Advantages: Brings the book to life, excellent detail and music Disadvantages: Songs can grate a bit, and pricey
..., but let's just say that they're a lot more to it than just that!
- The adaptation
It must have seemed like an almost impossible task when BrianSibley and Michael Bakewell were faced with the challenge of dramatising a thousand page book like 'The Lord Of The Rings'. Not only that, but it is such a popular book, that any mistakes would cause uproar, and so they had to get it just right, or they'd be trouble! Brian was the one that initiated the project – he'd had another idea for a radio dramatisation, and the BBC turned him down for that, but was asked what other books he might like to dramatise. After reading LOTR and becoming a huge fan, this was one of the books he put on his list of possible projects. And so the story began.
The story was split into 26 thirty minute episodes, although this is trimmed down to 13 longer episodes...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Great books for children of all ages Disadvantages: price if you buy the full price edition
...in 1996, priced at £30. My copy was purchased from the discount mail-order company 'The Book People' for £10. The ISBN Number is 1-85613-263-3. This substantial volume (415 pages!) contains each and every one of the original 26 stories by Wilbert Awdry.
Before I go on to deal with the content of the book, should you wish to learn more of the life and work of Wilbert Awdry, you can get the book 'The Thomas the Tank Engine Man' (BrianSibley, Heinemann 1995), which I read on loan from my local library quite a while ago.
And so to the stories. For those who do not know there are a few basic facts that need to be observed:
a- The stories take place on the Isle of Sodor, which is located between the Isle of Man and the Cumbria coastline.
b- The main characters are as follows:
Sir Topham Hatt - The Fat Controller
Thomas the Tank Engine (No.1...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: True to a fantastic story, excellent actors, great music Disadvantages: Finding time to listen, might surprise those who only know the film
...no liberties taken with the text. Even the songs that appear, ‘Gil-galad was an elven king’, ‘The road goes ever on and on’ are done in such a way that they meld perfectly into the narrative.
iv) The ending is really powerful in its simplicity. This is true of both the books and the film, but there is something particularly powerful in this version, as the final credits music brings the epic tale to an end.
v) It is the perfect accompaniment to a long journey. I have worn out a set of tapes, nearly worn out the CDs and now it is on my iPod, transporting me to Middle Earth as I drive up and down the motorway network. It is more animated than a straight reading, with plenty of music, and thanks to the masterly dramatisations of BrianSibley and Michael Bakewell, it is beautifully paced, allowing a sense of mourning for Boromir without losing...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Brings the book to life, excellent detail and music Disadvantages: Songs can grate a bit, and pricey
..., but let's just say that they're a lot more to it than just that!
- The adaptation
It must have seemed like an almost impossible task when BrianSibley and Michael Bakewell were faced with the challenge of dramatising a thousand page book like 'The Lord Of The Rings'. Not only that, but it is such a popular book, that any mistakes would cause uproar, and so they had to get it just right, or they'd be trouble! Brian was the one that initiated the project – he'd had another idea for a radio dramatisation, and the BBC turned him down for that, but was asked what other books he might like to dramatise. After reading LOTR and becoming a huge fan, this was one of the books he put on his list of possible projects. And so the story began.
The story was split into 26 thirty minute episodes, although this is trimmed down to 13 longer episodes...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Great books for children of all ages Disadvantages: price if you buy the full price edition
...in 1996, priced at £30. My copy was purchased from the discount mail-order company 'The Book People' for £10. The ISBN Number is 1-85613-263-3. This substantial volume (415 pages!) contains each and every one of the original 26 stories by Wilbert Awdry.
Before I go on to deal with the content of the book, should you wish to learn more of the life and work of Wilbert Awdry, you can get the book 'The Thomas the Tank Engine Man' (BrianSibley, Heinemann 1995), which I read on loan from my local library quite a while ago.
And so to the stories. For those who do not know there are a few basic facts that need to be observed:
a- The stories take place on the Isle of Sodor, which is located between the Isle of Man and the Cumbria coastline.
b- The main characters are as follows:
Sir Topham Hatt - The Fat Controller
Thomas the Tank Engine (No.1...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: True to a fantastic story, excellent actors, great music Disadvantages: Finding time to listen, might surprise those who only know the film
...no liberties taken with the text. Even the songs that appear, ‘Gil-galad was an elven king’, ‘The road goes ever on and on’ are done in such a way that they meld perfectly into the narrative.
iv) The ending is really powerful in its simplicity. This is true of both the books and the film, but there is something particularly powerful in this version, as the final credits music brings the epic tale to an end.
v) It is the perfect accompaniment to a long journey. I have worn out a set of tapes, nearly worn out the CDs and now it is on my iPod, transporting me to Middle Earth as I drive up and down the motorway network. It is more animated than a straight reading, with plenty of music, and thanks to the masterly dramatisations of BrianSibley and Michael Bakewell, it is beautifully paced, allowing a sense of mourning for Boromir without losing...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
01.09.2001
04.07.2007
