John Granger rarely listens to audio adaptations of books unless he’s on a long drive, though he admits they have played an important part in his life as a reader.

Nick Jeffery listens to audio books everyday and often for hours at a time; he credits the medium for his mid-life rebirth as a reader (re-reader!).

Zossima Granger, writer in residence at ProtagonistBook.com (Give the gift of an unforgettable story!) and host of Teller Talk interview series at Zossima’s Story Stack Substack page, cannot remember a time when Harry Potter and audio books were not an important part of his life. He like Nick listens to one book per week or more.

So — what do these Potter Pundits and Serious Strikers think of the new Audible ‘Full Cast Audio’ (FCA) unabridged dramatization of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which in the UK and Commonwealth nations is Philosopher’s Stone?

They loved it! No, the adaptation wasn’t perfect, and, yes, there are a few jarring miscues and disappointments. As they explain in their ten point discussion of their experience listening to the Audible production, however, there’s reason to be very excited about this audio version of the first Potter novel and the six promised FCA dramatizations.

Nick lays out the audio adaptation history of the Hogwarts Saga, to include, in addition to the background of the new FCA books, the Stephen Fry and Jim Dale legacies. And then he asks the questions below!

* What is your relationship with audio books? Are you a frequent listener?

* Were the Fry/Dale Potter adaptations an important part of your experience of the Hogwarts Saga?

* Did you listen to the ‘full cast audio’ adaptation of Christmas Pig? Other books?

* What were your expectations -- fears and hopes -- for the Sorcerer’s Stone full cast audio adaptation?

* What was the biggest surprise you experienced in your first listening?

* Which of the voice actors brought out a different dimension of the text than you expected?

* What is your favorite scene in Stone and was the full cast audio depiction of it a delight or a disappointment?

* Fry, Dale, or Full Cast: will you listen to all three versions in the future? Do you have a strong preference?

* Thumbs up or down: one to five stars, please, for the Audible production and your biggest grins and gripes.

* What changes do you hope the producers will make before they release the next six adaptations?

Please join in the conversation by sharing your answers to these questions in the comment boxes below. What is your relationship with books you listen to rather than read? What do think of the new FCA dramatization?

And, when you’ve made your contribution to this conversation and you’d like more conversation between Nick Jeffery and Zossima Granger for dessert, check out Teller Talk #4, ‘Harry Potter and the Skill of Reading’!

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