Dated Rubbish

What disappointed you about The Swiss Family Robinson?

Almost everything ,the basic idea of a family of Robinson Crusoes on a desert island is a good one but oh boy! Didn't he get it wrong

Would you ever listen to anything by Johann David Wyss again?

Not if it is on this level

Would you be willing to try another one of Frederick Davidson’s performances?

Not if I was paid to listen,he was dreadful.A would be Brian Sewell soundalike who pronounced shone to rhyme with mown.He also kept pausing when a pause wasn't called for,asthma or lack of technique ?to call his voice pompous& boring would be an understatement

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Swiss Family Robinson?

Every new animal,bird,reptile or whatever the first reaction even among the children was to kill it,I'd edit all those out.Every subject under the sun that was mentioned Papa was a world class expert on it & gave the reader/listener a full lecture on it,boring & incredibly irritating.

Any additional comments?

I read the book many years ago when the glaring improbability of the story didn't register with me.A tropical island with animals who didn't belong on the same continent let alone an island.The same island is almost a floating supermarket everything you need on the shelves.A man who although his actual calling is never mentioned is a genius at everything he attempts,I was expecting him to instal double glazing & Central heating at any moment.A awful,unbelievable piece of tripe.

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3 people found this helpful

appalling narrator

What would have made The Swiss Family Robinson better?

A different narrator. You cannot change the story but the narrator read this as a diary not a novel. Perhaps this was as it was meant to be read but a less conceited and pompous approach with a more interesting narrator would have been a great improvement.

What was most disappointing about Johann David Wyss’s story?

Not disappointed in story, wanted to read the original as opposed to the Disney Film version.

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Frederick Davidson?

Davina Porter for one. I am amazed at how many voices she can do and how she injects feeling into the narrative (Diana Gabaldon novels).

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Apathy

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1 person found this helpful

The narrator was terrible!!

This classic hasn't aged well at all,combined with a smug sounding narrator,who adds to give the listener a real feeling of being spoken down to.

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The story was exciting having read it as a child I do love a happy ending though so this is a winner!

I disliked the amount of animal slaughter but it was relevant to the story so acceptable

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The colourful description of the ingenuity.

I liked it all apart from the descriptions of killing the lions and the whales.

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Quite entertaining of an Old Favourite

An excellent listen. Very much enjoyed this audio version of a favourite classic. The narrator has a pleasant British voice, but doesn’t work that hard to distinguish between characters’ voices. However, as it’s written in first person there is little confusion.

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Inappropriate naration

In my view, the narrator's accent etc is inappropriate for this book.
It gives the impression that all is in order and there are no insurmountable problems.

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Adventure, but poorly narrated and racist at times

I'm sorry I let my son listen to it. Plot was good, and he wasn't even put off by the monotone narration, but I didn't like the attitude of assumed racial biases I overheard.

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AMAZING

my favroute book and I love the narriator
Great 👍👍👍story and lot's of information

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It's a wonderful book

This book has always been a favorite of mine since school, and just listening to it again makes me wonder how I would have done if I were ship wrecked.
I would recommend this title to everyone.

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