A fantastic production!

Andrew Lincoln’s reading of this book was an absolute joy to listen to, but it was the beautifully dramatized 2014 Quidditch World Cup coverage that I enjoyed the most. As a long time member of Pottermore relished reading those Daily Prophet articles as they were posted back in 2014. To have this small chapter of the Harry Potter story finally produced in an audio format is something I thought I’d never see. Now if we could just get an audio adaptation of The Cursed Child.

38 people found this helpful

Well worth a listen and entertaining to the last

Andrew Lincoln (aka Rick Grimes) does a fantastic and hilarious job of the individual voices of the "historical" characters as well as a smooth narrative throughout the book. When the history of the game, it's rules, and conception are finished, we get a hilarious Ginny Weasley and Rita Skeeter coverage of a world cup match. Special bonus for those of us Doctor Who fans when realization hit that Rita Skeeter is voiced by the lady Slitheen from the Christopher Eccleston season, Annette Badland. Overall, the narratives, the well timed sound effects, and the quirky story telling we've come to know and love make this an excellent, if short trip into the Wizarding World.

15 people found this helpful

Very entertaining

I found the entire book extremely entertaining. It was very well narrated and is a nice addition to the Harry Potter books in story. When I found the most entertaining out of all of it was the 2014 Quidditch World Cup narrated by Ginny potter and Rita Skeeter. That part just made my day

13 people found this helpful

Vocal Fry and Sound Effects, Oh My

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The use of sound effects really takes away from the experience rather than enhance it. This was true with the Fantastic Beasts audio book as well. They were loud and annoying, at times even drowning out the narrator. Also, the narrator’s use of vocal fry left much to be desired. It’s unfortunate that such small details can have such a huge impact, as I could not recommend this audiobook to others and would offer a warning to those considering it. I would love to see this and the Fantastic Beasts audiobooks remixed without the sound effects, or at a minimum, with the sound effects much softer. I suppose the vocal fry would have been less annoying and perhaps not as grating without the loud, distracting, unnecessary added sound effects.

11 people found this helpful

Holy sound effects!

The sound effects throughout Lincoln's narration were so overwhelming and overshadowed everything he said. I love this book, but I couldn't even hear half of it. I've never given any of the Harry Potter books less than 5 stars on any format before, but this version needs help. The audio is not good. The addition of the quidditch world cup coverage was so fun though, and the sound effects work well there, considering it's meant to be live coverage of the game.

8 people found this helpful

More

I need more Potterverse in my life.

I wish this book was t was longer.

6 people found this helpful

Referees Had Been Known to Vanish

“Although people rarely died playing Quidditch, referees had been known to vanish and turn up months later in the Sahara Desert.”

Story: Quidditch Through the Ages is an entertaining history of the sport. You will cover the development of the sport, the introduction to rules, broom evolution and an overview of some of the Quidditch teams. Last, and certainly not least, is the thrilling reporting from the 2014 Quidditch World Cup!

Narration: The story is good, but the narration and production is what really makes this audiobook special. All of the narrators do a wonderful job at capturing their characters (or multiple characters) and the sound effects really add to the listening experience. At times, I legitimately jumped as I thought a bludger was coming my way!

Overall: Quidditch Through the Ages is a fun little book. I do wish that it was longer, but it does a good job at quenching the thirst for more Harry Potter information and history. The narration is fantastic and the production really comes to life! Some say the audio from the sound effects was loud at times, which is true, but for me that added to my experience. Is the sport as deafening as it came across in the narration? I could imagine so when you are flying around on nothing but a broom, while fans are screaming constantly and you are also trying not to take a hit. Seriously, I still fear a bludger from time-to-time throughout my day!

4 people found this helpful

my thoughts on quidditch Through the Ages

I loved the recounting of the 2014 quidditch World Cup at the end. I also like that they were supporting lumos and comic relief with this book, and I like what they're doing in these charities,. Furthermore I liked the book as a whole even the Quidditch information at the beginning, which of course every Harry Potter fan would buy just for the information at the beginning about Quidditch. so I'm glad I bought this book.

4 people found this helpful

Superb!

Loved it. Finished in a day. Haven't picked up a Harry Potter book in years and this reminded me how much a genius and warm spirit Rowling is.

2 people found this helpful

Your GOING to lose your hearing!

While the storyline is alright for the first 7 chapters, bu the end of chapter 7 and most definitely the beginning of chapter 8, he sound effects will leave a ringing in your ears if you’re using a headset.

The narrator is talking along and you’re concentrating on listening and al of a sudden LOUD OBNOXIOUS noises start popping up as part of the story line.

I stopped listening as my ears couldn’t take it any more...

2 people found this helpful