Another Book Series You Got Me Into!

All your fault RC Armitage

Another Book Series You Got Me Into

Dr.  Alexander Gregory 

I just finished listening to Bedlam by LJ Ross and narrated by Richard Armitage.

A very good job by Richard Armitage.  He had to do British accents, American accents, a Scottish accent, and create all these different characters in two countries. Also men and women of different ages.  As he has done before, he created an entire acting company with just his voice.  Yet it was subtle enough so that it flows very easily and enjoyably.  

This is not easy to do. I have returned a couple of audibooks because the narrators were over the top in doing the voices of the different characters. Not to mention one that attempted Italian accents that were unintentionally funny and also offensive!  

I never have to worry about that with Richard as the narrator.  

Of course, he was also the perfect protagonist of this book,  Dr. Alexander Gregory.  Very complex character, quite a tragic background, and a man of mystery in many ways. But a good person. Plus a bit of a romantic. 

Richard himself tweeted this book would make a great TV series, and I know there was a chorus on Twitter, and I will add my vote to this, that he would be the perfect Dr. Gregory. 

More about the audiobook Here

Bedlam is the third book of the Dr. Gregory series by LJ Ross.  This is my first book by the author, and now I've added the other two audiobooks of the series (narrated by Hugh Dancy) to my Audible Wish List.  

Why do I blame Richard for starting me on this book series?  Because he's done it before. Not just a series that he has narrated, but others that I've discovered because of him. 

Just from the top of my head:

Jackman & Evans Series by Joy Ellis 

(Narrated by Richard Armitage)

Ruth Galloway Mysteries by Elly Griffiths

Nic Costa Series by David Hewson

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I don't know when I'll get to Book #1 and  #2 of the Dr. Gregory series.  I have the audiobook challenge going on, plus the Armitage audiobooks already on pre-order!!!!!!!!!!  But they are on my list now.  

I do hope Richard continues to narrate the Dr. Gregory books.  

From Sleepwalker

Another Richard Armitage Challenge! Social Distancing Edition #22

Your Favorite Audiobook?

I am a fan of Richard Armitage's narration, performance more accurately, of audiobooks. I believe he is an amazing voice actor.  And in many ways being a good voice actor is more difficult than other forms of acting.  Especially if you are creating an entire cast of characters with just your voice.  I truly think that it's not as valued by the industry and by audiences as it should be.

If you have ever listened to a bad audiobook narration, or even a bad documentary narration, think about the skill of the good actor that can transport you with their voice alone to another world.

With the exception of maybe one audiobook that is not currently available in the US or through another source,  I have listened to every audiobook Richard Armitage has narrated since I discovered his first audiobooks around 2006 inspired by the Robin Hood series and his unforgettable character of Guy of Gisborne.  

From 2006 to today my favorite Richard Armitage audiobook is still The Lords of the North by Bernard Cornwell.  

Richard and a microphone (ADR for The Hobbit)

I've listened to the book countless times throughout all these years. The characters really come alive as distinct human beings and it's difficult to remember that it is only Richard in a studio with his voice creating these vivid characters and scenes. 

Below is an excerpt of one of my favorite reviews of Richard's narration of Lords of the North. I love the review because it reflects so well and much more eloquently than I could exactly how I feel:

"One of the reasons why this reading succeeds so brilliantly is that it is a first person narrative. This actor takes on completely the character of the narrator hero; he manages to sound as though he’s wearing the clothes, carrying the swords, sporting the trophy arm rings of this Anglo-Saxon warrior. By his commitment to the hero and his voice, Richard Armitage has connected with the story-telling tradition of the age of Beowulf and earlier, and has shown himself to be a true ‘Skald’ – a bearer of tales of heroes."

Click link below for the entire review:

https://vulpeslibris.wordpress.com/2010/09/10/the-lords-of-the-north-by-bernard-cornwell-read-by-richard-armitage/

Looking at my 10 CD set, it was produced by BBC Audio in 2007. 

I consider my 10 CD Lords of the North narrated by Richard Armitage set to be a treasure since the audiobook is no longer in the market available for purchase.

It is sad to me that Richard only narrated this one book from Cornwell's Saxon Stories and even more sad that no one seems to know who owns the rights to Armitage's narration of the book. 

I know Armitage fans, including me, have contacted Audible to see if there's a way for them to find who owns the rights to this audiobook and to purchase it. Armitage narrations have been very successful for Audible and you would think Amazon with all their money would have an interest in purchasing this wonderful version of Cornwell's book. 

I'm dusting off one of my old videos below for a small taste of Richard Armitage narrating Lords of the North:

"Fate is Inexorable"