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Listening to Austen


 Posted by kathleen (elder) on July 04, 1998 at 17:37:27:


In response to How do you take your Austen?, written by Caroline on July 04, 1998 at 14:12:30


Back to the Library ] Do you read your Austen 'out loud' at all?  Does it alter your perception of her work to read it aloud rather than just silently, to yourself? Do you think they were actually designed to be read this way, rather than silently, and in private? If so, why, or why not? Are they better to be read aloud?
 
While I originally read all Austen's works "in my head," I have listened to recordings of 5 of the novels (all except NA).  They are quite enjoyable that way -- a nice way to pass the time on a car trip, or to listen to while going to sleep.
The reader's ability would be important, I think (and Marianne Dashwood would no doubt agree w/ me (-: ).  The Cover-to-Cover tapes that I have are all read excellently by British actresses.
I wonder of this "read aloud" quality of her writing is part of the reason so much of the book seems to be in dialogue -- even when it isn't.  Many descriptions of what was said in the novels linger in my memory as conversations, when in fact there was no actual quoted speech.
Which is the better way to enjoy Jane Austen?  Both!  I still read the books (easier to skip to my favorite parts) most of the time, but I do enjoy the tapes as an alternative. 





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