Quick audible question

[tobee]

If you had an audible book that you got half way through and thought you couldn't carry on with it would you return it? Or chalk it up to experience? And I mean halfway through.

I would return it. They make it easy for you because that way you have confidence to keep buying. I do have some books that I have kept even though I have given up on them, but mostly I return.

Thanks. I've been let down by the narrator again. I wish narrators wouldn't do an "ickle girl" voice for characters. Especially when they are meant to be sympathetic likeable adults.

I'd return it too.

My philosophy is if the narrator lets it down so I can't listen or the story leaves me cold and I don't make it to the end I returns

I'd return it. I have returned books when I haven't been able to get on with the narration or there's been a priblem with the recording. I had one that kept skipping and missing bits out. Audible have a no quibble returns policy.

...

Yes narrators can drive me nuts. I prefer men narrators generally. Sometimes just listening to a clip is enough to tell you how awful they are, but not always. Attempting accents, unnaturally deepening a voice for a man and putting pauses in the middle of a sentance are biggest turn offs.

Anyone got any favourite narrators. Mine are Timothy West and Juliet Stevenson

Thanks, everyone. Will do.

Yy to those two. Also Peter Firth.

Agree - I'd return if it was because the narration wasn't up to scratch.

If it's just that I don't like the book as much as I thought I would & CBA to finish it then I wouldn't - I kind of figure that's my fault IYSWIM.

I think one of the options is Did not like the book. Knowing I can return easily makes me buy more books.

I think with narration some voices have got a better timbre than others and can effortlessly sound like different men, women or ages. Others it's like a caricature of these types.

Anyway, the book has been returned and I have a credit back. Thank you.

I am Looking for a new book at the moment. Any recommendation? I don like horror or s I-fi, but listen to most other stuff.

I thought Swimming Lessons by Claire Fuller was ver good. Am listening to The Muse by Jessie Burton atm and am loving that too.

Very ....

Ah! It was Swimming Lessons I sent back

Do you like non-fiction Astrantia? I've liked:
The Dark Net by Jamie Bartlett (relatively short but fascinating)
What We Cannot Know by Marcus du Sautoy (read by the author, he has a wonderful reading voice)
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City (depressing but really interesting - the narrator has a lovely dark treacle American accent)

I'm currently listening to Adults In The Room - Yanis Varoufakis' political memoirs of his time as finance minister in Greece and his battles with the EU. I'm only about 3 chapters in but so far would highly recommend it (though again not really cheerful/uplifting!)

If you don't mind steampunk / alternate history then The Difference Engine by William Gibson & Bruce Sterling is wonderfully read on audio by Simon Vance - it's one of those notoriously unreadable classics, but he makes it absolutely gripping.

Oh ok :) We all have different tastes in narrators. I prefer male narrators and don't really get on with American narrators unless required for the story.

Yes, of course. It's probably because I've listened to a succession of books where the female narrator is doing a young person girl voice so I've probably got less tolerant. Especially as I'm listening while doing a dull house clear out and need to want to go back to it.

I didn't even know you could return on audible 😳

Yes, yes, yes you can return and, so far, hassle free. Bit like Books Etc used to guarantee a good read or your money back as far I can tell