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A review by nuttyrachy
Tom's Midnight Garden: A BBC Radio Full-Cast Dramatisation by Philippa Pearce
3.0
3.5 stars. I listened to an audio version of the BBC radio adaption to this book, having never read the original before.
I must remember to look out for any mention of "BBC Radio" before I borrow any more audio books and try to avoid them! This is the second BBC radio adaption I've read of a classic and I have to say, as good as they are for the sound effects and different cast members playing each person, the quality is abysmal! Where you can hear it fine, there may be another character who's speech is so muffled you strain your ears. Or there are entire sections where you feel the actors are all facing away from the microphone entirely, so you turn it up and struggle to listen to them, only for the quality to rectify itself again and your ears get blasted by the sudden increase in sound.
That aside, the story itself I enjoyed very much. I loved the whole concept and his adventures. It was a nice, rounded out, feel good story which had a beautiful ending that made you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. If it wasn't for the bad quality of the recording this could have been a solid 4.5! I may pick up the original story book, unabridged, in the future when my children are old enough to read it together with me, in which case maybe the rating will increase! For now though, I'll leave this here in the middle ground.
I must remember to look out for any mention of "BBC Radio" before I borrow any more audio books and try to avoid them! This is the second BBC radio adaption I've read of a classic and I have to say, as good as they are for the sound effects and different cast members playing each person, the quality is abysmal! Where you can hear it fine, there may be another character who's speech is so muffled you strain your ears. Or there are entire sections where you feel the actors are all facing away from the microphone entirely, so you turn it up and struggle to listen to them, only for the quality to rectify itself again and your ears get blasted by the sudden increase in sound.
That aside, the story itself I enjoyed very much. I loved the whole concept and his adventures. It was a nice, rounded out, feel good story which had a beautiful ending that made you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. If it wasn't for the bad quality of the recording this could have been a solid 4.5! I may pick up the original story book, unabridged, in the future when my children are old enough to read it together with me, in which case maybe the rating will increase! For now though, I'll leave this here in the middle ground.