Unabridged Audiobook
Part two of the Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini was characterized by simply awful narration. Obviously done without preparation or rehearsal, the unfortunate outcome is a monument to incompetence. The pronunciation of the most common words proved an utmost challenge to our narrator and an apparent unfamiliarity with punctuation, syntax and pace all contributed to a near impossible listening experience. There was an absence of rhythm,flow and pacing. Frequent pauses while our narrator attempted to sound out unfamiliar words in a manner reminiscent of an earnest young reader in an after school remedial reading class was excruciating and caused me to lose whatever patience and forbearance I might ever have possessed. My aggravations were not diminished by his inability to understand the material; which, of course, made it impossible for him to convey context, meaning or emotion to the reading. As my blood pressure rose to uncomfortable heights, I was compelled for the first time since joining Audiobooks to abandon my earbuds, search my library for a dog-eared written copy of the Autobiography and settle into my reading chair for an old-school reacquaintance with that rascal Benvenuto. Although the book was “free” I would have gladly paid the going rate for a well done recording of such fine classical literature. In truth, other and better narrators might have rescued the book for me had I continued to listen past section 3 but I had entered into dangerous territory and could proceed no further. This narrow escape from a near certain cerebral- vascular accident has made me mindful of my judgmental, critical nature and I am in headlong pursuit of developing a more kindly and forgiving disposition. In summary, I am grateful for the overall experience and for whatever potential but uncertain personal improvement that may result from it. But on Audiobooks part, maybe a little better screening tool for narrators could be developed?
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