From Friday, November 29th through Monday, December 16th, drop off new, unwrapped children's and teen books at the Circulation Desk. Tax deductible donations are also welcome. For complete details, CLICK HERE.

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Audio Books with Sonja

  

 

Admittedly, I have a hard time with books by Ann Patchett and had not been planning on reading her newest release “The Dutch House”. When I saw, however, that none other than Tom Hanks was going to perform the audio book, I was all of a sudden chomping at the bit for publication day to arrive. Waiting for it proved a little bit like Advent season leading up to Christmas.  And when Christmas – or publication day – finally arrived, I got everything I wished for and so much more!

The story is quickly told. After his wife left him and their two children, Cyril Conroy remarries and brings his new wife, Andrea, into the Dutch House. From the start, Andrea and the siblings do not get along and after Cyril dies an early death, it is only a matter of time until things come to a head and the siblings are turned out on the street.

 

The story reads like a modern retelling of Cinderella and I feel I would not have appreciated the story at all had I only read it. But along comes Tom Hanks and changes it all around. Naturally, a narrator puts a certain amount of interpretation into their performance of an audio book. To me, that is the special thrill of listening to audio books. Mr. Hanks is taking narrating – or performing – this novel to a whole different level.

I especially enjoyed the fact  that Mr. Hanks does not read female characters in an unnaturally raised voice. At times he might soften his voice a bit, but that’s all. I was mesmerized how he would speed up his reading at just the right moment and slow down again. After a while, I found myself listening more for Mr. Hanks’ intonation than for the content of the story.  I am sure his outstanding acting career is a big factor in the beauty of this performance, but to me, it felt as if he had intimate knowledge of the characters far beyond what is told in the book.

This audio book can best be described as a listening event. I can only hope that Tom Hanks will find more time in his undoubtedly busy schedule to perform more audio books.

TDL owns the printed book and the audio book.