There are so many mediums that feature more than just words and enhance a story in a multitude of ways. Examples may include graphic novels and comics, audiobooks, or even multimedia novels. On this day, we will be talking about those books and formats that move beyond just the words and use other ways to experience a story. Which books stand out to you in these different formats?
Personally, I've never been able to really get into audiobooks. I have friends who love to listen to them while driving, and I wish I could do the same, but there are a few things that prevent me from enjoying them. One of the biggest issues is that I read a good deal faster than an audiobook narrator can(without becoming unintelligible, anyway), so it just doesn't feel right. An audiobook that features a radio show-style full voice cast can definitely help alleviate that, but those seem to be few and far between, unfortunately. Additionally, any audiobook that's produced well enough for me to really lose myself in is definitely not one I need to be listening to while driving, as it will divert my attention from the road, and that ain't good. That means I'd need to listen to it at home, and if that's the case, I'd rather just read the book myself. So, I certainly don't hold it against anyone who listens to audiobooks-- some of the arguments I've heard denigrating audiobooks are truly ridiculous-- but they're just not for me.
One of the most impressive things about this graphic novel is how Tiwary absolutely nails each of the Beatle's distinct voices. Each of them "sounds" exactly as he should, and it's so eerily accurate that it is sometimes difficult to believe that the dialogue was not transcribed from extant recordings. the art bears a special mention here, with Robinson handling the bulk of it, and Baker taking on a more fancifully-rendered section recounting the disastrous 1965 tour of the Philippines. The entire tale is whimsical, hilarious, and, at times, quite sad. This remarkable graphic novel is essential reading for any Beatles fan.
That's it for today, but I'll be back with more BEA goodness tomorrow! In the meantime, for more information about Armchair BEA, click the link at the top of the post!
I'm not a fan of audio books, and I read graphic novels (and notebook novels) because my students like them. I wish that there were more books about the Beatles that were appropriate for younger children-- they are interested in the group, but some of the information isn't exactly appropriate for them. Have fun with Armchair BEA now that you've found it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, I definitely will! Unfortunately,. I can't think of any Beatles-related graphic novels that are appropriate for younger children. I'd say the one in this post is for a 14+ audience.
DeleteWelcome! Better late than never. :D It took me years to get to the point where I could listen to audios. it came down to finding a great narrator who really worked the story.
ReplyDeleteAnd I am a huge fan of graphic novels but I have never seen this one. I will have to check it out.
Thanks! It's a pretty recent release, as it came out last fall. There was a fair amount of publicity, but it was in the usual comic promotion channels. I was rather surprised the music magazines and websites didn't pick it up and run with it. Hardly anyone to whom I've recommended it has heard of it.
DeleteI love the art style of the Beatle graphic novel.Very cool!
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely some fine work!
DeleteIf I really got into an audiobook I'd probably crash the car I was driving (maybe also because I can't drive). But I do feel that some audiobook narrators just read really slowly and do the annoying 'game show pauze for effect' after interesting passages. I want to be able to storm through the book if I want to and add emphasis where I need it! Great answer, hopefully I'll see you at the Twitter party later!
ReplyDeleteJuli @ Universe in Words
Same here, it reminds me of being in grade school and our teachers would do the "Read silently to yourselves as I read aloud" thing, and it would drive me nuts because she never read at the pace I wanted to read at, haha! I like to be in control of my reading experience. I'm about to have to cut out to take care of a few things, but hopefully I'll be back in time to join the Twitter party a bit late.
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