Between the Desire and the Dream

Selected Poems by T. S. Eliot

By: T. S. Eliot

Narrated by: Dennis Regan, Michelle Dumelle, Stephen O'Connor

Length: 1 hr and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

Noble Prize winner T. S. Eliot wrote some of the best-known, most widely discussed poetry of the past 100 years. He was a daring and uncompromising innovator. With dramatic, original music, and expressive interpretation, this recording dramatizes why his works continue to influence literature - and touch contemporary listeners.

Included are "The Love Son of J. Alfred Prufrock", "The Hollow Men", "Preludes", and "Portrait of a Lady".

©2007 Geoffrey T. Williams (P)2007 Geoffrey T. Williams

Words exquisite RUINED by music

T.S. Eliots words are exsquisit as always. I've read them many times.

I was very disappointed in this audio version, however. The background music is LOUD and overpowering. At times I could not make out the words AT ALL for the overpowering background music. In addition, there are times when the narrator uses a really annoying, unnecessary hallow echo effect as if speaking into a metal tube. It is distracting, strange and not needed. Really. Just Elliot's words are enough. Just read his words, please. No cheesy, silly, over powering music or special effects are necessary.

Dreadful, Overbearing Production Required Refund

Whoever thought playing loud, discordant music that drowns out the sound of the reading of TS Eliot's "Hollow Men" was a good idea is an IDIOT. The poetry, of course, is the reason you download this - and you can't even HEAR it over the discordant cacophony of "music." And - uh - poetry has its own meter, so overlaying other soundtracks over it makes it pretty difficult to absorb the original work. I exercised Audible's refund option.

Do you like elevator music? If so, this is for you

Any additional comments?

1 hour and 2 minutes containing 4 poems interspersed with too-long intervals of really boring music and ending with an unbroken, 30 minute section, of elevator music.

Disaster

Great rendition with exception of the musical background. It's too loud and goes on for an extensive 25 additional minutes. Waste of money despite the book being a cheap purchase. I'm very dissatisfied. Awful. I do wish audible would do a better job of screening its collection.

Horrible

Aaah. I've never written a review but this is a necessary community service. The poor voices are as nothing when compared with the spooky weird music that they struggle against and finnally lose to. The last 20 odd minutes is just the the 'music'. Zero stars does not seem to be permitted so the single star is for those who enjoy self abuse.

Horrible! If you do buy this, please listen...

... while the refund window is still open. It's almost certain you're going to return this. Unfortunately, I waited too long. Nor did I read the reviews before I bought this. The narrator is excellent. And, needless to say, so are the poems. The problem is, you can barely hear the narrator because he's drowned out by hackneyed, overly-dramatic music. I stopped listening after Prufrock.

I have no idea how it's possible to think Eliot's poetry needed an action movie score.

I LIKE IT !!!

If you could sum up Between the Desire and the Dream in three words, what would they be?

Words, music, images.

What other book might you compare Between the Desire and the Dream to and why?

Franz Kafka's Trial

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

Clarity, emphasis, rhythm.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes: "This is the way the world ends..."

Any additional comments?

I respectfully disagree with some of the other reviewers: 1) this is not elevator music, 2) the music does enhance the words.

Sound effects killed it

Could have rated five stars. Loud, intrusive music make it a one star. And it only gets worse as you listen to it. Don't buy it.

disappointing

The poem selection and the readings are good but the background music that runs throughout is so dominating that it is a constant struggle to make out the words. In the end I gave up and find it deeply frustrating that now I must buy another T S Eliot collection.

Spoiled by over dominant music

Any additional comments?

A good narrator and a more than worthy work for a music accompanied performance. But oh-dear what a disaster with over loud and mostly inappropriate music.

Excellent!

Eliot is an absolute genius. Full of intellect, charm and exquisite vision. Care and empathy, throughout. Very well recommended to listen to!