Charlie Bone and the Beast

By: Jenny Nimmo

Narrated by: Simon Jones

Length: 6 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Something strange is happening at Bloor's Academy. Asa, one of the endowed students who changes into a beast at dusk, has suddenly gone missing, and a new endowed student named Dagbert Endless has enrolled. When Dagbert is seen hanging around with Manfred Bloor, Charlie is sure the pair is up to something wicked. With the help of the Flames, can Charlie and his friends rescue Asa before it's too late?

©2007 Jenny Nimmo (P)2008 Scholastic Inc

Simon Russell Beale where art thou?

First, Simon Jones, this books narrator, does a good job. Still no where near as fine a job as Simon Russell Beale.

Original Simon made Blessed the dog's words truly sound like barking. Ezekiel Bloor's dialogue was wonderfully disgusting in the original Simon's mouth. It wasn't Ezekiel's words that made the dialogue so cringe worthy but the gurling, popping, wheezing and much more

I really appreciated his delivery of regular dialogue between characters. It was just so laid back and totally natural. Also all characters had their on distinct voice.

I kept meaning to sing Simon Russell Beale's praises.

Charlie Bone series is still great fun and well worth listening through to the end.

Another Charlie Great!

The story continues with even more magic and mystery! Great Series!

We love the story

We love this story, but the new narrator was not as good as the other one in my opinion. The switch of narrators so late in the story too was a weird decision. He wasn’t horrible, but I didn’t like how some of the characters voices changed from what I had learned them to be, you know? But the new guys isn’t bad!! Just wasn’t what I had learned for 5 other books.

Love

I think I’m in love with Nimmo’s Charlie bones series... they need to make a movie like the Harry Potter books. Everyone will enjoy them!!!!!

Good book

I prefer the other narrator. I feel this one is a bit whiny when it comes to some of the characters. I wish they did not switch narrators and that’s why I only gave 2 stars for performance.

Different narrator, but still fabulous book!

Please don't let the negative comments on the narrator stop you from getting this book to enjoy. There's nothing wrong with this new narrator, in my opinion, except that he's not the first narrator (Simon Russell Beale who was WONDERFUL!) but without the comparison to him, the book is read well, with expression, clear audio, etc. etc.

Listeners who have enjoyed the first narrator for five books, may have gotten used to his voices for the characters, and his expressiveness, and Simon Jones just approaches it differently. I was initially put off by the negative comments, and almost didn't buy the books. I'm glad I got books 6 and 7 for our family, and we're enjoying them!

Disappointing reader

My 11-year old son and I have enjoyed this fast-paced series -- great light listening! Unlike previous books in the series, though, this one is read by Simon Jones. We thought he was spectacular in the Bartimaeus Trilogy and very good in the Lion Boy series but were disappointed with his reading here, particularly of younger children and the women. His falsetto just sounds too fake! We still enjoyed the book, but for a really GREAT listen, try the Bartimaeus Trilogy!

Enjoyed CB & the Beast

Jenny Nimmo did not disappoint with this book either!! I enjoyed the storyline. I am not usually a fan of Simon Jones, but he did a good job.

I hated Dagbert Endless, but I know that is the point!

We miss the reader of the previous books.

This reader is not very good with these characters. It is hard to listen to. We almost stopped in the series but continued on for the story.

Same good story

But I almost stopped listening due to the new narrator. He’s not nearly as good as the original. Quite jarring, actually.