A problem with the narration

The book itself is well worthy of the name "classic". It is deep, intelligent and moving, and the most impressive thing about it, to me, was the apparent ease with which the author portrays such a complex protagonist and such deep feelings. However, I was only able to reach these conclusions after reading a print version of the book, since in the audiobook I could only barely follow the story.

The problem with the narrator is very simple: his voice is just too deep. He's not an untalented narrator, in that his pronunciation is very clear and he reads without any errors (I think I detected a hint of accent -- South African, perhaps?). However, he reads at such a low pitch that it is very hard to decipher what he's saying. Most of the time it sounds like someone grumbling to himself in another room. This would be a perfect voice for some sort of "mountain-man" in an animated film, but constantly straining to understand the narrator is not what you want in an audiobook.

11 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

You Get What You Pay For

I bought this version of Death in Venice because it was really inexpensive, and the sample seemed decent enough. After I started it, I found the narration to be excruciatingly awful, and after about an hour of listening in the car, I made up my mind that this audio book had to go! The narrator has a deep, muffled, and throaty voice that simply croaked. He sounds like a heavy smoker whose respiratory system is about to give out at any moment. I decided to call it a loss and to download and listen to the more expensive version. The story itself is great.

9 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

This is great. Now where is Magic Mountain?

Fantastic story, of course. Narrator's performance was acceptable to me.

Now please make an audio book of Magic Mountain ASAP!

4 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Shatteringly beautiful

An aching requiem for love and reason set amidst the swelling sicknesses of Europe before the Great War.

I did eventually come to like the narrator very much- found his tone a bit monotonous at first, but perhaps in the end this was the right artistic choice considering the tone of the book.

All in all, great.

2 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

It's not as exciting on audiobook

"Death in Venice" is a classic and there's no way around it. With its pros and cons, the book is a great piece of literature by Thomas Mann. Now, the audiobook, narrated by Peter Batchelor... I wasn't really into it. His tone was flat, the pace was good, but... I didn't connect at any time. When he does different voices for the characters, I didn't really find it amusing or interesting... It was boring, to be honest. He lacks emotion, passion... Maybe it was just me, but I was expecting more

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Enjoyed this Narrator

I love this book, and, unlike some reviewers, particularly liked this narration. He reads with understanding. I have listened to this recording several times.

NO! Absolutely horrible!

DNF!!! No one else has a problem that this “literary classic” is just a book about pedophilia? It’s not even a well written book. It’s as if the author is trying to show off how many words he can use as his main character stalks an adolescent boy around Europe lusting after him. NO! JUST NO!

The Definitive Translation

I was looking for a specific version of DIV, and had some trouble, but finally I found the version I needed. And to help others who might be searching for the same I am here to tell you this version of DIV is translated by David Luke. If you want to follow along I used the Bantam Classics version. I listened to other translations and this one is by far the best for this tragic and beautiful tale. A+ Read this book!

strange story

a very odd story from start to finish. I rarely think that I would rather have my time back after reading a book, but this is one of those occasions.

great book but..

i love this book, it's a great book... but it's hard to understand the narrator. it's kind of mumbled.