Cracking Tale, Very Well Read

Tim Pigott-Smith does an excellent job of reading this book, creating a series of readily indentifiable voices for all of the protagonists.

The story itself is classic Greene and it authentically captures the humidity, sleaze and ennui of it's setting in a town on the banks of the river that marks the border between Argentina and Paraguay. It is well plotted, has great characters and explores issues of nationality, idealism and, as always with Graham Greene, the catholic church.

Why only four stars then? Well, there is a section in the book in to which the author uncharacteristically clumsily shoehorns a discussion on religion that goes on rather longer than necessary to drive the plot and is presumably there to allow Graham Greene a platform on which to share his views of the roman church. Please don't let this put you off though - this is a really good story, beautifully read.

9 people found this helpful

To do or not to do a foreign accent...

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

I couldn't recommend this reading of The Honorary Consul to anyone, friend or otherwise. I think most people I know who would be interested in hearing a novel set in Argentina in the seventies have some Spanish or know people from Latin America. I think this reading will annoy them for the simple reason that even when the characters are, one imagines, all speaking in Spanish, Tim Piggott-Smith puts on an exaggerated "South American" accent. He has a fine reading voice and his English characters are well defined. However, each Argentinian or Paraguayan character takes on a husky or whining tone, accompanied by what can only be described as a cod Mexican lilt, culled from a combination of bad Westerns, Manuel from Fawlty Towers (I know, he was supposed to be Spanish), and Mel Blanc's voicing of Speedy Gonzalez. This renders the later part of the book unlistenable. As we begin to hear more about the kidnappers motives, it's hard to take what they say seriously and weigh up the validity of their words, as their speech is delivered in a way that makes them sound fatuous. I struggled through to the end of the book, but I wouldn't wish the experience on anyone else.

What other book might you compare The Honorary Consul to, and why?

Not having read much English writing from this period, to me the style is most reminiscent of John Le Carré, though the comparison probably works better the other way, as Greene is the forerunner of the two, though they do share some similarities of social and professional background. Elegant, flowing prose is how I would describe it, with, for the main part, well drawn, three dimensional characters. Again, my sense that some of the characters are only sketched in, notably Clara and most of the Paraguayan kidnappers, possibly comes from my hating the ridiculous accents given them by the reader.

How could the performance have been better?

I think it would be wrong to blame the reading entirely on Tim Piggott-Smith. I imagine that the director had insisted on the foreign accents. Perhaps this choice was made in an attempt to replicate the effect of the movie with Michael Caine, rather than staying faithful to Greene's text. Who knows? If only the characters, when speaking in their native tongues, had been given English accents, this might have been a superb reading of the novel.

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

There might have been moving moments in this novel but if so, the mannerisms of the reader ruined them.

Any additional comments?

I'll have to read the text of this book to really get the impact of the work.

6 people found this helpful

Superb narration of a memorable story

Whenever I return to a Graham Greene novel I'm reminded of what a marvellous writer he was. His characters seem so real and his stories draw one in to their lives. Often the end of a book leaves me feeling sad on behalf of the people he describes. As with many of his books this one deals with love, death and theological questions cleverly woven into a gripping story. The author's personal anguish over his beliefs pervade the narrative.
I cannot praise TIm Piggot Smith's narration enough. He brought the various characters vividly to life.

4 people found this helpful

Top Graham Greene novel.

Well read. Charming, thought provoking, complex and rich writing. T.Pigott-Smith’s voice acting beautifully conveys the humour, farce and tragedy in the author’s book; and deals well with both the hope & hypocrisy provided by the Catholic Church’s mission in poor, war torn countries. I’ll be after a paper copy now! Marvellous.

2 people found this helpful

Wonderful story and performance

Tim Piggott-Smith’s reading is tremendous: the characters are well-defined, really believable and come alive in his narration.

1 person found this helpful

Twice listening

You listen to good books once. The test is whether they rate a second time. This depends on a combination of story and narration. I enjoyed a cursory listen first time around, captured by the story and the moral complexities and digressions into matters of belief, which, as a catholic, I always enjoy. The excellent narration from Tim Pigott Smith, with all his voices, brought out Greene's black humour. Listening the second time around allowed me to notice many details of the way Greene the story is built.

1 person found this helpful

Moving and Perceptive

A moving and perceptive story, beautifully read by Tim Piggott-Smith, who brings Graham Greene's writing perfectly to life. Graham Greene's ability to make us unexpectedly come to understand and empathise with his diverse range of characters is deeply moving.

1 person found this helpful

Dragged on a bit

What would have made The Honorary Consul better?

It was slow and to be honest I got bored. I picked it because I loved Our Man in Havana, so I thought I would try more Graham Greene, but this is not the same sort of book at all.

What will your next listen be?

I would listen to more Graham Greene but I will read the reviews more carefully next time.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes

1 person found this helpful

Fantastically Narrated

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The narration was outstanding making the story very enjoyable. I will definitely read more books, read by him.

I found it hard going.

I was looking forward to this book. I had listened to Brighton Rock a few weeks ago, which I enjoyed. This just didn't hit the right spot for me. The focus on religion I found tedious. The plot surrounding the kidnapping was lost in the microscopic musings about love, politics and religion.