Grey Reads: The Fir Tree
Added 2023-12-23 17:50:02 +0000 UTCDear Listener,
I never expected to do another story for 'Grey Reads', for when trying to select stories I looked for those that could be read word-for-word, unmodified as the author intended.
But this requirement excluded nearly everything in the public domain, for that which is written more than a hundred years ago, let alone two hundred or more, limited by our English of today is difficult both to read and to listen to.
Language is always evolving, and as it does, the past becomes further away from us than years alone might suggest. This is a problem I'm long familiar with in reading historical documents, anything before the eighteenth century borders on another language when attempting to comprehend it's true meaning. With stories, more-so.
Nonetheless, I stumbled upon The Fir Tree a story I wanted to read, yet had too many anachronisms that would, for students in particular, make needlessly difficult the understanding of certain parts.
Then I thought of the times, very occasional, I was called upon to read a story to a group of students in my teaching days. Never then did I feel a requirement to read the exact words as authored. The written and spoken word are two different mediums, the reaction of an audience different again from that of a solitary reader.
So I decided for The Fir Tree, and if I ever do another reading, to treat 'Grey Reads' as though I were again reading to a group of students, making changes for the sake of comprehensibility on the fly, skipping the boring or superfluous parts.
I still haven't got the knack of reading in the style of an audiobook, but I think this is at least a bit better than my past attempts for this decision.
Merry Christmas.
-Grey
Comments
You are an excellent reader. I don't know your personal life but I hope you will make time to read to children - either your own or others. Children these days have so little opportunity to hear well-written English spoken correctly with proper pronunciation, intonation and enunciation. Thank you.
B Welkinator
2023-12-31 19:34:55 +0000 UTCGrey, I am so thankful for all the extra you do to be sure to give us a Christmas present!!! ππ may it all come back to you many times over. If I requested one more gift from you, it would be Lady Greyβs Christmas tacos (or nachos?) recipe link!! π
Bonnie & Rob
2023-12-25 23:00:11 +0000 UTCThanks for this, Grey. There's been a lot going on for me lately and I think this story in particular was one I really needed to hear.
The murderous Pangolin who secretly lives in your sock drawer
2023-12-24 13:55:03 +0000 UTCHans Christian Anderson was a depressed man for a lot of his life. He stayed with Charles Dickens so long that Dickens had to telling him to leave. A month or a month and a half.
Clearlyhere
2023-12-24 04:06:20 +0000 UTCI'm very happy to listen to another story read by you. Merry Christmas, Grey and everyone who reads this!
Sasha
2023-12-23 18:26:58 +0000 UTCMaking changes for the sake of comprehensibility on the fly is okay, especially when one is reading a translation of the original work.
2023-12-23 18:14:13 +0000 UTCI feel like audiobook narrator is one of your Eevee evolutions. In some universe it's your final form, but are we in that universe? Β―\_(γ)_/Β―
Anna V
2023-12-23 18:13:12 +0000 UTCMany years ago We found this story in a book of Christmas fairy tales and didnβt realize how depressing it was going to be. We read it looking for a nice Christmas story and were not ready for what the story was.
2023-12-23 18:02:41 +0000 UTCMerry Christmas, Bonnie Bees. Much love to you all.
CJ Bolton
2023-12-23 17:56:19 +0000 UTCI needed something to put on while I wrapped presents. Perfect! Merry Christmas Greys!
PerfectlyAdequate
2023-12-23 17:55:14 +0000 UTC
