Reading the articles for this weeks, rereading previous articles, and incorporating new sources, I had a framework in mind when I went to listen to the first audio book. This is something that I haven’t done in a very long time, so I was curious for the experience.

First, I found a copy of Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour and gave it a listen at home at my desk. The quality of the reading was high as it was done by a professional. The voice was clear, crisp, with strong Standard English enunciation. I followed story and kept my focus on it. About 1/4 of the way through I fidgeted as I didn’t appreciate a man’s voice for the narrator. Interesting, I thought. This put on the trail of other versions, which I found- 3 to be exact, all male voices. This gave me pause, so I went searching for another book- Sweat by Zora Neale Hurston.Again, I found a copy voiced by a male with high quality production which I listened to with the same reaction. Searching further, I discovered one voiced by a female. However, this wasn’t professionally done but was done by an academic. The quality was acceptable but distracting. The speaker was a Southerner which lent the voice a closer connection to the words, but the misspeaking and throat clearing were a distraction. This made me think of the points that English brought up in the article, “Teaching the Novel in the Audio Age,” where he listed drawbacks that have to be overcome as we incorporate aural books into our classrooms, a concern for me. This also made me reflect on D..E..McKenzie’s point in his sociology of text where he mentions text may be the same but the meaning is modified by page design, new modes of presenting scenes, and articulation of the parts. I continued and searched for  Steinbeck’sChrysanthemums. This was off putting as the male voice was heavy handed for the male and lisp for the female. I continued  and  I searched for Gogol’s The Overcoat and was going in circles until I found that audio versions have it translated as The Cloak. I have very long daily commutes, where I usually read. One day, I put on my earbuds and listened to the story. I was happy to give my eyes a rest. Something I didn’t notice until half way through the story. I also found myself unwinding a bit by sitting back and closing my eyes. This was a treat. This made me think of Price when she was having an interview with Emre and she said that, no, her work is not to be a  “killjoy” but the opposite and bring more into lives.

A new chapter is happening and I didn’t even turn a page.