Book #30: The Last Unicorn
I listened to The Last Unicorn as an audio book. It's one of my favorite stories and the movie is one the great artistic loves of my life. It's been a while since I read this and I had forgotten what an amazing writer Peter Beagle is. Few people write similes or description so succinctly yet evocatively. I also appreciate how he tackles such huge themes with simple delicacy.
It was a bit odd listening to it, though. Peter Beagle read it himself, and he has a strange voice that is almost deep enough to be rumbling but not quite. As a narrator and for the male dialogue, it mostly works, but for the female dialogue and for some of the deeper moments, it doesn't. He also sings all the songs quoted in the story, and I confess I found that distracting and bordering on unpleasant. Overall, he lacks the rhythm and flair that an actor would have brought to the table, and I think it could have been better.
It was a bit odd listening to it, though. Peter Beagle read it himself, and he has a strange voice that is almost deep enough to be rumbling but not quite. As a narrator and for the male dialogue, it mostly works, but for the female dialogue and for some of the deeper moments, it doesn't. He also sings all the songs quoted in the story, and I confess I found that distracting and bordering on unpleasant. Overall, he lacks the rhythm and flair that an actor would have brought to the table, and I think it could have been better.