[ebooktalk] Re: Authors reading their own work.
- From: "Elaine Harris \(Rivendell\)" <elaineharris@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 5 Oct 2013 16:08:02 +1000
Yes, agree about Mcgough and Dylan Thomas; don't know all of the others. One
can only wonder how Shakespeare, Milton, Wordsworth and Browning would have
sounded reading their own work.
I suspect appreciation of authors or poets reading their own material is
subjective, like the appreciation of the books per se. I know there are
divided opinions about Alan Bennett's readings of his own work; I love it
but many do not.
Perhaps the universal truth is that not all writers make good readers and
not all readers can write but the appreciation of both or either is entirely
in the mind or ear of the beholder.
Elaine
-----Original Message-----
From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Ian Macrae
Sent: Friday, 4 October 2013 11:35 PM
To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ebooktalk] Re: Authors reading their own work.
Stephen King is notoriously bad at reading his own stuff but I love le Cares
interpretation of his books. The thing about poems and poets depends a bit
on who and what you mean. for instance, I can't imagine anyone ever reading
Beesley street better than John cooper clark. Same goes for Benjamin
Zephaniah and I always thought that Adrian Mitchell was a brilliant reader
of his own work as were the Liverpool three of Henri, Mcgough and Patton.
And, of course, Dylan Thomas reading Fern Hill is a moment of magic.
On 4 Oct 2013, at 14:02, Elaine Harris (Rivendell) wrote:
> I am not a fan of Val Mcdermid and have never heard her speak so am
> not judge.
>
> However, my better half has heard much of both James Herriot and John
> Le Carré read their own writings and was impressed by neither.
>
> I expect Stephen Fry and Tony Robinson could manage admirably, both
> being skilled actors as well as writers.
>
> Some years ago I talked to the organizer of a poetry festival; I asked
> her if poets were necessarily the best people to read their own work.
> The reply was an unequivocal, "No, dear". Of course, we have all heard
> exceptions to this rule but I daresay it applies equally to many an
author.
>
> Take care,
>
> Elaine
>
>
>
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