Comments on: Gaiman on Poe: read him aloud! http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:57:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anne K. http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-384000 Anne K. Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-384000 Ack! I also meant to say that that cover is totally sweet. I like a nicely designed cover (I've bought multiple copies of books to have different covers) and that one is mighty fine. Ack! I also meant to say that that cover is totally sweet. I like a nicely designed cover (I’ve bought multiple copies of books to have different covers) and that one is mighty fine.

]]> By: ShadowDancer http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-384256 ShadowDancer Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-384256 i have always enjoyed poe's writings. i recently read <a>"The Beautiful Cigar Girl"</a> a detailed look at the true murder mystery which influenced poe's tale "The Mystery of Marie Rogêt". as well as detailing the murder, its aftermath and poe's take on it in his story, the book is also a biography of poe. he was born into a tragic life and died even more tragically. until i read this fairly complete biography of him i didn't realise where his grim writing came from. he was an orphan who never wanted by those who fostered him. he was always told he was a failure. i suspect that contributed to the self perpetuation of his subsequent failures in business. his words when spoken aloud are compelling. i like the poem "annabelle lee" and the story "the narrative of arthur gordon pym". i have always enjoyed poe’s writings. i recently read “The Beautiful Cigar Girl” a detailed look at the true murder mystery which influenced poe’s tale “The Mystery of Marie Rogêt”. as well as detailing the murder, its aftermath and poe’s take on it in his story, the book is also a biography of poe. he was born into a tragic life and died even more tragically.

until i read this fairly complete biography of him i didn’t realise where his grim writing came from. he was an orphan who never wanted by those who fostered him. he was always told he was a failure. i suspect that contributed to the self perpetuation of his subsequent failures in business.

his words when spoken aloud are compelling. i like the poem “annabelle lee” and the story “the narrative of arthur gordon pym”.

]]> By: thebulfrog http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-386051 thebulfrog Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-386051 And on top of that all-the Poe book pictured is one of the best collections of Mark Summers art you'll find. On top of his normal woodcut style, there's a range of experimentation from sketches to inkings to paintings. I know this is all about the audio versions, but really a remarkable set of pictures in the book well worth checking out. And on top of that all-the Poe book pictured is one of the best collections of Mark Summers art you’ll find. On top of his normal woodcut style, there’s a range of experimentation from sketches to inkings to paintings. I know this is all about the audio versions, but really a remarkable set of pictures in the book well worth checking out.

]]> By: sfreader http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-384785 sfreader Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-384785 Howdy, For the next few days, you can listen to audio versions of 3 Poe tales on the BBC. I'll give you the commands to play each one. They expire this Saturday. In each case, put the command all on one line. The Gold Bug - mplayer -playlist http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/aod/playlists/n7/sr/g0/0b/RadioBridge_intl_1800_bbc_7.ram The Pit and the Pendulum - mplayer -playlist http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/aod/playlists/2k/sr/g0/0b/RadioBridge_intl_1100_bbc_7.ram The Tell-Tale Heart - mplayer -playlist http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/aod/playlists/3p/sr/g0/0b/RadioBridge_intl_1115_bbc_7.ram There is a fictional investigation of his death also available by: mplayer -playlist http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/aod/playlists/bh/sr/g0/0b/RadioBridge_intl_1000_bbc_7.ram Howdy,
For the next few days, you can listen to audio versions of 3 Poe tales on the BBC. I’ll give you the commands to play each one. They expire this Saturday. In each case, put the command all on one line.
The Gold Bug –
mplayer -playlist http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/aod/playlists/n7/sr/g0/0b/RadioBridge_intl_1800_bbc_7.ram

The Pit and the Pendulum -
mplayer -playlist http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/aod/playlists/2k/sr/g0/0b/RadioBridge_intl_1100_bbc_7.ram

The Tell-Tale Heart -
mplayer -playlist http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/aod/playlists/3p/sr/g0/0b/RadioBridge_intl_1115_bbc_7.ram

There is a fictional investigation of his death also available by:
mplayer -playlist http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/aod/playlists/bh/sr/g0/0b/RadioBridge_intl_1000_bbc_7.ram

]]> By: Ghede http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-384031 Ghede Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-384031 I used to get a lot of pleasure from reading the Raven aloud in my gravest voice. Still do, although I don't remember much beyond the first verse. It is definitely written to be read aloud. I used to get a lot of pleasure from reading the Raven aloud in my gravest voice. Still do, although I don’t remember much beyond the first verse. It is definitely written to be read aloud.

]]> By: Ghede http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-384038 Ghede Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-384038 #15 The man was an orphan, an alchoholic, and he was living in Boston during the tail end of the industrial revolution. His most famous poem, "The Raven" was an instant success, but he was only ever paid $9 for it. Pardon him for being grim. #15 The man was an orphan, an alchoholic, and he was living in Boston during the tail end of the industrial revolution. His most famous poem, “The Raven” was an instant success, but he was only ever paid $9 for it. Pardon him for being grim.

]]> By: Baldhead http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-384050 Baldhead Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-384050 I didn't read Poe until high school, and it bored me then. What didn't bore me was listening to Christopher Lee reading some of the stories on this old tape my Dad would play in the car sometimes on long drives. I didn’t read Poe until high school, and it bored me then. What didn’t bore me was listening to Christopher Lee reading some of the stories on this old tape my Dad would play in the car sometimes on long drives.

]]> By: buddy66 http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-384054 buddy66 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-384054 ''Poe didn't need the bird ... Poe didn't want the bird ... Poe didn't dig the bird ... It was a bird sent to bug him!" ---Lord Buckley ”Poe didn’t need the bird … Poe didn’t want the bird … Poe didn’t dig the bird … It was a bird sent to bug him!”
—Lord Buckley

]]> By: flowerofhighrank http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-383814 flowerofhighrank Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-383814 well... I'm a high school English teacher. Teaching Poe, almost any Poe, to 9th graders really makes you think about accessibility. I understand: Poe used 131-word sentences to create tension in the reader; I learned that while getting my MA in English. However, that doesn't seem to matter when I have to explain every single word, with comments like- "well, no, that isn't a real word. He made that up; liked the sound of it, I guess..." "Yes, Juan, that IS the ninth time he's mentioned that. Good counting. Let's keep going." "See, right here, where Usher has put his dead sister's body into a room in the house? And Usher's going nuts? Now, as a good friend, wouldn't you read aloud from an obscure novel instead of going and finding out what's making all that noise???" Yeah. I admire Poe for inviting the detective story. I admire him for inspiring millions of writers all over the world...but I have found... I can admire Poe from a distance. well…
I’m a high school English teacher. Teaching Poe, almost any Poe, to 9th graders really makes you think about accessibility. I understand: Poe used 131-word sentences to create tension in the reader; I learned that while getting my MA in English. However, that doesn’t seem to matter when I have to explain every single word, with comments like-
“well, no, that isn’t a real word. He made that up; liked the sound of it, I guess…”
“Yes, Juan, that IS the ninth time he’s mentioned that. Good counting. Let’s keep going.”
“See, right here, where Usher has put his dead sister’s body into a room in the house? And Usher’s going nuts? Now, as a good friend, wouldn’t you read aloud from an obscure novel instead of going and finding out what’s making all that noise???”

Yeah.
I admire Poe for inviting the detective story. I admire him for inspiring millions of writers all over the world…but I have found…
I can admire Poe from a distance.

]]> By: alisong76 http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-383829 alisong76 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-383829 LOL, I've been reading "The Raven" aloud for years. Ever since I realised I wasn't ever again going to able to read it silently without hearing Bart Simpson saying "nevermore". Bloody Treehouse of Horrors ;-) LOL, I’ve been reading “The Raven” aloud for years. Ever since I realised I wasn’t ever again going to able to read it silently without hearing Bart Simpson saying “nevermore”. Bloody Treehouse of Horrors ;-)

]]> By: Kabur Naj http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-383830 Kabur Naj Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-383830 And here I thought you named her Poesy because you were a scribbler, and maybe had a particular appreciation for structured verse. Of course, there's nothing that says you can't have chosen the name for its dual significance, is there? Or would that be per verse...? And here I thought you named her Poesy because you were a scribbler, and maybe had a particular appreciation for structured verse.

Of course, there’s nothing that says you can’t have chosen the name for its dual significance, is there?

Or would that be per verse…?

]]> By: bjacques http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-383851 bjacques Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-383851 Poe had a wicked sense of humor, and could mix the comic with the macabre like no other American author of his time. My favorite comic short story by him is "The Devil In the Belfry." It was included in a Scholastic Book Services collection called something like Thirteen Before Midnight. I didn't get into it then, because of Poe's prose, and expected it to be scary. Now, of course, I appreciate it as a lampoon of the Dutch (I live in Amsterdam) and it's funny as hell. My second favorite is "Never Bet The Devil Your Head." Poe had a wicked sense of humor, and could mix the comic with the macabre like no other American author of his time.

My favorite comic short story by him is “The Devil In the Belfry.” It was included in a Scholastic Book Services collection called something like Thirteen Before Midnight. I didn’t get into it then, because of Poe’s prose, and expected it to be scary. Now, of course, I appreciate it as a lampoon of the Dutch (I live in Amsterdam) and it’s funny as hell.

My second favorite is “Never Bet The Devil Your Head.”

]]> By: Beanolini http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-383857 Beanolini Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-383857 Reading spooky stories aloud is a Christmas tradition that is well worth continuing. My other half hosts ghost story nights at this time of year. We sit round in front of an open fire, eat mince pies, drink port, and take turns to read aloud (usually published short stories, though a few people have read their own stories, and there have been poems and songs). A <a href="http://www.litandphil.org.uk/" rel="nofollow">local independent library</a> also hosts tremendously popular <a href="http://www.chazbrenchley.co.uk/short/phantoms.html" rel="nofollow">ghost story readings</a>, where local authors read stories that they've written especially for the occasion. The last few have been in a fantastic <a href="http://www.mininginstitute.org.uk/hire/lecturetheatre.html" rel="nofollow">wood-panelled Edwardian lecture theatre</a>. Reading spooky stories aloud is a Christmas tradition that is well worth continuing.

My other half hosts ghost story nights at this time of year. We sit round in front of an open fire, eat mince pies, drink port, and take turns to read aloud (usually published short stories, though a few people have read their own stories, and there have been poems and songs).

A local independent library also hosts tremendously popular ghost story readings, where local authors read stories that they’ve written especially for the occasion. The last few have been in a fantastic wood-panelled Edwardian lecture theatre.

]]> By: Tom http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-383895 Tom Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-383895 Reading aloud is also the best way to experience Shakespeare. The rhythm just does not appear when reading it silently. Though you do need to learn how to pronounce some of the old words. My cat used to come running whenever I read certain things aloud, one being Old Will. The only Poe I have read aloud is the Raven, because it is so obvious to do. But I do not recall reading anything else of his aloud. Reading aloud is also the best way to experience Shakespeare. The rhythm just does not appear when reading it silently. Though you do need to learn how to pronounce some of the old words.

My cat used to come running whenever I read certain things aloud, one being Old Will.

The only Poe I have read aloud is the Raven, because it is so obvious to do. But I do not recall reading anything else of his aloud.

]]> By: Tyro Prate http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-383903 Tyro Prate Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-383903 This edition is on sale for $5 at bn.com: http://bit.ly/wklj Copy and paste (do not click) this link into your browser after putting the book in your shopping cart for 10% off and free expedited shipping: http://www.bn.com/visaloyalty This edition is on sale for $5 at bn.com:

http://bit.ly/wklj

Copy and paste (do not click) this link into your browser after putting the book in your shopping cart for 10% off and free expedited shipping:

http://www.bn.com/visaloyalty

]]> By: kababok http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-383906 kababok Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-383906 All Poe's work can be downloaded for free, or picked up second hand. Anyone interested has this already, probably several times. Add an intro by Neil Gaiman and you have a new product. Extra track and a tacky badge. @bjacques In fact it's a satire of New York. As a lampoon of the Dutch, it's crap as hell. Almost all "Dutch" words he uses are German. I bet you never bothered to learn Dutch. Also the people are more like catholic Germans or Belgians. It was written to make a point about an american president, and spouts the prejudices of the time, confusing German with Dutch. All Poe’s work can be downloaded for free, or picked up second hand. Anyone interested has this already, probably several times. Add an intro by Neil Gaiman and you have a new product. Extra track and a tacky badge.

@bjacques

In fact it’s a satire of New York. As a lampoon of the Dutch, it’s crap as hell.

Almost all “Dutch” words he uses are German. I bet you never bothered to learn Dutch. Also the people are more like catholic Germans or Belgians. It was written to make a point about an american president, and spouts the prejudices of the time, confusing German with Dutch.

]]> By: kiltreiser http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-383907 kiltreiser Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-383907 Thankfully my flatmate's wife has agreed to buy him that volume for his birthday so I get to enjoy it without the cost, albeit temporarily. Many books can be enhanced by being read aloud, I remember often reading stories from Richard Brautigan's 'Revenge Of The Lawn' to an ex-girlfriend and it could lend the stories a whole new dimension. Thankfully my flatmate’s wife has agreed to buy him that volume for his birthday so I get to enjoy it without the cost, albeit temporarily. Many books can be enhanced by being read aloud, I remember often reading stories from Richard Brautigan’s ‘Revenge Of The Lawn’ to an ex-girlfriend and it could lend the stories a whole new dimension.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-384689 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-384689 My favorite was always "A Sonnet to Science." Science ruins everything fun. My favorite was always “A Sonnet to Science.”
Science ruins everything fun.

]]> By: wgmleslie http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-383941 wgmleslie Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-383941 <i>To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells From the bells, bells, bells, bells, Bells, bells, bells,--</i> The very essence of alliteration and onomatopœia. Whooo! To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells
From the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells,–

The very essence of alliteration and onomatopœia.

Whooo!

]]> By: JStoneham http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-383956 JStoneham Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-383956 If you can find a copy of the 2-CD collection _Closed On Account Of Rabies_ - it's worth it. People like Iggy Pop, Gavin Friday, Marianne Faithful, and Christopher Walken reading Poe. Oh yes. If you can find a copy of the 2-CD collection _Closed On Account Of Rabies_ – it’s worth it. People like Iggy Pop, Gavin Friday, Marianne Faithful, and Christopher Walken reading Poe. Oh yes.

]]> By: G9 http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-384227 G9 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-384227 Check out this sweet story reel for 'Annabel Lee'from Basil Rathbone's performance, http://louromano.blogspot.com/2008/08/annabel-lee-work-in-progress.html and the 'Poe Gallery': http://louromano.blogspot.com/2008/09/poe-gallery-work-in-progress.html Check out this sweet story reel for ‘Annabel Lee’from Basil Rathbone’s performance,
http://louromano.blogspot.com/2008/08/annabel-lee-work-in-progress.html

and the ‘Poe Gallery’:
http://louromano.blogspot.com/2008/09/poe-gallery-work-in-progress.html

]]> By: cory http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-383977 cory Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-383977 I'm surprised nobody mentioned Pseudopod. Cheyenne Wright's reading of <a href="http://podcastle.org/2008/10/31/cask-of-amontillado/" rel="nofollow">Cask of Amontillado</a> changed the whole story for me. It's brilliant. Check it. I’m surprised nobody mentioned Pseudopod. Cheyenne Wright’s reading of Cask of Amontillado changed the whole story for me. It’s brilliant. Check it.

]]> By: cory http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-383979 cory Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-383979 Whoops, that was "Escape Pod", of course, not Pseudopod. (Pseudopod also rocks, however.) Whoops, that was “Escape Pod”, of course, not Pseudopod. (Pseudopod also rocks, however.)

]]> By: cory http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-383980 cory Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-383980 Wait. PodCastle. Son of a... Wait. PodCastle. Son of a…

]]> By: Anne K. http://boingboing.net/2009/01/19/gaiman-on-poe-read-h.html#comment-383996 Anne K. Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-383996 God, I haaaaate Poe. He never got out of that "I hate my life" teenager stage, I SWEAR. So morbidly annoyingly <i>depressing</i> and those stupid bells. NO MORE BELLS. I will concede he's has a knack for creating precise tangles of tongue and sound. It's the content I have problems with. God, I haaaaate Poe. He never got out of that “I hate my life” teenager stage, I SWEAR. So morbidly annoyingly depressing and those stupid bells. NO MORE BELLS.

I will concede he’s has a knack for creating precise tangles of tongue and sound. It’s the content I have problems with.

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