Reading aloud...

[fajrdrako]

for September 29, 2011: 1. What do you think of reading aloud/being read to? Does it bring back memories of your childhood? Your children’s childhood?
2. Does this affect the way you feel about audio books?
3. Do you now have times when you read aloud or are read to?

1. I love being read to. Very much so - particularly by a good reader. Yes, it brings back memories of my childhood, where some of my happiest times were being read to by my mother - but that isn't particularly the point; I don't love it because of the good memories, I love it because of the pleasure I get in it, which is the same now as then.

I might add that having a decent book is necessary. Having someone read a book to me that I wouldn't want to read at also wouldn't be a joy.

2. I like audio books, of course... Especially when they have a good reader. But the joy of audio books is their convenience, being able to listen while in a car, or while doing housework, or while exercising. All things being equal, I prefer reading print to listening to works.

So who is a good reader? I've been listening lately to Ray Dotrice reading A Dance With Dragons, and I think he is terrible. I like Sam West, Stephen Fry, Nigel Planer... I prefer male readers to female.

3. I have managed to make some times where I read to people. I haven't done it at all in the last year or so. I'd like to. I wonder if I should approach some people with this as a proposal?