Audiobook Review: Horton Halfpott by Tom Angelberger

Horton Halfpott OR The Fiendish Mystery of Smugwick Manor OR The Loosening of M'Lady Luggertuck's Corset by Tom Angelberger (@OrigamiYoda) is the first ever audiobook that I've listened to.

Here's the summary from Amazon:
Tom Angleberger's latest, loopiest middle-grade novel begins when M'Lady Luggertuck loosens her corset (it's never been loosened before!), thereby setting off a chain of events in which all the strict rules of Smugwick Manor are abandoned. When, as a result of "the Loosening," the precious family heirloom, the Luggertuck Lump (quite literally a lump), goes missing, the Luggertucks look for someone to blame. Is it Horton Halfpott, the good-natured but lowly kitchen boy who can't tell a lie? Or one of the many colorful cast members in this silly romp of a mystery.

I was wary of audiobooks because I know how I get when I have to listen to presentations (I don't), and I didn't want to "ruin" a book by not giving it my full attention.  Boy, was I pleasantly surprised!  Not only was I paying attention (it honestly was more attention than if I was actually reading the physical copy), but it was SO enjoyable!  I'm hooked on audiobooks!  Since my commute is about 30 minutes each way, I can really get some reading done!

The story itself was so cute and funny.  You fall in love with Horton, Bump, Blemish, Blight and Celia Sylvan-Smythe.  You want Horton to prevail because he's so good and kind.  You LOOOOOATHE Luther---he's quite dastardly, really.

There were so many loops and swoops and plans that I was kept guessing until the very end about who the thief was, where he had hidden The Lump and what was going to happen to Horton.  Honestly, its been a while since I've been THIS engaged with a book and its characters.

I was afraid that the narrator would have an annoying voice, or too soothing and I'd tune it out---but no!  Its a man with a very pleasant British accent.  He tries to do the different voices, or at least a different pitch than his own, and it works.  

I did have a little fun while I was listening and did a casting mash-up of Horton Halfpott and the cast of the PBS period drama, Downton Abbey---I admit, some didn't line up exactly (job position-wise), but personality---whoa!  I'm good, if I do say so myself.

Do yourself a favor, pick this book up, either in audio format or as a regular book.  You won't regret it.

Other books I've read and loved by Tom Angelberger: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and Darth Paper Strikes Back

Friday Night Mental Movie: Horton Halfpott vs. Downton Abbey

Friday Night Mental Movie is a posting I like to do where I share the cast of a book I've been reading.  This week, I've been listening to the audiobook of Horton Halfpott: Or, The Fiendish Mystery of Smugwick Manor; or, The Loosening of M'Lady Luggertuck's Corset by Tom Angelberger and as soon as I popped that CD into the player, I saw the cast of Downton Abbey as the characters in Horton Halfpott.  (Downton Abbey is a British "period drama" that comes on in the US on PBS and Netflix, click here for the wikipedia page)

So, this week's FNMM is Horton Halfpott as played by the cast of Downton Abbey.
 

My Cast

As Horton, William the footman

As Luther, the dastardly Thomas

As M'Lady Luggertuck, the Dowager Countess...I think her corsets do need to be loosened!

As Cousin Montgomery...Cousin Matthew

As Celia Sylvan-Smythe, the Lady Mary....though I like Lady Sybil's spunk better, Lady Mary HAS to be the object of Cousin Matthew's affections

M'Lady Luggertuck's sister / Montgomery's mother, Carolyn Crimcrumper, the Lady Isobel

As the kitchen tyrant herself, Mrs Neversly...the equally mean, O'Brien (plus, once you read to the end of the book, you'll see why this is PERFECT!)

As Captain Splinterlock, the honorable pirate, Mr. Bates

As the butler in love with Old Crotty, Mr. Carson

As Old Crotty, Mrs. Hughes

I couldn't find any good matches for Blight, Blemish and Bump OR Portnoy St. Pomfrey.  But, you can't win them all... :)

Ok, so this was a really easy FNMM, but it matches up so well!  Its a book/tv mashup!  Can you just imagine the hijinx if the cast of Downton Abbey would actually play those parts in Horton?