Search - Gerard Philipe :: Le Petit Prince

Picks and chooses the wrong stuff.

xcb | USA | 12/07/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, the Petit Prince segment of this CD is only 30 minutes long. So, if you're thinking that you're getting the whole book on CD, think again, because you're not. What you'll find is all of the sentimental rot with all of the joy cut out and disposed of. The Petit Prince only visits one planet, and all of the delightful repartee is axed in favor of the weepy bits about foxes and roses. If you're the kind of person that read the book to cry, and not because it reads like some sort of messed up cutesy French ... trip, then buy this CD because it will make you morose and boring.The other selections on the CD are similarly weepy. They chose one of Fontaine's Fables, but of course it was Deux Pigeons and not any of his nastier stuff - I'm assuming because they didn't want to ruin the sentimental and boring aspect of the CD in favor of something with more gritty appeal. Maybe it's supposed to be a kid's CD. I don't know.On the up side, the narrators voice is pleasant to listen to, if a tad annoying when trying to make himself laugh. (It sounds forced and patronizing.)If you're buying this CD to practice your French comprehension skills, then go ahead. If you're planning to read along with the book, get out a hi-lighter, because the here and there nature of the recording means that ALL of the description is left out in favor of dialogue, and you're only getting about a third of the book. For whatever it's worth, it helped my French, though made me a bit angry in the process."