I am also discovering audiobooks (I was in book publishing for many years and had an unreasonable bias against them), and my pet peeve is when a male narrator, in an attempt to mimic a female character, puts his voice into a higher register that somehow makes the woman sound like an evil clown. Ack!
Here's to a fast lag-recovery, and I'm with you about not exposing my midriff just because. P.S. I was only sent home from junior high once for a too-short dress. Home was within walking distance, so that wasn't too bad. It was *really* short . . . .
You’d love the audiobook of Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier (if you like that kind of book). It is read beautifully by the author and he just reads it, no acting, no voices, very low key. Perfect for that book.
I’ll admit that I love a reader who can do good voices (Patrick Tull reading the Master & Commander series! Kobna Holbrook-Smith reading the Rivers of London series!) but I also love just a well-read book.
Yes, Patrick Tull is a marvelous reader. The accents are subtly done, and he doesn't make female characters speak in that horrible falsetto some male readers adopt. Just finished listening to all 20.3 books in the M&C series, and his breathing and pacing add so much to the narrative! Unless a reader has this expertise, though, I prefer a neutral reading voice overall.
Dating myself, pants weren't allowed. Going out on the weekends, we'd change into pants behind the washing machine that was in the lobby of an apt building across the street from the dorm.
And about audio, I'm asked to read an essay I wrote being published in the Missouri Review Summer 2024. It's been an ordeal for me. And forget about any accent!
Totally agree on the accents, and the whole midriff-baring thing. The quality of the reader is SO important to an audiobook; like you, there are a couple I've abandoned due to the reader (including one "read by the author." whose voice was so raspy and hoarse I couldn't take it.) I do love a reader who can subtly alter his/her voice for various characters so you can keep track of who's saying what in a dialog, though.
I remember with horror the advent of tunic tops and stirrup pants. Basically, no pants! turns out that was perfect for two pregnancies. I hear they’re back.
I don't remember why, but I was recently discussing the leg warmer trend with my young adult kids. It was the trend in my high school group to wear leg warmers WITH JEANS. Yes. That's correct. No, I don't know why. We also wore them with sweatpants.
I fondly remembered Flashdance, and rewatched it during lockdown with my husband and daughter, who didn't enjoy it as much. Most striking was the obviousness of the dance double for Jennifer Beals. I distinctly remember interviews with her talking about all the dance training she did. She might have, but it was clearly not her dancing, when her face was hidden all the time.
All through high school we rolled skirts. Monday through Thursday hardly anyone wore makeup. But come Friday when your boyfriend would pick you up, there wasn’t enough mirror space in the bathrooms. Fun memories from many years ago.
I was always amazed that Sean Connery never changed his accent whether he was a submarine captain for the Russians, a rebel Arab in the dessert, a Brit, a Scot, an Irishman, or a dragon. He was completely believable in every role and no one questioned it. He just kept giving stellar performances in his normal accent. I loved it. I would rather hear it in clear, natural, voice-over than in affected accents that never sound quite right. I love audiobooks, but if the voice, even if it is a natural accent, grates on my ears. I will NOT listen to it.
I am also discovering audiobooks (I was in book publishing for many years and had an unreasonable bias against them), and my pet peeve is when a male narrator, in an attempt to mimic a female character, puts his voice into a higher register that somehow makes the woman sound like an evil clown. Ack!
Here's to a fast lag-recovery, and I'm with you about not exposing my midriff just because. P.S. I was only sent home from junior high once for a too-short dress. Home was within walking distance, so that wasn't too bad. It was *really* short . . . .
Welcome home! Totally in agreement with accents…
You’d love the audiobook of Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier (if you like that kind of book). It is read beautifully by the author and he just reads it, no acting, no voices, very low key. Perfect for that book.
I’ll admit that I love a reader who can do good voices (Patrick Tull reading the Master & Commander series! Kobna Holbrook-Smith reading the Rivers of London series!) but I also love just a well-read book.
Yes, Patrick Tull is a marvelous reader. The accents are subtly done, and he doesn't make female characters speak in that horrible falsetto some male readers adopt. Just finished listening to all 20.3 books in the M&C series, and his breathing and pacing add so much to the narrative! Unless a reader has this expertise, though, I prefer a neutral reading voice overall.
Dating myself, pants weren't allowed. Going out on the weekends, we'd change into pants behind the washing machine that was in the lobby of an apt building across the street from the dorm.
And about audio, I'm asked to read an essay I wrote being published in the Missouri Review Summer 2024. It's been an ordeal for me. And forget about any accent!
Totally agree on the accents, and the whole midriff-baring thing. The quality of the reader is SO important to an audiobook; like you, there are a couple I've abandoned due to the reader (including one "read by the author." whose voice was so raspy and hoarse I couldn't take it.) I do love a reader who can subtly alter his/her voice for various characters so you can keep track of who's saying what in a dialog, though.
I couldn't sit and READ War and Peace so thank heavens for audio books!
I remember with horror the advent of tunic tops and stirrup pants. Basically, no pants! turns out that was perfect for two pregnancies. I hear they’re back.
I don't remember why, but I was recently discussing the leg warmer trend with my young adult kids. It was the trend in my high school group to wear leg warmers WITH JEANS. Yes. That's correct. No, I don't know why. We also wore them with sweatpants.
I fondly remembered Flashdance, and rewatched it during lockdown with my husband and daughter, who didn't enjoy it as much. Most striking was the obviousness of the dance double for Jennifer Beals. I distinctly remember interviews with her talking about all the dance training she did. She might have, but it was clearly not her dancing, when her face was hidden all the time.
Leg warmers with jeans is something! Our group used to wear t-shirts OVER button-down shirts (preferably pencil stripes)
It was a young man,not seen the film,seen a clip of that but
I believe a man did the breakdancing sequence, but a female French dancer named Marine Jahan did most of it.
At the time there was a big brouhaha that she was not credited in the movie.
I had a VHS workout tape by Marine Jahan! She also danced in Streets of Fire — she’s an amazing, athletic dancer.
That's interesting.i just heard about the man. How he did the tricky bits.
Loved this as I too was a skirt roller! I also ironed my hair and used oj cans as hair curlers. Great piece! I enjoyed it!
I rolled and rolled my tartan skirt at school 🤣
All through high school we rolled skirts. Monday through Thursday hardly anyone wore makeup. But come Friday when your boyfriend would pick you up, there wasn’t enough mirror space in the bathrooms. Fun memories from many years ago.
Great trip down memory lane!! (My sister was a high school cheerleader and my parents were strict fundamentalists. 😳😬🤣)
I was always amazed that Sean Connery never changed his accent whether he was a submarine captain for the Russians, a rebel Arab in the dessert, a Brit, a Scot, an Irishman, or a dragon. He was completely believable in every role and no one questioned it. He just kept giving stellar performances in his normal accent. I loved it. I would rather hear it in clear, natural, voice-over than in affected accents that never sound quite right. I love audiobooks, but if the voice, even if it is a natural accent, grates on my ears. I will NOT listen to it.
Kneel
Yes, sir
I still have a pair of denim short-shorts, patched in amusing places. Worn only at home. Fun read. Our skirt rule was knell, skirt must touch.
Ground. Debasing.
I got sent home from school for my Mary Quant dress just at my knee. Ancient days.