[amazon_link id=”0786118229″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link]Although my foray into audio-books started as an attempt to make my walks more interesting and to tempt me to go walking even, I have to say that I am hooked. And for that I credit the narrators. I’ve been lucky enough to listen to three of the best, Frederick Davidson in my first book, Nadia May in the second and Caroline Seymour in the third. I’m currently on a Jane Austen bender, having listened to Persuasion , Pride and Prejudice and “Sense and Sensibility”.

Nadia May narrated Persuasion. I haven’t read the print version of the book, so had no idea of the story. Austen writes long, long sentences with big words, in the polite and round-a-bout fashion that was the trend in those days. So it is sometimes hard to comprehend the entire thing unless you are really paying attention, which I’m then forced to do, so the purpose of being in the present and not letting the mind wander away and think of other things (home/kids/food/work/lists) is quite served. Mays has a soft-ish voice, which she easily moulds into a gruff tone for the male parts, and a clearer tone for those of the heroine. It makes for a very interesting and pleasant listening experience, and I’m quite drawn into the narrative.

May also narrated “Sense and Sensibilty”, another classic which I have not read, but know of via the film based on the book. Listening to the book is giving me a better look into the characters in the film, the film never having the leisure to go into such depths of detail. Quite a lovely listen! The film was not bad either – it stars Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet. Here is a trailer: