Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Does anyone else struggle with audiobook narrators, or does it improve?

143 replies

PaperFlyingFucks · 05/09/2026 20:57

I've recently got an audible subscription and have listened to a few books whilst getting on in the house, car, commute etc. However, I really struggle to get on with the narrators - does any one else have this problem? As it's new will it pass with time? I don't think I can choose a narrator. It's amazing the difference it makes!

OP posts:
LadyAddle · 08/09/2026 00:58

Bianca Amato reading Philippa Gregory has quirks - courtier pronounced cort ear, and strange almost glottal stops in words like Lat’n. I snap at her quite a lot.

NotAnotherPylon · 08/09/2026 00:43

BruFord · 08/09/2026 00:10

@NotAnotherPylon Tee hee, you're stirring the pot. 😂

Show quote history

Moi?😅

BruFord · 08/09/2026 00:10

NotAnotherPylon · 08/09/2026 00:08

If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a British accent. The number of audiobooks I’ve had to abandon …

@NotAnotherPylon Tee hee, you're stirring the pot. 😂

NotAnotherPylon · 08/09/2026 00:08

If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a British accent. The number of audiobooks I’ve had to abandon …

WTFIsEverySingleLineOfLandslideAlreadyTaken · 08/09/2026 00:05

Lorelei King is great -I could listen to her narrate a Nandos menu.
I loved Michael Sheen's narration of Philip Pullman's The Book of Dust trilogy. His interpretation of Malcolm feels rich and carries so much of the plot.
Dan Stevens and Jospeh Kloska do a great job of narrating Wolf Hall and The Mirror and the Light respectively (they make Thomas Cromwell sound like a hot smouldering ember of a dreamboat), but Bring Out the Bodies -part 2 of the trilogy- is read by Julian Rhind-Tutt, whose mic technique means that he goes from a close, intimate, almost inaudible whisper one moment, to a jarring shriek the next, the caricature of Henry being a bit too blatant, and the contrast is too stark for a comfortable listen.
Daisy Donovan reading Hamnet was gorgeous -she brings breath and movement into all the characters, whether small boys or elderly women.

Crispynoodle · 07/09/2026 23:40

i can’t listen to American male narrators at all and always sample before buying

JustMeSimply · 07/09/2026 22:40

Tried and tried and nope prefer reading myself...my DH loves narrated books but not for me

MNLurker1345 · 07/09/2026 22:34

I am listening to the Odyssey read by Ian McKellan, it is such delight.

I have my favourite narrators and obviously genres. But the narration makes all of the difference.

Mumteedum · 07/09/2026 22:30

Underthemagnificentbeechtree · 07/09/2026 19:49

Two of my faves have been mentioned - Zara Ramm & Kobna Holbrook-Smith (my whole family love RoL - I’d be genuinely thrilled to celebrity spot him).

I loved Lesley Manville narrating the first 2 Thursday Murder Club books - Fiona Shaw does a good job too but doesn’t quite nail the chapters in Joyce’s voice IMHO.

Edited

Kobna is amazing. I love the Rivers of London series..can't imagine anyone else doing it!

MNChkn · 07/09/2026 22:30

I find audiobooks unbearable if I don’t like the narrator’s voice. I particularly hate books read by the author - coming up with words in your head doesn’t mean you have the talent to convey them in your voice.

Juliet Stevenson and Greta Scacchi are my favourites. Bill Bryson has no acting experience but he’s also excellent.

Mumteedum · 07/09/2026 22:29

@JustSetFireToIt you know you can get refunds? They're fairly reasonable about it.

JustSetFireToIt · 07/09/2026 22:23

I have 21 books sitting in my Audible account, partially read, as the narration irritates me so much.

I cant abide east coast American accents but love a west coast accent. I love a Canadian accent too.

I find podcasts irritating for the same reason; that and the low level they’re often pitched at.

ItsAlwaysTwins · 07/09/2026 22:12

Massively. Audiobooks have been absolutely ruined for me by poor narrators. Andrew Lownie for one. The man just can’t read aloud.

I love Nicola Walker. She’s great for an audiobook.

Pinkissmart · 07/09/2026 22:05

Such a lovely thread which ended up accent bashing. What a shame

JumpLeadsForTwo · 07/09/2026 21:46

I really struggle with American narrators as they seem too slow- I may try speeding it up to see if that helps. I’m a big fan of the St Mary’s chronicles, and Zara Ram narrating is a big part of that

BruFord · 07/09/2026 21:43

BigWig78 · 05/09/2026 20:58

I have to listen to an excerpt as it makes a huge difference to me. YANBU

@BigWig78 Me too, I can't listen if I don't enjoy the narration.

Portakalkedi · 07/09/2026 21:41

Underthemagnificentbeechtree · 07/09/2026 20:04

I had not, thanks! I will watch that whilst having my lunch tomorrow.

Show quote history

I like the Jodi Taylor books but the narrator of the audio books is one of those who can't pronounce standard English words ....

Ratherhaveacupofteaandabiscuit · 07/09/2026 20:31

Agree preview is essential.

Before I noticed this was possible I bought a few Maeve Binchy books on audible and I find the ones read by Maeve's cousin Kate Binchy impossible to listen to and sadly she narrates most of them.

mummybearSW19 · 07/09/2026 20:15

Listen at 1.2 or 1.5 speed. See if that helps

i love some narrators. Absolutely hate others

TheBlueKoala · 07/09/2026 20:11

EmpressaurusKitty · 06/09/2026 12:45

I’m fine with American narrators for American books. Just not when the characters are British.

Yes to this. And vice verse. It just gets ridiculous when the voice doesn't fit. Although I must say that I have a problem understanding Scottish though 😅 and Australian can be grating depending on the narrator.

Underthemagnificentbeechtree · 07/09/2026 20:04

EmpressaurusKitty · 07/09/2026 19:53

Have you seen this Jodi Taylor & Zara Ramm video, @Underthemagnificentbeechtree ?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=A7yN_kmOxgI&ra=m

Show quote history

I had not, thanks! I will watch that whilst having my lunch tomorrow.

BettyBoodle83 · 07/09/2026 20:03

You can return a book on Audible if you aren’t enjoying it; I have done this in the past when I’ve disliked a narrator. I also love Richard Armitage and Emilia Fox and will search for books read by them.

Boutonnière · 07/09/2026 20:01

IlovePostitnotes · 05/09/2026 23:12

Really rate Jonathan Keeble who narrates the Ryan books by LJ Ross.

He is one that I actively looked out other books that he narrated.

What is really jolting is a change of narrator in a series - any suspension of disbelief goes right out of the window

Portakalkedi · 07/09/2026 19:56

Yes, there are some terrible narrators. God knows how they manage to get paid for this. Some of them can't pronounce basic words, some are just grating, and there are often errors when they stumble over something and correct themself, with apparently no checking or editing by the company responsible. A good narrator makes a world of difference.

EmpressaurusKitty · 07/09/2026 19:53

Underthemagnificentbeechtree · 07/09/2026 19:49

Two of my faves have been mentioned - Zara Ramm & Kobna Holbrook-Smith (my whole family love RoL - I’d be genuinely thrilled to celebrity spot him).

I loved Lesley Manville narrating the first 2 Thursday Murder Club books - Fiona Shaw does a good job too but doesn’t quite nail the chapters in Joyce’s voice IMHO.

Edited

Have you seen this Jodi Taylor & Zara Ramm video, @Underthemagnificentbeechtree ?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=A7yN_kmOxgI&ra=m

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?ra=m&v=A7yN_kmOxgI

Swipe left for the next trending thread