full-cast edition will do it proper justice.

I can't take to Professor Trelawney - her voice is way too over the top, even for an over-the-top character! And Madam Pomfrey having a male voice is very jarring.

sounds like they've got half the cast of game of thrones in GoF!

I'm tempted to get it solely for Matt Berry as Sir Cadogan! Id love it if he makes an appearance in the TV series. BAT!

Am listening to GoF-

Chapter 9-The Dark Mark and I think some of 10 today on dog walk.

I do think there is an improvement in casting in that I can tell Harry and Ron apart because there are def less "harry said's" and you have to try and follow.

Thought the Hermione voice was, at times, very very like Emma Watson.
So much so that a few times I would have believed you if you said it was.
I guess making them sound like the actors helps us know who they are.

Think Mr Weasley sounds a bit like Hagrid at times 😬

Def very noticeable that they have dropped the T in Voldemort.

Two other weird changes in pronunciation-
they now say "ARITHmincy" almost like one syllable instead of Arith-MANCY
and ParVATI is now Parviti

Wonder why?

I’m listening right now, and have just reached the point where they’re all about to go back to Hogwarts and Mrs Weasley has ordered them “3 ordinary Muggle taxis” to take them to King’s Cross. From Devon.

That’s going to cost a fortune, without even mentioning the fact they’ll probably be charged extra for carrying the owls. How on earth are they affording that? Not to mention they’re clearly setting off around 8am, as Percy is off to work, so how earth are these taxis going to get there in time??!

I know, I know - kids books. But still…

Not sure if this is the right place ........ but how did Hermione & her family find out about Hogwarts etc? I get that she might have been developing magical powers as a child but as muggles how did they find out about the wizard world? And I think her parents took her to Diagon Ally for supplies - where did they get wizard money from? They must know all about the wizard world so some muggles are deemed OK to know about it? Like Grangers and Dursleys?

I can't recall if later books cover this?

Hermione got her letter on her 11th birthday. That's how they find out about it.

Petunia talks about how excited her parents were to 'have a witch in the family's

I guess Gringotts has a bureau de change 😂

But yes there are so many inconsistencies when you spend anytime thinking about it. I'm still on PoA but Hermione could use the time turner to get extra sleep/extra time to do her homework but just to do her classes.

Plus the whomping willow- planted 50 years ago but also when Lupin started at the school - so Lupin has to be 61, but that doesn't work with the text, Harry's parents

Yes one of the books touches on how Hermione finds out about Hogwarts, as it mentions the letter that is sent from the school informing her / her parents she has a place, can’t remember which book. The letter gives information on the school and where to get supplies, I think that might be mentioned in the first book when Hagrid finally gets to deliver Harry’s letter, again it was some time ago I read the books. You can change money at Gringots, again I have a vague recollection about it, in one of the books (possibly bk 3 when Harry is already staying in the Leaky Caldron, and bumps into his friends in Diagon Alley?)
I can’t get on with the new audible drama. Hagrid sounds thick, it’s a crap attempt at an accent. Madam Pomfrey is ridiculous, Harry doesn’t sound like an 11 yr old…..grrrrr I could go on! I get the roles are going to require significant skill to act, as the books are close to genius, but I’ve been disappointed so far, and don’t want to waste anymore credits.

@RobinEllacotStrike

We were just chatting about that here-
I assume Hermione gets a different letter for Hogwarts.
There was talk about changing Muggle money for Wizard gold.

Think a little weird that some Muggles don't get their memories modified but some do.
Aunt Marge gets blown up and her memory is modified but not the Dursley's?
And any one with Muggle parents-they know about Hogwarts and the magic world.

Surely some greedy Muggle would have tried to sell the story-wonder if protected or something. Or terror of a pigs tail is enough to keep Dursley's quiet?

thank you for that info - I somehow missed this or at least didnt retain it. But there is lots to take in.

Good point about using the time turner to get more sleep - but all therories about time travel do my brain in - its easier to simply go with it.

🙏🏼💐

The Dursleys are restrained & controlled by terror and "what will the neighbours think" though it does take them a while to reduce their abuse of Harry.

Hermione's parent seem to be just go with the flow types but I can't imagine I'd be sending my 14yo daughter to stay with a wizarding family with 6 sons for weeks at a time.

I'm enjoying Goblet of Fire so far - sure Harry does sound a bit old but the new Neville isn't so snivvly so ups & downs.

And I've always been a little but in love with Cush Jumbo so that makes it all up.

Half way through GoF and enjoying much more than the earlier books after being initially unsure.
It all now seems richer and more nuanced, particularly as I tend to listen through headphones.

Still can't get on board with Hugh Laurie, sorry it was me who said he was just like his George characters from Blackadder and unfortunately I still can't get past that.

Liking the older main characters much more and think James McAvoy is very good as Mad Eye, lovely voice and to me, really well done.

Disappointed in voice of McGonagall though... I'm not familiar with Michelle Gomez so don't know if that's her actual accent but I'm Scottish myself and to me it's over the top and sounds quite jarring.

I like Cush Jumbo tying it all together and after being initially unsure I've really started to enjoy the books without now comparing them to the original recordings... different but good.

I'm sure I read somewhere (maybe on a different HP thread or Reddit) that muggle borns have someone from the school visit them to explain everything, give more Hogwarts info, explain how to get to Diagon Alley etc. Or I may have dreamt it 🤣

Edit to add: Voldemort has Dumbledore visit him to explain that he is a wizard and he has a place at Hogwarts, talks about someone taking him to Diagon Alley but Tom Riddle says he'll go along. So must be the muggle borns get a personal visit. Harry would have just got a letter as they assumed that the Dursleys would have explained about his parents and the wizarding world.

I definitely recall there being mention in one of the books about Hermione's parents exchanging muggle money at Gringotts.

If you were the editor of the daily mail and someone rung you up saying 'My daughter's just been visited by some man in a pointy hat who told her she's a witch, and took us to this pub in London where he hit a brick with a stick and then we were transported into a magical street full of witches and wizards selling cauldrons!' would you say 'My god! How fascinating, I'll send someone round to interview you immediately!' or 'Very good sir, I'll put that on file....' or 'And how long did you say you spent in the pub?'

Also don't they have some wizards in high places in muggle government (e.g. Kingsley Shacklebolt was the muggle prime minister's bodyguard) so they've probably got some sort of restrictions on reporting anything too 'weird.' I think they say something about having to perform a lot of memory charms on people who saw the flying car, etc.

So a question for those that know the Big Finish audios; Are these full cast audio adaptions like the Big Finish main line Doctor Who adaptions?

Or are these more like Big Finishes companion chronicles where a couple of actors perform multiple roles and it's mostly narration?

Or is it mix of both, full cast with narration?

they are full cast audio adaptions with narration where applicable, and sound effects etc.

A bit too much background huffing & puffing in the first 2 for me but still fantastic.

(Ive not listened to the Dr Who ones)

@1offnamechange or Mumsnet

An eldery man has somehow entered my locked home and offered my daughter a place at a very special & exclusive private school. Its free (a private school for free!) and includes full board, but apparently its only for witches and they sit OWLS not GCSE's. I don't know what exam board sets the OWLS papers. Its also unclear where the school is located and no tours are offered - I think its in Scotland & she can get the schools private train there and back (so I don't even have to go there). Again for FREE! A free private school with full board though I'm going to have to buy DD books, magic potion supplies and a flying broomstick!

AIBU to accept the place and ask where does she get the train again?

I just finished GoF. Agree that James McAvoy has done a great job as Moody. And when it comes to the reveal after the maze, he's terrific - both menacing and mad, but not over the top like some actors do when they're trying to portray madness!

The full-cast really comes into its own in this book. The maze scenes were great - really atmospheric and spooky. And the graveyard was depicted so well. Harry screaming as his scar started hurting when Voldemort came closer to him was really effective. The whole scene was done very well, as was how frightened and concerned Mrs Weasley was and Syrius etc at the hospital wing afterwards - it was quite emotional.

Other things I liked - Winky was voiced very well (Stephen Fry gave her a really annoying voice!). And it was great hearing the golden egg mermaid clue given an actual song. I also like the children having older voices now - they're very good actors, and it adds to the books getting darker as they go on.

I think the exchanging muggle money is in bk 2. It’s after Harry gets lost travelling by Floo powder and before they get into a brawl in Flourish and Blotts.

The Muggle born thing has bothered me for a while. There is nothing in the letter that tells you where to get your supplies or show to get to Diagonal Alley or how to get on to platform 9 3/4. Although also why did Petunia think 9 3/4 was so weird. Surely she must have known how Lily got to school.

My current Q is about Xmas presents. They exchange presents at school in book 2. But they aren’t old enough to have gone to Hogsmeade during the term. So are they very well prepared and take the present a for their friends in Sept or is there some sort of wizarding equivalent of the Argos catalogue that they can get owl order gifts from. Cos god knows they didn’t have the internet.

I am absolutely loving Peeves in these. Can’t remember if I said that before.

I think JK Rowling released a book for comic relief some years ago (Hogwarts a history?) and it explained some of the discrepancies. So it told us about how muggle students had a visit from a teacher who explained it all to their parents and then get to diagon alley/ money etc.

Re: Christmas presents, I want to say there's a tuck shop and that's why they're chocolate frogs etc 🤣

Hogwarts: An incomplete and unreliable guide

Just looked it up! It's a collection of her writings from Pottermore. Only an e book!