North Yorkshire Library Service Book Group discussion

I’m struggling to get through this, I have to confess. I have read it once before and this time I’m on the audio version, which might be making a difference, despite the reading from Nathaniel Parker being very good.
The story and the characters still hold my interest but the background “padding” is a bit of a slog. I have a naturally low tolerance for rambling Wessex yokels, and the chapter where we're introduced to Tom Popplesthwaite, Old Albert Scrummage and Cousin Merl (or whatever they’re called) I found interminable and had to listen on double speed. Which did have the advantage of turning them into Wessex Yokel chipmunks.
I watched the 1967 film when I was (probably too) young and I’ve retained the sensation of a sparse, impressionistic story which clashes with the wordier nature of the book itself. I vividly remember the scene where Gabriel has to “pop” the sheep and the opening of the coffin. I still find the characters and scenes of the book powerful and evocative, but can’t seem to get past the verbiage this time.