Excellent Ghostly Short Stories!

Where does Antique Dust rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Most probably in the top 3. I just loved these stories. I am not easily impressed - especially with modern, ghost/horror (so-called) short stories. Consequently, I can't remember when I was last compelled to write a positive review.

What other book might you compare Antique Dust to, and why?

Very difficult to say. The stories do have a Victorian feel to them and, as a reader/listener of M.R. James, I would say they are somewhat of the same vein (e.g. The Haunted Doll's House). The stories are, however, very original.

Which character – as performed by R.C. Bray – was your favourite?

No favourite - all enjoyable. I do have to say that although R.C. Bray does a fine job, I would have preferred a narrator with an English accent (his American accent is very softened but there are some parts of the narration that calls for more specific English pronunciations and/or regional accents).

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Emotional? Not really - but then I am a bit of an ice-pack. These stories are better than emotional, they are interesting - intellectually and creatively speaking.

Any additional comments?

Commendable work by Robert Westall. I hope he brings out some more anthologies - about antiques and 'ghosties', or 'ghosties' and antiques - whatever your preference Mr Westall.

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3 people found this helpful

Really enjoyable anthology of spooky stories

I hadn’t read the synopsis of this book properly and was expecting one novel length story. This is actually a series of short , but not too short spooky tales. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend . Some I enjoyed more than others but all were good. The was the narrator says ‘aga’ is a bit funny but it’s only in one of the tales and it was amusing rather than irritating.

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problem with 2nd story.

awesome book and narration, but the sound effects play far too loud and the narration is absolutely drowned out in one part of the 2nd story. great otherwise

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Could have been great.

Why, oh why do audio book publishers insist on using American narrators for everything?! Don't get me wrong, I like R.C Bray as a narrator and if this was a book set in America or simply a fictional book set in a fictional world I would enjoy listening to it, but it isn't. This book is set in Britain with British characters, surely they could have tracked down a British person to narrate it. Having an American narrator speaking with a thick American accent (with the occasional attempt at a - very bad - British accent) just completely ruined this book for me.

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8 people found this helpful

Surprisingly good selection of stories

Would you consider the audio edition of Antique Dust to be better than the print version?

I wouldn't read the print version so I would say yes.

What other book might you compare Antique Dust to, and why?

Some of the better quality selection of ghost or paranormal stories, but this one is unusual in that all the stories are connected to an antique dealer who forms the central character in the stories.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Liked Clocky Watson and the ending of the story featuring him.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Not sure, can't think of anything witty enough. Antique Dust should speak for itself.

Any additional comments?

Definitely worth a listen and the narrator was very good.

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2 people found this helpful

Poor casting

As much as I applaud Valancourt for rescuing many a forgotten gem of supernatural fiction and gay literature from oblivion, I am disappointed by this audiobook version of their edition of Westall's fine collection of ghost stories. Why choose a performer with a pronounced American accent for that quintessentially English subgenre of supernatural fiction, the antiquarian ghost story? Bray makes these stories, set in rural mid-England, sound like hardboiled detective fiction.

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2 people found this helpful