The Hobbit

I was so excited when I downloaded this book and did so twice to make sure there wasn’t a problem with the wifi because the “chap” in chapter 1 is cut off and the first line “in a” in “in a hole in the ground” is cut off and the rest of the beginning is similarly choppy. Still hyped for Andy Serkis’s genius in the voice acting!

I'd rather not have to endure the constant volume spikes. So soft in places you miss words, and then so loud you yank your ear buds out. The reader does do a good job with voices for all the different characters. But with the vast difference in volumes I had to quit.

I love Tolkien.I love Andy Serkis.Unfortunately, I do not enjoy Serkis Reading Tolkien.He communicates none of the happy, light-hearted or jovial characteristics of the characters. Every character he voices in this audiobook sounds like a Villain, or someone who is angry and put-out.If I read the hobbit or LOTR with the tone of voices Andy uses here, my children would never like Tolkien, and frankly i think if I finish listening to this it will be a longer time than usual before I find myself enjoying Tolkien again.As I said I love Tolkien and Serkis, but he sounds like a villain, and I don’t think his voice talents work here.

I was pretty excited when I read that Andy Serkis was going to read the Hobbit and LOTR. But he sounds like he's whispering the narration. I have The Hobbit and LOTR with Rob Inglis and had to go back to make sure that it wasn't my imagination. I read reviews that said Andy Serkis surpasses Rob Inglis but I don't think so. I admit that I only listened to four chapters but none of it was enjoyable.

If you are listening after watching the movies there are a few things that take some getting used to. Tolkien doesn’t use the word orc in the hobbit. They are all goblins. And other stuff like that. But the narration and flow is so enjoyable. The movies help give a face to the names but the book gives middle earth to you.

Serkis nails it again, and aside from a couple of looked over mistakes it still holds up very well. If you're looking for more Tolkien after finishing Lord of the Rings you'll be happy!