I remember the night I was handed this book. A close friend said that I should read it - that it would help. I thought she was joking…

 

In my hand was a children’s book called ‘Sad Book’. The cover was very intriguing and and instantly evocative - A man walking through a bleak, depressing landscape. Still there was an air of humour, of light, which, is symbolised through a little dog curiously looking on at the walking man. I had no idea what this book had in store for me.

 

The first page proudly displays a picture of Michael Rosen, pulling a very funny grin. Of course, you have to smile too, until you read the words:

 

"This is me being sad.

 

Maybe you think I'm being happy in this picture.

 

Really, I'm being sad but pretending I'm happy.

 

I'm doing that because I think people won't like me if I'm being sad."

 

As an Audio book I wanted to create a sonic experience that sensitively represented the Sad Book. I wanted to take a similar approach to that of the illustrator – where a sub narrative is created that supports the text rather than a literal sonic representation. The audio work maintains the original text intact and presents the listener with sonic sub narratives.

 

The work is narrated by Simon Marchant & Emily Parish

 

This work is best experienced through high fidelity sound reproduction equipment.