philip pullman northern lights review

• Overview
• Reviews
• Write your review
• Ask a Question

By simondoy on 8th May 2004

simondoy's Ratings

Value for money	10/10
Overall value	10/10
simondoy's recommendation

Good Points

Excellent acting and good production. Brought the book to life. This the only audio version worth considering.

Bad Points

There are no bad points....absolutely none.

General Comments

I am 41 yrs old and this audio production of Philip Pullman's Northern Lights represents my personal favourite audiobook ever produced.

I have just one thing to add to the previous reviewer who mentioned Joanne Wyatt's fluctuating accent. This I believe was deliberate and formed part of the character of Lyra. Lyra's character is one of great adaptability and directly related to the role she was playing at the time. Whether she was mixing with the backstreet children of Oxford or as Mrs Coulter's personal assistant in London, or on the road with the Gyptians she always adjusted her behaviour to blend with her surroundings. With this her accent went hand in hand. She even on occaisions played the shy vulnerable child. All of this was captured masterfully by Joanne Wyatt. Her performance was just one of the qualities that makes this Cover to Cover version infinately better than the BBC's own Radio 4 version that is also available.

Do not make the error of buying the Radio 4 version as it is lack lustre by comparison (sorry Radio 4, I love many of your other productions). Many of the character's in that version are played in two dimensional fashion and the they have played around with the plot a little. The lead character (Lyra) in the Radio 4 version was hugely disapointing and this was crucial to the enjoyment of the whole production.

So, in short, get this Cover to Cover full cast version!

Total Respect: +1