Stephen Fry Books


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Stephen Fry Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

 Stephen Fry
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Published in Audio Cassette by Cover to Cover Cassettes Ltd (2001-07-23)
Author: J.K. Rowling
List price: $103.30
New price: $219.42
Used price: $219.38

Average review score:

PRETTY GOOD BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-20
THIS BOOK HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE IS ACTUALLY A PRETTY GOOD BOOK. THE GOOD THING ABOUT NOT JUST THIS BOOK BUT ALL THE BOOKS IS THAT THEY TELL WAY MORE INFORMATION THEN THE MOVIE DOES. BUT THE PROBLEM ABOUT THIS BOOK IS THAT IN THE BEGINING IT STARTS OUT REALLY SLOW BUT ONCE YOU GET ABOUT 300 TO 350 PAGES READ IT STARTS GETTING REALLY GOOD AND YOU DONT WANT TO PUT IT DOWN. PROBOBALY THE BEST PART IN THIS BOOK IS THE ENDING WHICH I AM NOT GOING TO TELL YOU JUST INCASE YOU HAVEN'T READ THIS BOOK. OVERALL I WOULD SAY THIS BOOK IS PRETTY GOOD BUT IS IS NOT ONE OF MY FAVORITE SO I A'M GIVING IT A 4/5. OH AND HERES A QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS THAT READ THIS BOOK.
"DID YOU LIKE THE BOOK WHEN YOU READ IT?

For 1,000's of Years!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-23
Ok, we all know and love the Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling. And of the seven books in the series, I think Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is probably none other than the best. It's plot is amazing and it has the best descripion a book could possibly offer. The only critizisim I could give it is that things can be a bit predictable at points... The author uses a lot of conversation and dreams to really keep the book flowing. Now, here's a bit about the plot: Anyone who has read the Harry Potter series knows that the main characters are Harry and his best friends Ron and Hermione. It mainly follows a plot where the Triwizard Tournament happens at Hogwarts and it hasn't happened for 1'000's of years. Three schools are competeing, (where else would tri come from?) Hogwarts, Beauxaton's, and Durmstrang. They compete in various challenges and only one student does it per school. That's all I can tell you. Read it to find out what happens! I would highly recommend this book.

Success Number 4
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-25
The Goblet of Fire is truly a special book. Delving even deeper (and darker) into the villainy that lies just below the calm surface, so to speak, Rowling succeeds...yet again.

The plot of the series thickens, what with fellow students turning their back on Harry, who is taking part in an old, old, old Wizard Tournament. It all culminates in a climatic battle with the flesh and blood Voldemort in a graveyard.

Rowling's writing style is so engaging and effective. She positively reduced me to pathetic tears in the closing chapters of this EXCELLENT book, leaving us on the verge of a looming danger.

As Gandalf might say; "The battle in the graveyard is over, but the battle against Voldemort has just begun."

Okay, that was a bit stupid...but true. Stupidly true.

JJ from Lake Tapps says, "Amazing Book"
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-20
Zap! Lord Voldemort's and Harry Potter's hex and jinx came zooming out of the tips of their wands and became connected. Find out what happens by reading J. K. Rowling's fabulous book Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Harry has to spend another grueling summer with his evil Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and his cousin Dudley, until his best friend, Ron Weasley, invites him to the Quidditch World Cup. After the exciting game every body gets attacked. Luckily, Ron and Harry are ok. On September 1, as always, Harry and his friends get on the Hogwarts Express to go to school. A few days after their arrival 2 other schools come. The schools are Beauxbatons and Bulgaria. That night Dumbledore (the head master) revels an old goblet. He explains that only 3 people may compete in the Triwizard Tournament. The tournament has 3 dangerous tasks. 3 names come out of the goblet. Then a 4th . Harry Potter. He has no choice but to compete. Towards the end Lord Voldemort comes back. Does Harry live? Read to find out!

For me the best part is the 1st task. Harry had to get a golden egg from a fierce dragon. He barely gets the egg. I liked this because it had a lot of good words and action. It kept me turning the pages.

The main character is Harry Potter. He is a good kid but gets in trouble by Snape. Ron is Harry's best friend. Professor Snape is the most hated teacher in the whole school. Malfoy is a bad kid and Harry's worst enemy.

I recommend this book to people who like long books, good words, and a great book. I bet you will love this book like me!

Sublime!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-12
Listening to Jim Dale's narration of the Quidditch World Cup makes it all come to life, better than in the film. He is almost without peer. I can't imagine anyone else doing it. The conclusion of the book is effectively emotional and it all complements reading the book itself. Bravo!

 Stephen Fry
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Published in Audio Cassette by Cover to Cover Cassettes Ltd (2000-09-25)
Author: J.K. Rowling
List price: $55.75
New price: $31.25
Used price: $99.83

Average review score:

The Good Old Days
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-10
This is truly a great book. It is the real starting point for Harry's adventures. The Chamber of Secrets and The Sorcerer's Stone weren't able to give me anywhere near the amount of excitement I received while reading this book. I give this book 5 stars for many different reasons

Harry Potter's skills as a sorcerer aren't very impressive until this book when he learns to use the Patonus...something...I read this a while back lol. Also, the Dementors were the first creatures throughout the whole series to really strike fear into my mind. Sure there were traps that were devastating in the first book, and sure there was the basilisk who could kill people with its glare. But the Dementors were able to make a person suffer horribly through only emotions. I mean, who wouldn't be scared of having all the happiness and good emotions sucked out of you and the environment around you. The chilled air and flickering lights (maybe they actually turned off) scared the bejesus out of me.

Here's a measurement for how good this book is and how it's a turning point for this whole series. I cannot begin to describe how fast I read this book compared to the first two. The Sorcer's Stone took me a whole year because it bored the crap out of me. The Chamber of Secrets...I got up to the 2nd paragraph and actually could not go on reading it. The Prisoner of Azkaban, by far my favorite of the whole series, took me the better part of a week or two to read. The same with The Deathly Hallows and The Half-Blood Prince. Overall, the maturity of this book compared to the first two is pumped up and it is truly a masterpiece for people of all ages.

accio what?
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-18
Mr. Dale has a strange way of pronouncing accio folks, prepare yourself.

We all really enjoy listening to the Potter series on audio CD. They are well done.

Fantastic!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-10
We've now bought all the Harry Potter audio books. My husband's not a great reader at home (newspaper and sports mags) but he drives a lot for his job. He loves listening to all these stories. We also play them in the car for the kids when we are travelling. We are big Harry Potter fans and these books have been a wonderful purchase. Now he can join in all our conversations too! Jim Dale is amazing, you completely forget it's only one person reading the book.

Good Book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-07
This is a very good book, i thought the harry potter books would suck but they dont. they are getting better and better. This was a good book to read

PCE Student Review
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-04-28
My Favorite book is Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling. This book is funny. My favorite characters are Harry Potter and Ron Weasly. Harry's funny and adventurous. He's fun and likes to try new things and has lots of courage. Ron is funny also, and likes to do almost what Harry does. Ron and Harry make the Harry Potter series joyful.

The author's writing style is joyful and the genre is adventure. J.K. Rowling is best at setting up the setting I think Hogwarts is a wonderful setting.


The best part of this book is that ever character is different in each chapter. They do lots of mini adventures in the big adventure; to find the prisoner Sirius Black. Best yet, Harry tries to go to Hogsmeade but gets caught by Professor Snape. I recommend this book for people in 3rd and above.

 Stephen Fry
Winnie the Pooh
Published in Audio Cassette by Hodder & Stoughton (1998-10)
Author: A. A. Milne
List price: $25.29
New price: $21.09
Used price: $21.09

Average review score:

Winnie the Pooh - an adults perspective
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-14
What does it say of a reader who, as an adult, reads 'Winnie the Pooh' for the first time - and - and - feels it one of the best novels he ever read.
So pristine, so perfect - would I have appreciated it as a child? Who knows (I was too busy feeding my literary hunger with comics). Anyway I have my copy of 'Winnie the Pooh' on the top shelf of my book case, next to the others I consider great (Ulysses, 1984, Great Expectations ...) for all to see.
And who can contest that for "I am a bear of very little brain, and big things bother me".

Wonderful!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-15
My 2 1/2 year old loves this! It is soooo much better than letting her watch tv as this uses her imagination. I'm very happy I bought this.

wonderful!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-11
This book was such a sweet little something to come home to at night. This book isn't just for kids, but for adults too! relax and enjoy!

one of our family's favorites
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-04
This book is such a classic. I love reading it to my kids, no matter how many times they ask. (And as a homeschool mom of 4, I get asked a lot! I require it for kindergarten though.) And it gets even better the older you get. It is so funny and clever and wise and endearing. We see almost every personality type in the characters. Definitely a must-read, and if you can at all, own a copy of this book! (A good audio version is nice to have too--British accent a must!) It's on every children's book list I've seen, and with good reason--it's stood the test of time. The children in your life will thank you for introducing them to the original and still the best version of Winnie the Pooh.

Kids love it
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-04
My kids really like listening to this book. My husband and I can't stand the voice of Pooh Bear though. I think they want him to sound dumb but it can get a little painful. But since the kids love it so much I suffer through.

 Stephen Fry
A Bear Called Paddington
Published in Audio CD by HarperChildrensAudio (2005-04-01)
Author: Michael Bond
List price: $17.95
New price: $7.99
Used price: $7.95

Average review score:

Paddington
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-12
The book I read was A Bear called Paddington, and it was very good. The author of A bear called Paddington was Michael Bond who has been writing children's books since 1995. A Bear called Paddington is a fantasy story.

A bear called Paddington has 8 stories in the book. First story...Mr. and Mrs. Brown find a bear who had came to America from darkest Prue. The train Stations name was Paddington so they named him Paddington. Paddington has no family so the Browns takes the bear to there house. Second story... Mr. and Mrs. Brown have 2 children, Judy and Jonathon, they really like Paddington. Paddington always has his hat o which actually saves his life. When Paddington was in the bath and forgot how to swim so he poured the water on the floor out of his hat. Third story... Paddington, Mrs. Brown ad Judy go underground somewhere, and o the way there, they lost all there money so as soon as they get there they don't have ay money for tickets. So all 3 of them looked for the money for the tickets. Fourth story Paddington, Judy ad Mrs. Brown go shopping and Paddington have never been on an elevator so he wants to go on one. They got off the elevator and Paddington hates it so much. Fifth story... On day a grocery man tells Paddington how to get paint off stuff. After hearing that, Paddington wanted to try, so he found an old and tried to erase it but it makes an even bigger mess. Sixth story... The whole family went to the theater. Paddington loves it so much that now he wants to be in show business. So he creeps I the actor's dressing room to find the main person, Sir Sealy. Sir Sealy gives Paddington a special part in the play. Seventh story... the whole family go's to the sea and Judy, Paddington and Jonathon enter a sad castle contest and one of them wins. Eighth story... Paddington gets a magic kit for his birthday in the end he vanished 2 thing's and broke one thing.

This book was one of my favorites, it was so good. One bad thing is that it was very easy to understand. I would recommend this book to third or fourth graders.

I love this book!!! I love Paddington Bear!!!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-11-24
Paddington is very funny when he does little mistakes. Paddington is a very interesting character that is lovable to everyone. Whenever I'm bored I read it, usually, even though we have already read it. You should mainly buy it for your kids, but you should read it to them because adults like it as much as the kids do. I like all the Paddington books, but my favorite one is the first one. Paddington is a wonderful character and he is my most favorite on earth.
by a 9 year- old (almost)girl from the USA

Wonderfully entertaining ... for both the kids and you!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-10-21
We LOVE this CD set! I bought it 2 years ago for my daughter to listen to for naps and bedtime, and now at age 5 she's STILL asking for it every night.

I like the fact that both CDs are over an hour long, she likes that there are several stories on each CD to keep her attention. The plots aren't too complicated for her to follow, but they do force her to pay attention and focus on the cd, which is key for naptime. :) Stephen Fry's voice is wonderfully soothing to listen to, and he does a great job of distinguishing between the various characters -- key for books on CD!

As she's gotten older Caroline has begun to appreciate some of the silliness that is Paddington, but the stories are nicely entertaining even without that element. We parents don't mind listening to Paddington in the car when we're on trips. All in all, I say this CD set is well worth this money, it's one that will really grow with you!!

A Review of A Bear Called Paddington
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-09
This proved to be a wonderful purchase. The stories are entertaining for both parents and children and are perfect for long car trips. Excellent alternative when you don't want the kids in front of the television.

Fantastic!
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2005-12-28
A classic! I loved Paddington as a child and I'm thrilled to have this in our CD collection. (I'd even listen without the kids!). Stephen Fry reads the stories very well.

 Stephen Fry
Pooh Goes Visiting and Other Stories
Published in Audio CD by Hodder Audio (2007-04-01)
Author: A A Milne
List price: $7.99
New price: $3.62
Used price: $5.53

Average review score:

The flavor of the original; edited for little ones
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-06-18
When I went to introduce my preschooler to Winnie-the-Pooh, I bought the big book with the complete stories and poems. It didn't take long for me to figure out that it wasn't quite right for my 3-year-old. Reading a story out of the original works takes a good 15-20 minutes, which is more than one can really expect from a preschooler or toddler. Also, the original Pooh is a bit like Sesame Street, in that there are phrases and indeed entire sections of the stories that adults will find amusing but which will just go over a child's head.

And yet, I didn't want to break down and go the route of the Disney-fied Pooh books, with their cartoonish illustrations and watered-down plots and characters.

That's why I was so pleased to find the Easy-to-Read series. There are six easy-to-read titles from two publishers. They are:

Winnie-the-Pooh and Some Bees
Pooh Goes Visiting
Eeyore Has a Birthday
Tigger Comes to the Forest
Christopher Robin Leads an Expedition
Pooh Invents a New Game

Each book is based on one chapter from the complete works. These little books are divided into four chapters, although it should be no problem to read one from start to finish in one sitting.

The print is large and well spaced, and there are ample illustrations (the original drawings by E.H. Shepard) on every page spread to keep little eyes engaged in the story. Most important, the editor has removed most of the passages that aren't so kid friendly and has simplified the stories without giving them a Disney style candy coating. One could read the original story and then the easy-to-read version and get the same basic plot; when going from the Milne works to the Disney versions, the same is certainly not true.

I didn't give these books five stars because the editor retained some language and dialogue that may be a bit confusing for children in the intended age range. Nevertheless, these books are a wonderful introduction to a classic cast of characters for the preschool set.

Pooh on Tape
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-17
This is our very first book on tape. My son is five and listened intently to every word. I can't wait to go on vacation and have him listen while we are in the car for 4 hours. The reader is very clear speaking. I am not able to talk while this is playing because my son really wants to listen to it. He loves to be read to. I wish I would have discovered this sooner!

Perfect!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-04-05
What a refreshing change to hear Pooh in his native tongue! I am a great fan of Disney movies but Pooh is something special in this wonderful audio version of the timeless stories. My 5 year old listens to this tape all the time!

Fantastic production of classic tales!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-07-19
My 3 1/2 year-old son and I absolutely love this cassette on a number of levels! The acting is great: lively without being over-the-top, convincing without being melodramatic. The cast brings out the humor of Milne's writing beautifully. I have to admit that I was not a Milne fan before purchasing this; I just didn't 'get' it. After listening to this cassette, I realized why: Winnie the Pooh is marketed here in the U.S. as an early childhood character/series. But it's not. The stories, the humor, the characters, and the language all are aimed at children about the age of Christoper Robin, who must be atleast 5, *and* at their parents. Ie there are elements that a child would never get, but I do, and so both my preschooler and I understand at our levels. Other fantastic aspects: great sound quality, sound effects, choice of stories. One point: Because of the British accents and idioms, this products works best for a patient and interested child. Also, for the preschooler (such as mine), it required that I listen with him the first few times until he understood the storyline well enough to follow without me. But don't let this discourage you. From the start, my child enjoyed the different voices (especially piglet) and sound effects. The subtlety only means that he doesn't get bored with it -- after even the 30th time.

Bite-size book perfect for littler kids!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2001-01-16
This little book is an exact reproduction of Chapter 2 in the original book, Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne, with illustrations by Shephard. All the charm of the original, in a perfect size for reading to littler kids, who can feel satisfied at having been read "the whole story."

This little book is part of a series of 10 such Pooh books published by Dutton.

 Stephen Fry
Winnie-The-Pooh: The House at Pooh Corner
Published in Audio Cassette by Trafalgar Square Publishing (1998-07)
Authors: A. A. Milne and Jane Horrocks
List price: $29.95
Used price: $79.99

Average review score:

best Pooh recording out there
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2004-11-05
Terrific casting - top-drawer firepower! - on all voices except Tigger, who alas is over the top and irritating, but one ignores it in favor of the wonderful rest. Clever use of the actors as both narrators and characters. Stephen Fry as Pooh is perfect and Geoffrey Palmer as Eeyore is revelatory - after nearly 50 years, I finally "get" Eeyore!

Perfect Pooh--wish I could give it 10 stars!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2004-12-01
I really cannot imagine how anyone could ever dramatize Pooh any better. Do not believe any negative reviews out there--this is the greatest. I have it because my sister and her kids love it and gave it to us. They have bought a second copy in case anything happens to the first as it is the FAVORITE on all car rides or even around the house.

You will love this audiobook as much as your kids do(unlike alot of kids stuff out there!) as it perfectly captures the gentle, playful, whimsical, loving tone of these stories. It also captures the funny English-isms which preschoolers LOVE (kids really get a kick out of wordplay and are fascinated by new words at this age)Put it on at 5:00 pm or on a long car ride when the kids are going banannas and you won't be disappointed.

The most wonderful Pooh ensemble performance!
Helpful Votes: 11 out of 11 total.
Review Date: 2001-01-02
These four tapes will find a permanent place in your collection. They represent an amazing dramatization of the two Pooh books (including all the stories in their original order) by this talented group of British performers. My favorite is probably Piglet -- Jane Horrocks's amazing Piglet is really understated. Every endearing "Oo-ooh-oh" makes me laugh and want to listen again. I also adore the quiet, loving rendition of Pooh by Stephen Fry and the wonderful curmudgeonly Eeyore of Geoffrey Palmer. But I love everybody involved here (except Tigger in his entrance, which is a little strong) and am delighted to have discovered them. If for some reason you only want one or two of these tapes, the same recordings are available on four separate tapes, starting with "Pooh Goes Visiting." If you are a fan of Pooh, by all means try these wonderful tapes!

IGNORE THE AUDIOFILE REVIEW!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2002-02-19
These are WONDERFUL tapes, as is the first (Pooh Goes Visiting), especially for anyone who loves the real Pooh and is disgusted by the Disney version (talk about repellently cutesy!). Now, Tigger's voice here--that does hit the wrong note. But we (post-grad educated) grownups and our four (2 to 8 year old) children think Piglet's and Eeyore's voices are priceless, and Owl's and Rabbit's and Christopher Robin's and others' are just right,too. Over the last few years these tapes have been the most requested of the car-ride playlist, for which we parents are grateful because they're as much fun for us as for the kids. By far the best Pooh tapes I've heard.

The finest Pooh audiotapes ever recorded!
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2000-05-23
I learned to read by listening (again and again and again and again) to a pair of well-loved and well-worn LPs of the Pooh stories read by Maurice Evans. I always considered them the finest Pooh audiobooks ever recorded. Up until now! Now there's this wonderful series of fully-dramatized adventures of Pooh featuring a brilliant cast of wonderful British actors: Stephen Fry ("Jeeves and Wooster") as Pooh, Geoffrey Palmer ("The Madness of King George") as Eeyore, Judy Dench ("Shakespeare in Love") as Kanga...and best of all, the *incomparable* Jane Horrocks ("Little Voice" and Bubble from "AbFab") as a squeaky, alarmed, and altogether adorable Piglet. You don't have to be a kid to appreciate these fine recordings (and there are plenty of adult Pooh fans out there who will *love* these versions). Accept no substitutes: this is simply the finest Pooh audio series yet created, beating by a *far* distance the Alan Bennett and (ugh!) Charles Kuralt versions.

 Stephen Fry
Paperweight
Published in Paperback by ARROW (RAND) (2004-08-05)
Author: Stephen Fry
List price:
New price: $11.45
Used price: $11.44

Average review score:

A bit of Fry and a lot of laughter
Helpful Votes: 20 out of 21 total.
Review Date: 2001-11-20
Paperweight is actually a collection of many different articles written by Stephen Fry over the years for a variety of publications. Most of these 'essays' are only between one and three pages long, but Fry fits as many laughs into each one as you would normally get in a whole book. Fry's view points are exuberantly refreshing on so many issues, yet at the same time he seems to be telling you something you knew all along, but had never been able to quite put into words. If you like originality and new twists (with gentle splashes of the surreal and deft, quirky touches) then Paperweight is for you.

Paperweight is an excellent introduction to Stephen Fry if you've never come across his writing before. It can be taken in small, highly digestible doses, whereas his novels need to be swallowed in one go to appreciate his arcane sense of the outrageous. This 'essay' format offers the best of this hugely entertaining all-rounder. In the book's introduction, Fry says that he used to get many desperate requests from readers for copies of articles he'd written. You'll understand why, if you read the book. In fact, the introduction is one of the highlights of Paperweight, being cripplingly ironic, immodestly modest and more witty than a witty person at a national wit contest. In fact, put simply, Fry=Wit=Laughter

lightly sauted thisFry is spicy,irreverent and irresistible
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 1997-04-18
Stephen Fry has been called the Oscar Wilde of his generation... and this book gives you an idea of one reason why (.. the witty, irreverent musings of this gifted British comic are perhaps not the only reason .....but that is as they say is another story....) To be savoured this offering should be read over a period of time , the better pieces to be taken out and re-re-re-read on rainy days. Readers who have had the pleasure of perusing the Liar will recognise - to paraphrase the man himself - without a scintilla of a glimmer of a suspicion of a speck of a doubt that they are in the presence of a rancoteur of the highest order. So WISE and enlightened perusers of this hagiography ,TARRY NO MORE !! ...order your copy of this subliminal masterpiece from your friendly neighbourhood Book Store and discover for yourself...

I did just as he suggested!
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2001-01-20
As Mr Fry advises the readers of 'Paperweight', I have not attempted to read this book in one sitting. I believe he says something about being able to have too much of a good thing. Whilst I don't agree with his reasoning, (I don't believe one can ever have enough of Mr Fry), I did see his point so I have been enjoying A Little Bit of Fry every night before I am taken away to the Land of Nod by the Sleep Fairy. This book is thoroughly entertaining. I do so love the way Mr Fry looks at the world and the silly creatures who inhabit it. If only the newspaper and radio station owners of Australia would employ people with half Mr Fry's intelligence, wit and talent, our country would be a much better place (and breakfast radio wouldn't be such an assault upon one's yet fully awaken sensibilities). Congratulations Mr Fry! Another wonderful read. Please keep them coming.

A Fry for all seasons!
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 1998-11-07
Stephen Fry's Paperweight provides well-thought arguments, witty jabs at deserving targets, and most importantly lots of laughs. Out-loud-laughs. Do take this book on the bus. This is a collection of various articles, reviews, and radio sketches (plus a play), all easily digestible and quick reads - a good thing, since you'll want to read them over and over. (If you're looking for a present for an associate, score some brownie points and get them Fry's Paperweight instead of the traditional glass one!)

Fry takes to heart the bacon of his years
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 1997-08-04
Mr. Fry's 'Paperweight' is indeed just that: a heavy-ish object which may be utilised to confine smaller, unbound bits of paper. It has the requistite bulk, a pleasing shape, and an interesting cover, featuring Mr. Fry himself.


And yet it is so much more. It is a collection, a bringing together, a collection, a consolidation and, if you will, a _collection_ of Mr. Fry's written dabblings before he sprang to our attention with the utterly printed and thoroughly bound first novel, 'The Liar'. 'Paperweight' is a book containing, among other things, Mr. Fry's radio broadcasts in the guise of the inimitable Professor Trefusis (in printed form, to avoid undue technical difficulties), his articles for such venerable journalistic mouthpieces as the Observer, the Tatler, the Listener, Home & Garden, the Beano, Punch, Nature, Judy, the Mineralogical Record, KMT, the British Journal of Sexual Sociopathy, the Journal of Roman Studies, Woman's Day, the Sun, and, of course, the Welsh edition of the Manchester Guardian [nb: the preceeding list may not be entirely within the bounds of accuracy - Ed.]. A short drama is contained within, as are a number of essays on a variety of mind-improving subjects, book reviews, political essays (written, one should remember, while Britain was in the iron grip of the Iron Lady) and, as mentioned elsewhere, the Trefusis broadcasts, a name which will be quite familiar to readers of Mr. Fry's later work, 'The Liar'. Here Mr. Fry's range and style, his versatility, and his breadth, depth and length are all invidiously displayed. It is a book to savour, of which one should breathe the bouquet, drink deeply, and sit back to observe the salubrious effects. This book must be possessed by all admirers of Mr. Fry, for it is his Rosetta Stone, his Treaty of Versailles, his Pre-nuptial Agreement Betwixt Consenting Adults.


What else may one say? What, indeed. Badger, annoy, and trouble your bookseller until he agrees to stock it. Then purchase. Take it to your home. Unwrap the plain brown paper. Enjoy. Quite simple, really.

 Stephen Fry
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Published in Audio CD by Random House Audio (2005-03-29)
Author: Douglas Adams
List price: $27.95
New price: $16.33
Used price: $9.86

Average review score:

Hitchiker revisted
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-09-02
It was wonderful to hear Stephen Fry's version of one of my favorite BBC TV programmes "Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy."
This is my firsy audio book and it's great as I can do other things and still listen and enjoy this book.

Perfect for Old and New Fans of This Classic!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-05-31
Over the Memorial Day weekend, I had the good fortune to be invited to Maine to see the fabulous tree house that is the subject of The Treehouse Chronicles. I decided this would be a good chance to listen to a recording of an old favorite that I've never heard in audio form before. Browsing through the library, it was an easy decision to pick this new recording of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Within minutes, I could tell that I'd made a winning choice as I listened to Stephen Fry brilliantly share his voice to add texture to this intriguing story. Between the accents and the humorous references to irony, I was enthralled. I found myself wishing that the recording was a longer one.

When you read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, it can come across a little simplistically in places. Those spots work much smoother in this audio version.

In fact, if you haven't read the book, I recommend that you listen to this recording instead. I think you'll enjoy and appreciate the book more in its more dramatic version here.

If you don't know the story, Arthur Dent finds himself awakening with a hangover determined to save his home. Only problem is, while the demolition crew looms, he's also about to lose his other home, the Earth. Aided by his alien friend, Ford Prefect, Arthur is soon off hitchhiking his way through the galaxy in a most improbable set of circumstances that will amuse and delight you. You'll meet Zaphod Beeblebrox, one of the most memorable aliens in anyone's fiction. Along the way, you'll learn more speculation about wearing digital watches and finding lost ballpoint pens than you ever expected to know.

Bravo, Stephen Fry and Douglas Adams!

I love listening to this audiobook in my car .
Helpful Votes: 12 out of 12 total.
Review Date: 2005-06-22
It is fitting that this audio adaptation of Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was voiced by actor Stephen Fry. Fry was a close friend of the late Mr. Adams, and he also narrates the new H2G2 movie as the voice of the Book. Fry does a great job of making this classic novel come alive, drawing the listener into the story. This audiobook makes a great tribute to Douglas Adams and the world and characters he created in the H2G2 universe.

The first in a series yet complete in its self
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2005-08-02
A galactic freeway is coming through and you guest it the Earth is in the way.

Listening to the audio CD's has an extra dimension to the book. You do get time to catch your breath. And my CD player is in the car. Somehow I survived. I would say that one great advantage to CD's is the ability to hear how the names are pronounced and you get inflections that intended or not help understand where they are going before they get there. Another advantage is that CD's like acid free paper should outlast the reader.

How many times have you asked a simple question and go the answer as "42." Yep, you are a victim to this book. Many of the clichés and truisms that rival Shakespeare are creeping into our vocabulary. And attitudes - "It has been on file."

If you are the one person that somehow got through life with out reading this series or at least seeing this on TV, then you are in for a treat. Somehow this story is earmarked as sci-fi and I guess it can be in a sense and it has all the elements necessary; it delivers a powerful message to the local Zoning Board.

I will not go though the story, as that is why you are reading the book. You need to sit down for the next sentence.

This book has changed my life.

 Stephen Fry
Piglet Meets a Heffalump and Other Stories
Published in Audio CD by Hodder Audio (2007-04-01)
Author: A A Milne
List price: $7.99
New price: $3.66
Used price: $5.07

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Great "episode" in a small book
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2001-01-16
This little book is an exact reproduction of a chapter 5 in the original book, Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne, with the original illustrations by Shephard enhanced by judicious watercoloring. All the charm of the original, in a perfect size for reading to littler kids, who can feel satisfied at having been read "the whole story." Also good for children just starting to read all by themselves.

Beautifully bound and illustrated, this little book is part of a series of 10 such Pooh books published by Dutton. Don't confuse these "storybooks" with the even smaller and abridged board-books.

Say "Ho" for the wonderful Pooh!
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2001-01-02
This amazing dramatization of the Pooh books is performed by a marvelously talented group of British entertainers who truly bring the Pooh characters gently and lovingly to life. As for this tape, I finally got this figured out. This is part of a four-tape program that represents the complete two-book Winnie-the-Pooh story collection, except the stories are out of order (probably so that they would fit equally on the tapes). Book 1, "Winnie-the-Pooh," is represented by "Pooh Goes Visiting" (stories in order: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10) and "Piglet Meets a Heffalump" (stories: 5, 6, 7, 8). Book 2, "The House at Pooh Corner," is dramatized by "Tigger Comes to the Forest" (stories in order: 1 2, 4, 3, 9, 10) and "Pooh Invents a New Game" (stories 5, 6, 7, 8). When stories that depend on previous information are out of order, it gets confusing. My suggestion: Get the "Winnnie-the-Pooh" / "The House at Pooh Corner" gift pack, which is also four tapes (the same recordings), but in the proper order.

The finest Pooh audiotapes ever recorded!
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2000-04-26
[This is a review of the Hodder/Headline audiocassette version] I learned to read by listening (again and again and again and again) to a pair of well-loved and well-worn LPs of the Pooh stories read by Maurice Evans. I always considered them the finest Pooh audiobooks ever recorded. Up until now! Now there's this wonderful series of fully-dramatized adventures of Pooh featuring a brilliant cast of wonderful British actors: Stephen Fry ("Jeeves and Wooster") as Pooh, Geoffrey Palmer ("The Madness of King George") as Eeyore, Judy Dench ("Shakespeare in Love") as Kanga...and best of all, the *incomparable* Jane Horrocks ("Little Voice" and Bubbles from "AbFab") as a squeaky, alarmed, and altogether adorable Piglet. You don't have to be a kid to appreciate these fine recordings (and there are plenty of adult Pooh fans out there who will *love* these versions). Accept no substitutes: this is simply the finest Pooh audio series yet created...... There's more than just this one tape in the series, too. The series includes "Tigger Comes to the Forest" (ISBN: 1840322195); "Piglet Meets a Heffalump" (ISBN: 1840320524) and "Pooh Invents a New Game" (ISBN: 1840322268). Type the 10-digit ISBN number into the Amazon search field to go directly to the webpages for these cassettes.

Piglet Meets a Huffalump- A literary Master Peice
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2000-04-07
Any one who loves Pooh, his freinds, and their crazy adventures has to read this book. After Christopher Robin describes his encounter with a huffalump Pooh suggests catching one. Then he and his freinds get themselves into something bigger than they expected!

 Stephen Fry
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Published in Audio CD by BBC Audiobooks (2002-10-21)
Author: J.K. Rowling
List price: $43.83
New price: $38.04
Used price: $40.53

Average review score:

HP Audio Book - UK Version
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-13
Item was better than expected. Had an issue on receiving the product and the vendor went above and beyond. I would definatly order from vendor again!!

Amazing, my new addiction.
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-31
Well if you're looking at this product you're probably like me, busy and not the biggest fan of sitting down to read. I've always been a big fan of stories but I could just never find the time to read because of work and when I did I am admittedly an abysmally slow reader. After years of hearing how amazing these books, the Harry Potter series, were and loving every movie immensely it finally dawned on me to see if there was an audio book and there obviously is.

When I first started listening to the series I must admit I was a little turned off because Stephen Fray came across as a little dry and I was beginning to think the audio books weren't going to be much more tolerable than simply reading the books. As new characters are introduced though I was pleased to find that he managed to give most of them a unique personality and even more so that he maintains these personas not just through this single book but all the way to where I am now, The Half Blood Prince. Aside from just their vocal definition Fry also manages to display a diverse range of emotion for each individual character as if there is a separate actor for each character, it's really quite an amazing performance in my opinion. At certain times various audio filters are added for dramatic effect like echo and things of the sort and I guess that's really the only place this audio book comes up short for me is that there really isn't a whole lot to it other than Stephen Fry reading the books. This being my first audio book I can't really compare it to anything but I guess I was expecting at least some music between chapters or maybe some ambient sound effects but I still find the overall experience enjoyable without them.

There are probably hundreds of reviews for the books themselves so I'll keep my opinions on the series short and sweet. I believe the thing that I like most about the Harry Potter series is the overall charm of everything and the connection Rawling maintains to both the real world and real life. She really seems to nail human archetypes and the teenage inner dialogue and I can't help but think there are many pieces of her own children in this book. It showcases such an amazing insight as to the way people think and feel that I really can't help but be awe inspired. Like I said though, I'm not a big reader/listener so I imagine there are better books out there but that really doesn't take away from this series' ability to crack a smile on my face at work. I guess my only gripe is that it sometimes appears as if she has some favorite words or a limited vocabulary or perhaps people in England just find these words more common but there is an obtuse overuse of the words incredulous, glower, and one other that I will add in a couple of hours when I remember it. This obviously isn't a big deal but it can make me cringe a little.

Anyways, I work in science and listen to these all day when I don't have to read for work and I'm actually doing lab work and they have improved my enjoyment at work immensely so they come highly recommended by me. Each book is probably about 18-24 hours long off the top of my head so the whole series should take you a while to get through. I hope you enjoy!

A truly magical tale!
Helpful Votes: 28 out of 53 total.
Review Date: 2005-08-04
When I was about ten years old, I picked up a copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone reluctantly: everyone had told me to read it. I hated reading. Never could stand it. No matter what anyone said there was no such thing as a good book. It was always going to be that way too. I opened up the book and read the first page with very little motivation. In order to keep myself reading, I forced myself to read it aloud. As little as I wished to keep reading it, I couldn't put it down, and by the last line of the first paragraph, I needed to continue. The first paragraph itself was so amazing that I reread it two, three, four times. I flipped the page, finally onto the next chapter, and got more and more drawn in. Before long, I was on a magic journey, I was at a London zoo where a boaconstrictor had gotten free from its aquarium, I was purchasing books like Beginner's Transfiguration and One Thousand and One Magical Herbs and Fungi at Flourish and Blotts, I was soaring after the Golden Snitch on a Cleansweep 4, I was staring into the Mirror of Erised, and I was sneaking past a gigantic three headed dog named Fluffy to get through a trap door beneath its feet. Less than a year had gone by and before I knew it, I had read this book 40 times. For my eleventh birthday, I was given the second book and became even more obssessed. My friends began to call me Harriet Potter, and I had been given awards for being able to recite the first 200 pages of the first book (I was able to recite the entire book, but I tripped up on a sentence on page 203 and lost the ability to continue).
While not all of you might be as obsessively enthusiastic about this book as I have been, I guarentee that each and every one of you would adore it and all of the books that followed.


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