What made the experience of listening to Midnight for Charlie Bone the most enjoyable?
I loved the whole "ordinary person learns that he is extraordinary" concept of the story. It lends itself to a world of discovery and enchantment, not just for the protagonist, but the reader as well!
What other book might you compare Midnight for Charlie Bone to and why?
There are obvious similarities to the concepts in the Harry Potter books, especially "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." HOWEVER, I was pleasantly surprised at the uniqueness of this story--how Jenny Nimmo used innovative plot ideas and characters that were not a rip-off of J.K. Rowling. Bloor's Academy, for example, was not identical to Hogwarts, nor were the teachers and students in it. Also, the endowments were treated differently than all the kids in Harry Potter being witches or wizards. Overall, the story stood apart from Harry Potter in numerous ways, but readers of J.K. Rowling's masterpieces would love this material as well.
What about Simon Russell Beale’s performance did you like?
Simon Russell Beale was a fantastic narrator, performing all the voices and adding dramatic pauses and proper intensity where needed. It didn't sound like someone simply reading off of a page--flat, dry and mechanical. His performance was captivating enough that it made me look up the other Charlie Bone books to ensure he was also the narrator (so I could get those as well)!
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Though I loved the moments where Charlie began to embrace his endowment and stand up for the injustices he saw around him, I particularly loved how Uncle Paton began to come out of his shell and be the hero in the background.
Any additional comments?
I can thank this audiobook for getting me excited to read the initial four-pack of Charlie Bone novels I've had sitting--relatively untouched--on my shelf for a few years.
