Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: 7

Once upon a time I went to see a Harry Potter movie....the very first one. I didn't care for it at all. Who was this Harry Potter and why should I care about him. The reviews of the books all said the books were better than Wizard of Oz. How could that be? A few years passed and Harry was more popular than ever. In talking to a girl at work I asked her which Harry Potter book did her fan-boyfriend liked best. She said "Goblet of Fire". I bought it. I read it. I fell in love. These stories are so charming and real. So delightful and insightful. Of course I read the first 3 and then bought the last 3 in hard back. But I even wanted more. I now have all on CDs and listen to them at work. Jim Dale does the voices beautifully. You can tell who is Harmione, Harry, Ron, Prof Snape, Umbridge. Jim is a great reader and voice and you hear every word. Unlike the movies, that are like reader's digest versions of these wonderful stories, you get it all. And I promise you will enjoy it all. Warning: The "Deathy Hallows" can make you cry, with joy and with sorrow. This can be a bit awkward at work. But life is about feelings and so are these marvelous stories. Start with any book of the books and you will know the Harry Potter story. But don't be put off because you don't have time or just don't like to read. Listening can get you there too. It's nice to be proven wrong about popular opinion. I'm so glad I tried to see what Harry was all about. My life is richer for it and I promise your life will be richer too.

Ordered and paid for a new item, but item delivered was in tattered and worn box.

EDIT: Some people mark audio reviews as "unhelpful", which I found strange, until I realized what Amazon does.-- They pool audio and text reviews and place all of those reviews on each of the products' pages, regardless of form the material is taking. You wouldn't expect a book review on the DVD's page. In this case, every word is the same, but a book review tells you only about the story, not the quality of the audio product.-- But any regular audiobook listener has experienced a great book poorly read, or hammed up, or a voice that grated on your nerves, or found a book you loved to listen to, but couldn't find the time to sit and read (Lord of the Rings for me).-- A review of the author's work tells you NOTHING about the audio, and yet, if you try and find what you're getting into, you have to sift through MANY book reviews before finding out the quality of the voice work, as most people have reviewed the author and the book, rather than the audiobook.-- So, here's a small review of the audiobook, if you're interested in purchasing that. If you're looking for a review of the author, I am not being unhelpful, but Amazon is. I will request that they change their policy and display the reviews separately.... Jim Dale is one of the best voice actors I've ever listened to and he brought the books to life an a way that reading could never do. I like reading, but it's really incredible to have someone put a different voice to every character, displaying the emotions and tone of the interactions.... They are a really phenomenal experience, and I've listened to them over again and again.

What can I say about the last book in what has been for me and my family a magical and wonderful journey? The only thing is simply "WOW". I had very mixed emotions when I held the last book in my hands. Happiness that I would finally find out all of the answers, and extreme sadness that this would be the last time I would anticipate what was in store for these charachters that had become very dear and familiar. JK Rowling has taken us to the final chapter of a great series and did it wonderfully. I was one of the millions of fans who waited at a store at midnight. I had already ordered my book on Amazon in February, but I wanted my children to witness the phenomenon of people waiting for a book as though it was a major rock concert. We even bought an additional copy because my daughter did not want to wait for me to finish. Although I finished by noon the next day. Although I loved this book and the CD read beautifully by Jim Dale. I thought a few of the chapters were a little drawn out, but the final 3 chapters I was reading through my tears. I had to re-read them to catch what I had missed. I will not give away any details, since I would not want to spoil it for anyone who has not read it yet. All I can say is I was very happy with The Deathly Hallows, and am going back and re-reading from the begining. I hope that future generations enjoy this series as much as we have. JK Rowling has given us a new classic for everyone to enjoy.

Rather than review the book, which I find to be generally outstanding and a satisfying end to the series, I'd instead like to review Jim Dale's reading of it.This is my second "reading" of The Deathly Hallows, but my first foray into audiobooks. I thought it would be good filler during a road trip and beach vacation when I would be unable to actually pick up a book. Now home from that trip, I can't stop listening to it.Dale's pacing slows me down and allows me to appreciate details I probably skim past while reading at my usual steady clip. His inflection draws you in, brings Rowling's rich world out of the words, gives a wink and a nod during the fleeting happy moments, and sets you on edge as tension rises. He provides a distinctive and appropriate voice for each character, bringing life to their personalities.The one rather major exception I take is with Hermione's voice; the younger women's voices in general sound a bit strained, but not distractingly so. Hermione's parts, however, are spoken with a whiney inflection that elongates the last syllable of words and gets high and squeaky at the end ("Haa-rryyYYY"). Rather than making her sound reproachful or thoughtful, as I'm sure is intended, it makes her sound a bit dim-witted, almost like a thoughtless stereotype of someone with a disability. Emma Watson (Hermione in film), in contrast, manages to enunciate each syllable while simultaneously spitting out the words like the intellectual bullets they usually are.To sum it up: while drifting off into his otherwise excellent reading, it's jarring and distracting to suddenly have such strange portrayal of a character who speaks with such frequency.