Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

When it comes to the Harry Potter companion books, I had always had them on the back burner when it came to reading them. This is mostly because I just didn't feel the need to read them. I had read all 8 books (yes, I'm counting the Cursed Child) and despite my problems with the 8th installment, I felt that that was all I needed. I did not need to read the companion books, and I was okay with that. Then the audiobook become available on Overdrive, and I jumped at the chance to listen to it. I may say that this was an excellently produced book. Eddie Redmayne plays Newt Scamander excellently, in terms of pitch, inflection, and volume to really bring the character to life in a way that really impressed me. This is a far different audiobook than those of the original books narrated by Jim Dale. For all the excellent work Dale did, he was not able to bring forth the insecurity and inflection that we have here. This quality is further increased by all the noises and sounds that these animals bring forth. The production here is on par with the current generation of Star Wars audiobooks.

In terms of actual content, this book is also excellently done. It is, to date, the best example of providing information that enriches the lore of the world, rather than being necessary information to understand it. There are tons of subtle nods and winks that a Harry Potter fan will find funny and can greatly enjoy. In the end, if you haven't found this specifically on audio, then pick it up, even if you haven't listened to them before, then I think you should give this one a try. It was an excellent book to listen to. I give it a five out of five.