| Author | Message | ||
     Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.166.188.81 |
I have always enjoyed this. I read aloud horror stories (and even novels in one sitting) in the sixties to those who'd care to listen at University. In my early days of marriage, I read aloud many books to my wife. And novels and stories to both my children. The only way to bring literature truly alive?? des PS: I've now managed to get my reading voice on the internet; http://weirdmonger.blog-city.com/df_lewis_reading_aloud.htm | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.20.31.211 |
I wish I could, but I'm rubbish at it. | ||
| Karim Ghahwagi (Karim) Username: Karim Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.19.103.122 |
Will check out when I'm home. Been enjoying listening to audiobooks on the IPod this last year- Just heard Golding reading Lord of the Flies which was very cool and at Gutenberg they had Heart of Darkness read aloud by a computer which is sort of scary. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.20.31.211 |
I find it hard to concentrate on audio-books - keep drifting. | ||
| Karim Ghahwagi (Karim) Username: Karim Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.19.103.122 |
I suppose it depends on what you are doing. Good for long trips, or if you are working on something not involved with writing I suppose. | ||
| Jonathan (Jonathan) Username: Jonathan Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.69.61.76 |
Not audiobooks as such, but I like listening to radio comedy on the way to the bus stop on my I-pod. At the moment I am greatly enjoying the Adam and Joe podcast and Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show. Have also just got Bleak Expectations (a Dickens pastiche) and Old Harry's Game to listen to. | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 90.208.48.78 |
No-one needs to ask me this do they?  | ||
| Coral (Coral) Username: Coral Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 90.220.218.237 |
I can't do it, my voice is very strange! But this has brought back a truly lovely chidhood memory of my Grandfather reading aloud a chapter or two every day for my Grandmother after her sight grew dim. Such delights as Miss Reade(sp) and James Herriot. It's no wonder I love books. I'll go and listen to the reading now. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
I read aloud all the time - usually in the bath. My wife finds it all very amusing... | ||
| Jonathan (Jonathan) Username: Jonathan Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.69.61.76 |
I remember Dad reading me Voyage of the Dawn Treader when I was wee, and my mother certainly read Alice in Wonderland to me many many times. The only time I've read out loud to Ali was when I read her Ramsey's 'The Sentinels.' I occassionally read my own work aloud to myself to check that it's flowing okay. | ||
| Mark West (Mark_west) Username: Mark_west Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.39.177.173 |
Apart from Matthew's bedtime stories, the only time I read aloud is when I go through my penultimate drafts with Alison. I find it much easier to spot holes, bad sentence structure and all manner of horrors doing it like that and, thankfully, Alison has always been a willing listener. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.37.199.45 |
I used to be a crap reader of my own writing until my mother, a retired drama teacher, gave me some advice – breath control, voice projection and, above all, rehearsal. If you are sight-reading it will show. Also taking time to let the words sink in. I like reading to an audience through a microphone, though I cringe when I hear the playback: my voice in my head is much deeper and more resonant and much less fucking camp than my voice on tape. | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
Being a part time thespian, I frequently find myself doing cold readings of plays. I find the trick is to read as far ahead as I can while still listening to where everyone else is so I have an idea of the feeling behind my lines when they appear. That usually helps me to give a reasonable performance even on the first read. Even when I read to my nephew or when I used to read to my ex girlfriend's kid, I find myself performing rather than just straight reading. I think Mr Bestwick might have the same experience? | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 69.157.37.29 |
Reading my work in front of an audience is my favourite aspect of being an author. You can add nuances that bring a story to life. I also enjoy being in the audience for other authors. It's moments like these that make us understand how myths were born in ancient times, and why storytelling is still a powerful aspect of the human experience. For me, hearing a story gives it more impact than reading it from the page. What first inspired me to begin writing horror stories were actually spoken-word LPs (remember those?) of classic ghost stories, which I listened to obsessively as a child. I did a bit of acting in high school too, which probably helped me get beyond racing through the text in order to just get the words out. Anytime I'm invited to read, whether at public events or private parties, I do so. And now I'm off to listen to Des! | ||
| Niki Flynn (Niki) Username: Niki Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.32.69.29 |
Few things terrify me more than public speaking or reading aloud. I had panic attacks in school if I got called on to read in class. And I was recently put on the spot and asked to speak in front of an audience. I got shakily to my feet and managed to get on stage and in front of the mic before the sea of expectant faces turned my knees to water and I honestly thought I was going to faint. I backed away in horror and said, "I'm sorry, I just can't!" Not my finest hour. | ||
| Hubert (Hubert) Username: Hubert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.22.229.208 |
I've never read a text out to an audience, but imagine I would like it. Every so often I get to play in front of an audience, which is similar to an extent. I'm always nervous, because I think my bandmates will screw up! | ||
| Craig (Craig) Username: Craig Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 75.16.77.7 |
Niki, what got me over my intense fear, was to realize: nobody cares. I would analyze myself listening to others speak - it takes appx. 15-25 seconds for me to tune out and no longer care what the hell they're talking about. So the same must be for them. On a related note, take applause: so common, but how often do we, as individuals, ever receive any?... I organized a little informal "applause group" a few years back, where people would just circle and applause each other - it's an amazing boost to your whole mood and psyche. Try it.  | ||
| Coral (Coral) Username: Coral Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 90.220.218.237 |
That sounds ever such fun, I think I will try it. Oh, but how does that saying go, "what's the soud of one hand clapping?"... The long, hot summer of '76, I was 10 years old, and I got to go on holiday to Borth with my Aunty Carole for a week. I got 'flu! However, my most abiding memory is of Aunty Carole reading a chapter of the Hobbit every evening in the caravan. And the sheer frustration when I had to go home after only 7 chapters, arrgghhh. I had to read the rest myself. | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 69.157.37.29 |
Great readings, Des. I particularly liked your rendition of 'The Hound'. I know HPL dismissed this story as "a piece of junk", but I've always had a fondness for it. I hope to hear more of these. | ||
| Gcw (Gcw) Username: Gcw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.151.125.173 |
When I was at school we had to read aloud from a favourite book in English class. I read HAL's 'Im losing my mind Dave' segment from 2001 to the utter incomprehension of the class. Philistines. gcw | ||
| Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 212.74.96.200 |
Ha! Classic, GCW. When we did that at school, most of the kids chose ADRIAN MOLE. I read from 'SALEM'S LOT. Not a horror section, but the bit where Father Callahan is contemplating darkness beyond his window. I read aloud to Michelle. Enjoy it. And I love listening to audiobooks with good readers. The one I'm listening to at the moment is AGENT ZIGZAG, read by Anthony Head. My vote for best horror audio reading goes to Roddy McDowel's reading of an abridgement of Whitley Strieber's THE WOLFEN. Favourite horror short story reading I enjoy Ramsey's "The Guide", the abridgement of which makes it a perfect short story, I think, as the bits he cut were never entirely to my satisfaction in the print version. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.145.36.243 |
Re above, Grim Blogger has wriiten a blog about my readings! http://grimreviews.blogspot.com/2009/03/df-lewis-readings.html | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.145.36.243 |
Try this one (Caretaker). It's given me nightmares reading it (and I wrote it!). http://www.supload.com/sound_confirm.php?get=327694505.wma |