Nostalgic children's adventures

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Oh yes, it's a charming story well narrated.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Swallows and Amazons?

I can't say the most memorable one as I don't wish to give part of the story away! But Captain Flint the retired pirate was great, especially after peace and war, and I did enjoy Able Seaman Titty's fabulous feat - I applauded her as much as the others did.

What does Gareth Armstrong bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Having read this series of books as a child I gave all the characters my own voice. It wasn't until hearing this audiobook that I thought of course, the Amazons are bound to have accents from that region!

The flip side of that though was my thought that if Mrs Walker grew up in Australia, surely she'd have an Australian accent rather than a Home Counties one?

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Captain Flint's apology, or rather John's reaction to it.

Any additional comments?

It was with trepidation that I got this book and started listening to it. This was a very much loved series of books in my childhood and I've been disappointed several times as an adult reader going back to cherished books. I needn't have feared though. A slow start until I got used to the narrator, followed by a long knitting/audiobook session had me falling back in love with this book. It's funny isn't it: as an adult with a different perspective on the world, I had a new level of appreciation of certain events within the story and a different reaction to them. As a child this book was full-on drama action and adventure. As an adult it was much more gentle, whilst appreciating that the young characters were indeed experiencing full-on drama, action and adventure! I was also better able to put the story into context from the time it was set. As a child I just thought it was a story about a set of children a long time ago. Listening now, knowing it was set in 1929 (if I recall correctly), places it at a set moment in time.I did so enjoy going back into Ransome's world and I will savour each story again. My sister and I were given the books over a few years for birthday and Christmas presents from one particular relative. It worked out at about four books a year. I'll aim to listen to them in about the same time frame so as to get maximum enjoyment again.If you choose this book I do hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Happy listening!

22 people found this helpful

A enjoyable story, well read

Having read the Swallows and Amazons series as a child and more recently to my children, I was delighted to see them now appearing on Audible.

I wasn't disappointed, finding it as captivating and enjoyable as I remembered it. I found the narrator engaging and he helped enhance the story for me.

I'm looking forward to moving onto Swallowdale very soon!

15 people found this helpful

Gareth Armstrong not the best narator

I have loved these stories since I first read them forty years ago. Children's stories from a simpler, safer time. But I suspect modern children might find them hard to relate too as they reflect my parents childhood in the 1930s. Such things as toilets are never mentioned!

Garath Armstrong is not the best narrator. He falls over his words and reads the wrong word, and worse wrong name, sometimes. I prefer the Alison Larkin versions but they are not available in UK. The older Alex Jennings version is better but he did not record the whole set.

17 people found this helpful

Amazing story for children

What did you like most about Swallows and Amazons?

I've read this book as a child and I loved how the children turned reality into world of pirates, heroes and unfathomable natives.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked how the writer illustrates the two different worlds. The world of children and adults and how children understand it and deal with it.

What about Gareth Armstrong’s performance did you like?

Gareth Armstrong is a great narrator and it's really relaxing to listen to his deep calm voice.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book reminded it me of my childhood.

Any additional comments?

It's a great book for children and reading it on holidays would encourage their imagination.

7 people found this helpful

Great story - good narration

What did you like most about Swallows and Amazons?

We've been listening to this great story as a family and everyone always wants more at the end of a chapter. The only down-side is that he makes the children sound a little too childish. But, this is a small down side as, overall, it is well performed.

It is good to see an unabridged version of this series of classic books, we will be getting the others over the next few months.

7 people found this helpful

My childhood!

That was great! It was a brilliant reminder of bed time stories from my childhood. Looking forward to swallow dale!

5 people found this helpful

disappointed almost monotone performance

this man should not narrate books such as these classic adventures by Arthur Ransome. the narrator has no soul nor excited tone in his delivery. I tried my best to listen to him but after no more than 5 minutes he had bored me to death and ruined the idea of listening to one of my favourite childhood books! and by the end of that 5 mins I had given him several chances to redeem himself....he drones and is almost montone in his performance. sorry to be negative but someone has to be honest!

4 people found this helpful

I wish I read/listened to this when I was younger...

I wanted to enjoy this more than I actually did. The narrator did an alright job and the story was okay, but I just wish that I read this when I was younger. I can see why this is a Children’s Classic, but just not for me. It does have so much adventure, family and mystery in it that I can understand why this would be brilliant for children and why it would be easily to capture and hold their attention. But for me, the storyline just lacked for me, and it read as a children’s book, which is what it is, with a plot that wasn’t that in depth. I am glad to have listened to it and the narrator did a good job, I’m just a little disappointed.

4 people found this helpful

An Adverb Free Zone!

I had to think about what it was that made this book unexpectedly plain fare and I realised that it is weirdly devoid of adjectives or adverbs! Not necessarily a bad thing I might add, but it makes it different. I missed this series as a child for some reason. I am sure my appreciation of it as an adult is totally different from that of its young readers. I did enjoy it for its description of such fabulous freedom and easy friendships and the sheer force of imagination of the child characters. I also learnt a bit about sailing! I will be catching up on the rest of the series now I have discovered it.

3 people found this helpful

Young and old

If you could sum up Swallows and Amazons in three words, what would they be?

We listened to this on a long car journey. Initially I thought it was a bit old for my boys 5 and 7 but they soon got into it. They ended up drawing maps of the islands and even camped out on wildcat island in our spare room when we got back. This story really captured their imagination.

7 people found this helpful