Who Doesn't Love a Classic? discussion

Something Wicked This Way Comes – Ray Bradbury
Book on CD performed by Christian Rummel
5*****

NOTE I first listened to the audio performed by Kevin Foley in July 2012. This is an update of that review with added comments regarding Mr Rummel’s audio performance.

Jim Nightshade and Will Halloway are neighbors, best friends, and born just minutes apart. The 13-year-old boys live in the small town of Green Town, Illinois and are looking forward to Halloween. But this year, Halloween will come early, because on Oct 24, just after midnight, Cooger & Dark’s Pandemonium Shadow Show will come to town with its carnival rides, mirror maze, sideshow freaks, and a carousel that can change your life.

Bradbury was a master of suspense and sci-fi. Here he turns his imagination loose on every child’s dream – and nightmare. Clowns and fortune tellers are both fascinating and frightening. A trip inside the funhouse mirror maze elicits feelings of adventure and claustrophobia. And who doesn’t love to be scared on a carnival ride – whipped around on the Tilt-a-Whirl, feeling your heart drop as you round the top of the Ferris wheel, made dizzy as the carousel spins round and round? Parents are old and useless, except when they are inventive and heroic.

This book scared the beejesus out of me – and I was listening ONLY in broad daylight, during my daily commute. Like the best roller coaster, Bradbury S-L-O-W-L-Y drew me up the incline of suspense, dropped me into terror, and then evened out to let me catch my breath, only to realize there was another, steeper, incline ahead. When, finally, the ride was over I was giddy with relief … and wanted to “go again!”

Kevin Foley’s performance on the audio was magnificent. His youthful enthusiasm for Jim and Will made me willing to go along on this adventure that I would NEVER attempt in real life. Just remembering his oily voice for Mr Dark gives me the shivers.

Update 30Oct2022 Ten years later I decided to re-read (or re-listen) to this classic – a perfect Halloween book!. I searched all the libraries in the county for Foley’s performance, because it was so memorable, but it was no longer available. Well, Christopher Rummel was more than up to the task. He is a talented voice artist. His Dust Witch and Mr Dark are perhaps even more frighteningly evil than Foley’s! As I did before, I listened ONLY during broad daylight. Still scared the beejesus out of me. Bravo!




LINK to my review