Voyage of the Dawn Treader - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Folwren · 11-11-2010, 10:27 PM

I know Derek Jacobi is a great actor who plays in some Shakespearian movies, but I don't know if that would be enough to induce me to get this, for myself or my kids, if I ever have any.

That's kind of odd, really. I think part of books being so wonderful is the fact that in reading them, people must rely so much on their own imagination to hear and see what is going on. It is sad that people want to take that away from the experience.

Mithalwen · 11-12-2010, 04:23 AM

While usually I am a Luddite I can see some useful add ons but I would like having the maps - I don't have a strong sense of direction naturally and am always referring to maps esp the Journeys of Frodo to get a sense of things so that would be good.

Pitchwife · 11-12-2010, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

I remember Derek Jacobi being outstanding in [i]I, Claudius[/b], and I'm having trouble seeing Claudius in Narnia.

Yes, he was unforgettable as C-c-claudius, but he's also played a very nice Brother Cadfael, among other things, so I have great confidence in his ability to handle the nuances of pretty much any material he gets thrown at him.
Personally, I'm a sucker for maps, blueprints and such (preferably on good paper), but I can certainly do without such merchandizing chaff as 'interactive trivia' and embedded animations. But then, I've never bought an e-Book anyway and I'm not very likely to buy one in the foreseeable future.

Leyrana Silumiel · 11-12-2010, 04:14 PM

While I'm a BIG proponent of eBooks (for assorted reasons, including the usefulness of them when it comes to visual disabilities), I don't see myself buying this one or any other "interactive" eBook. My nook (the original one, not that color nook they're coming out with) suits me just fine, because all I'm in it for is to read the book. I don't need any fancy graphics or read-alongs or whatever else these publishers feel the urge to cram into eBooks nowadays. (Though I DO really like the clickable notes that take you to the footnotes / endnotes in question; those are always really useful when reading nonfiction AND even fiction -- such as Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell book.) It just hits a point where there's just TOO much, and it detracts well away from the book. Whatever happened to just reading?

Mithalwen · 11-13-2010, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

Yes, he was unforgettable as C-c-claudius, but he's also played a very nice Brother Cadfael, among other things, so I have great confidence in his ability to handle the nuances of pretty much any material he gets thrown at him..

Oh he was great as Cadfael. I must admit that that although I haven't yet tried an ebook myself I have dipped a toe in the water for the Gutenberg project and Iwhen travelling - my young cousin in the navy allowed about a shoebox full of personal possessions at sea is certainly aprreciating being able to take a load of books on his iphone, and hte read quality is much better than I anticipated.

Pitchwife · 11-13-2010, 03:33 PM

Oh, don't get me wrong, I didn't intend to diss e-books in general - I'm grateful to the people at Project Gutenberg and others like them for making books available online that are hard to get elsewhere; it's just when I actually spend money for a book I prefer something more tangible.
Anyway, reading about this edition with its load of gimmicks somehow reminds me of Theodor W Adorno's words way back in the 1950s:

Quote:

It is striking how these books seem to be ashamed of still being books at all, rather than animated movies or neon-lit shop-windows.

He was complaining about garishly illustrated book covers; little did he know what the future held in store...

11-11-2010, 10:27 PM	#1
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	I know Derek Jacobi is a great actor who plays in some Shakespearian movies, but I don't know if that would be enough to induce me to get this, for myself or my kids, if I ever have any. That's kind of odd, really. I think part of books being so wonderful is the fact that in reading them, people must rely so much on their own imagination to hear and see what is going on. It is sad that people want to take that away from the experience. __________________ A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. - C.S. Lewis

11-12-2010, 04:23 AM	#2
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	While usually I am a Luddite I can see some useful add ons but I would like having the maps - I don't have a strong sense of direction naturally and am always referring to maps esp the Journeys of Frodo to get a sense of things so that would be good. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

11-12-2010, 04:14 PM	#4
Leyrana Silumiel Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Alabama, USA Posts: 58	While I'm a BIG proponent of eBooks (for assorted reasons, including the usefulness of them when it comes to visual disabilities), I don't see myself buying this one or any other "interactive" eBook. My nook (the original one, not that color nook they're coming out with) suits me just fine, because all I'm in it for is to read the book. I don't need any fancy graphics or read-alongs or whatever else these publishers feel the urge to cram into eBooks nowadays. (Though I DO really like the clickable notes that take you to the footnotes / endnotes in question; those are always really useful when reading nonfiction AND even fiction -- such as Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell book.) It just hits a point where there's just TOO much, and it detracts well away from the book. Whatever happened to just reading?