Audiobook Review: The Pied Piper of Hamelin by Russell Brand

Audiobook Review: The Pied Piper of Hamelin by Russell BrandThe Pied Piper of Hamelin by Russell Brand
Narrator: Russell Brand
Series: Russell Brand's Trickster Tales #1
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio on November 11th 2014
Genres: Classics, Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology, Fiction, Humorous
Format: Audiobook
Length: 45 mins.
Source: Publisher
three-half-stars

With this first book in Russell Brand's Trickster Tales series, the famed comedian, actor, and best-selling author delivers a hilarious retelling of an old fairytale favorite that will appeal to adults and children alike.

Once upon a time, long ago, in a time that seemed, to those present, exactly like now except their teeth weren't so clean and more things were wooden, there was a town called Hamelin. The people of Hamelin were a pompous bunch who loved themselves and their town so much that if it were possible they would have spent all day zipped up in a space suit smelling their own farts. But space suits hadn't been invented yet, so they couldn't. 

Then one day without warning a gang of rats bowled into the town and began causing a right rumpus…

So begins Russell Brand's wildly funny and surprisingly wise retelling of the classic tale "The Pied Piper of Hamelin". Whether you're a kid or a grown-up kid, you'll be chuckling the whole way through this zany story that bypasses Brand's more adult humor for the outrageous, the madcap, and the just plain silly.

Maybe you've heard about the Pied Piper before, with his strange music and those pompous townspeople and pesky rats. Or maybe you haven't. But one thing is for sure: you've never heard it quite like this.

Russell Brand puts his own spin on the Pied Piper story in The Pied Piper of Hamelin, the first installment of The Trickster Tales.

The Pied Piper story, like many fables, has always been a bit creepy to me. You know the story: the pied piper is called to town to deal with a rat problem. The mayor promises to pay for his services, but while the piper keeps up his end of the bargain the mayor balks at payment. As revenge, the pied piper leads all the town’s children away. Pretty disturbing stuff, right?

With The Pied Piper of Hamelin, Russell Brand kicks off his Trickster Tales, updates on classic fables. This book encourages kids to question the meaning of the story and to become free thinkers in their everyday lives. Brand doesn’t talk down to kids and wants them to interpret the story in their own way.

This book is aimed at kids and plays up the rats and the bathroom humor. While that humor is not really to my taste, I bet kids find it hilarious. I like that Brand sets out to make the classic story relevant to kids today.

The book version has illustrations by Chris Riddell, and I imagine the illustrations really enhance the story. However, I think the best of both worlds is to pick up the audiobook to read along with the book. I listened to the audiobook, read by the author Russell Brand. Brand is a boisterous storyteller who makes the story very lively and entertaining. He sometimes reads in a soft, quiet tone, and then suddenly gets loud and animated as the story dictates. Brand puts a lot of personality in his reading and is a natural storyteller. I bet this would be fun to listen to on a holiday family road trip.

Check out an audio sample of The Pied Piper of Hamelin:

Look out for more of Brand’s Trickster Tales, where next he takes on Rumpelstiltskin or The Emperor’s New Clothes.

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3 thoughts on “Audiobook Review: The Pied Piper of Hamelin by Russell Brand

  1. I could see where Russell Brand would be a great narrator for a book like this. Sounds really interesting. I don’t do many middle grade books, but I might have to see if my library has this one.

    Melanie Simmons (@mlsimmons) recently posted: Ecstasy Untamed Audiobook by Pamela Palmer (review)
  2. I do like that he’s modernized the story but have to admit that I’m not a fan of Brand’s so I’m not sure I’d enjoy his narration.

    bermudaonion (Kathy) recently posted: Review – Big Nate: Game On!
  3. Ok, I absolutely LOVE Russell Brand. To the point that his YouTube channel is the only one I subscribe to and I watch all of his interviews and such. Not that I agree with every single thing he says, but I just love him. So I would love to hear him read a book. LOVE it. What a treat for you to listen to this! I bet it was really funny…in a “slightly less mature than I’m used to in everyday life” way. (:

    Asheley (@BookwormAsheley) recently posted: Undeniable & Unstoppable by Shannon Richard Reviews

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