Book description
Elidor Review
Alan Garner's 1965 fantasy novel receives an audiobook treatment that preserves the author's distinctive narrative voice while enhancing the otherworldly atmosphere of his tale. The story follows the Watson children as they encounter four mundane objects-a mechanical street map, derelict slum, ruined church, and football-that serve as portals to Elidor, a realm where ancient treasures must be recovered to prevent supernatural forces from crossing into their world.
The audiobook format proves particularly effective for Garner's prose style, which incorporates elements of Cheshire folklore and dialect. The narrator's delivery captures the author's precise, formal language structure while maintaining accessibility for younger listeners. Garner's background in traditional British folk tales informs the narrative's foundation, creating a bridge between contemporary children's literature and ancient storytelling traditions.
What distinguishes this audiobook is its ability to convey the tension between ordinary reality and magical realms through vocal performance rather than visual cues. The mechanical street map and deserted slum become gateways to adventure through the narrator's interpretation of Garner's carefully constructed sentences. The author's experience with retelling folk tales serves the story well, particularly in the depiction of the strayed unicorn Findhorn and the sealing of interdimensional bridges.
The audiobook successfully translates Garner's transition from pure fantasy toward more complex thematic territory, predating his later works that would abandon fantastical elements entirely. Listeners experience the same careful attention to landscape and local history that characterizes Garner's broader oeuvre, particularly his connection to the Alderley Edge region of Cheshire.
This recording maintains the integrity of Garner's original 1965 publication while providing an engaging auditory experience that enhances the story's mythological undertones. The format serves the author's intention of creating a children's fantasy that respects its audience's intelligence through sophisticated narrative construction and authentic folkloric elements.
Wooden German
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Devil Bread
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Campfire Mama
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Digital Equinox
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BuffFreak
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Spoiler Betty
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Backstreet
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Wrangler Jim
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New York Mood
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xSTORMx
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Married Man
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Bearded Angler
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Stickers
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Flash
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Twinkle Cutlass
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Viceswerve
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Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience