The unabridged cd audio production of the LotRs from Recorded Books, Inc. narrated by Rob Inglis is really great, as is their unabridged The Hobbit, with the same narrator. The books are read without becoming too melodramatic, so the story and not the production is what you notice. I am just now listening to The Return of the King on my second time through the set. Personally, I believe Tolkien meant these stories to be read aloud over many evenings by the fireside, not chopped up and served in movies. Movies kill the imagination of an audience. Listen to Tolkien sometime - he built those sentences to be read aloud.
While different venues for these great stories each have much to offer, I think you are right.
For me, it is similar with Fagle’s translation of the Iliad - it truly needs to be read aloud to get the full impact. It’s true with much that is written well.
My wife hates to read, but loves to hear me read - I think I will read these books aloud to her. Thanks for sparking that idea!
That's exactly the kind of suggestion I'm looking for. I want to know what are excellent, unabridged, audiobook readings of LOTR and the Hobbit.
I've been impressed by how much an excellent narrator can do, just using his voice, to enhance the enjoyment of a book. I listened to Patrick Tull do all the Aubrey/Maturin books, and now I'm listening to Jonathan Cecil do as much P. G. Wodehouse as I can find, and these guys do a great job!