Audiobooks - narrators

[Mooserp]

I've just finished listening to an audiobook. I don't normally but I got it as an Audible free trial.

Although I quite enjoyed listening to it, I was frequently irritated with the narrator. Mainly the way she put emphasis on the wrong words (IMO) and made the characters speak in odd ways. Women tending to sound a bit weak and unsure and everyone sounding either questioning or threatening, rather than speaking normally.

I wondered if this was a common thing, if there is an accepted 'style' of narrating? Or if anyone else ever got irritated by them?

I’m a heavy Audible user — it’s my way of relaxing in the evenings — but I’d say that quality of narration can vary a lot. I’ve taken to listening to the full five-minute sample before committing just to make sure I like the narration.

It’s worth it when you find a good one, though. I really rate Seán Barratt, who does the Mick Herron Slough House books, the Jo Nesbo ones and plenty of others. He’s terrific.

Conversely I really like Val McDermid’s Carol Hill/Tony Jordan series but I really struggle with the narrator. He makes Carol Jordan sound meek and insecure — which as anyone who’s read the books will know she’s anything but!

🙄 Carol Jordan/Tony Hill, obvs

Thanks for the tip! I hadn't spotted the preview. I'm now listening to Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman. She is narrating it and it's so much better

It can be hit-and-miss with narrators. I like when the author narrates it themselves so I tend to stick to non-fiction audiobooks for this reason.

Narrators make or break an audio book. I've listened to some great books/literature which have been ruined by poor narration. Equally some of my favourite audio books are titles I would never pick off the shelves of a book store.

My favourite narrator is RC Bray. He could read the phone book and I would listen.

Currently working my way through the Robert Galbraith books narrated by Robert Glenister who is really good.

Narrators make or break an audio book. So true. There is a female narrator who pronounces 'rifle' as in 'rifle through a drawer' as 'riffle. I've heard it a few times so much so that I thought it was me who'd been pronouncing it wrong and had to check with friends.

She was also quite poor at doing male voices it just doesn't sound right.

I've returned books to Audible in the past where the narrator has been awful. Sometimes you can't even get a true impression from the sample and they just become unbearable to listen to.

On the flip side, though, I listened to Thandi Newton's narration of Jane Eyre recently and she did a wonderful job. I thoroughly enjoyed listening.

I also love the Robert Glenister narration of the Robert Galbraith/JK Rowling novels.

I love Audible! A bedtime story has been part of my routine for pretty much all my life.

My favourite narrators are Michael Sheen (I love his Book of Dust ones) and Anton Lesser.

Other voices I really like, who I WISH would record more audio books are Iain Glen and Michael Kitchen.

Narration is very hit/miss. I just listened to Dawn French's latest novel on Audible, narrated by her (although it perhaps wasn't my cup of tea) and she did a great job. Richard Armitage did a great job on The Jane Austen Society (and I think he is narrating some L J Ross mysteries).

What’s Left of Me is Yours by Stephanie Scott, narrator Hanako Footman, a brilliant way to visit Japan with an interesting story, overall I really liked her narration but just sometimes the emphasis was way off... so, YES, is the answer!

Yep, I always listen to the preview before getting a new book.
I read a series, book 4 had a different narrator. I couldn't listen to it and just skipped to book 5 (and read book 4 on the kindle).

I’m an audio book director and agree with the above and have to say it does make a difference when a book has been produced with a director rather than self taped by the actor.

I can highly recommend the following highly experienced narrators, you can do google searches for them and find out books they’ve worked on:

Bahni Turpin
Dominic Hoffman
Rebecca Lowman
Fiona Hardingham
Harriet Walters (obvs)
Adenrele Ojo
Vikas Adams
Olivia MacKenzie
Jon Lindstrom
Amy Landon
Kimberley Farr

Loads more if you want more recs! Also I would look for books published by Penguin Random House Audio, they’re the top of the industry and tend to always boom expert narrators

And in general steer clear from books narrated by authors!

Also @ArsenicNLace it’s worth checking the text - I didn’t realise until I started working in audio that there are actually two separate words, rifle AND riffle both used to describe the same action

Oooh I've been thinking of posti g something similar.

I just listened to the new Strike book with R Glenister which was amazing but I've read all the others so can't listen again on audible and I don't know what to download next.

I listened to Valentine a few months ago which was done brilliantly.

I downloaded sequel to The Salt Path and the narrator was the author and her voice was AWFUL which I was gutted about as I love her prose and writing in the first book!

I'm another big Audible listener and agree totally.

My favourite narrator is James Marsters, who reads the Dresden Files. He turns OK books into a fantastic listen, and really elevates the story.

@CoronaCurls I directed the most recent two books of that series with James!

Yes ! I won’t listen to some narrators. I always use the ‘sample’ feature to get an idea.
I love Sam west, Anton lesser, Nigel hawthorn, robin Browne reading rogue Male best I’ve ever heard but he has done very few.

Yes, I've had to return books and read on the kindle because the narrator didn't suit me.
I don't even think it's as simple as good or bad, everyone seems to love a narrator that I just can't listen to! There is definitely an element of personal taste.
Kobna Holdbrook Smith is brilliant! I am not in England so didn't realise at first he was an actor, but should have known really. They are usually good.

@Ijumpedaboardapirateship wow lucky you to work with James! I'm currently listening to Battle Ground and it is amazing - well done!

I also love Kobna Holder-Smith reading the Peter Grant books. I heard an interview with the author where he said he now puts a different obscure regional accent into each book just to test Kobna!

@NastyBlouse

I’m a heavy Audible user — it’s my way of relaxing in the evenings — but I’d say that quality of narration can vary a lot. I’ve taken to listening to the full five-minute sample before committing just to make sure I like the narration.

It’s worth it when you find a good one, though. I really rate Seán Barratt, who does the Mick Herron Slough House books, the Jo Nesbo ones and plenty of others. He’s terrific.

Conversely I really like Val McDermid’s Carol Hill/Tony Jordan series but I really struggle with the narrator. He makes Carol Jordan sound meek and insecure — which as anyone who’s read the books will know she’s anything but!

I can't listen to the Val McDermid books for this same reason!

Also agree about the Val McDermid books - his 'Carol' voice is rubbish.

“ I really like Val McDermid’s Carol Hill/Tony Jordan series but I really struggle with the narrator. He makes Carol Jordan sound meek and insecure — which as anyone who’s read the books will know she’s anything but!”

Completely agree with this. Unbearable to listen to. I also hated the simpering way women were done by the narrator of the Simon Serailler books

"And in general steer clear from books narrated by authors!"

Yes I couldn't agree more! I was so looking forward to the sequel to "The Salt Path" but it's narrated by the author and incomprehensible!

Agree that Robert Glenister and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith do a great job. Also Timothy west doing Trollope and Juliet Stevenson doing Middlemarch

@IJumpedAboardAPirateShip

I’m an audio book director and agree with the above and have to say it does make a difference when a book has been produced with a director rather than self taped by the actor.

I can highly recommend the following highly experienced narrators, you can do google searches for them and find out books they’ve worked on:

Bahni Turpin
Dominic Hoffman
Rebecca Lowman
Fiona Hardingham
Harriet Walters (obvs)
Adenrele Ojo
Vikas Adams
Olivia MacKenzie
Jon Lindstrom
Amy Landon
Kimberley Farr

Loads more if you want more recs! Also I would look for books published by Penguin Random House Audio, they’re the top of the industry and tend to always boom expert narrators

And in general steer clear from books narrated by authors!

Also @ArsenicNLace it’s worth checking the text - I didn’t realise until I started working in audio that there are actually two separate words, rifle AND riffle both used to describe the same action

Oooh, fascinating. Tell us some of the things we wouldn't expect/know about audiobooks and how they're put together, please

Will definitely follow up on some of your recommendations.

Love my Audible subscription so much. Just finished The Dutch House narrated by Tom Hanks and he did a SUPERB job, just fantastic. He really understood & added nuance to the characters. First audiobook I've thought I might listen to again one day.

And in general steer clear from books narrated by authors

I completely agree with this...
Ifindmostauthorstalkfartofast!

As Pps have said, James Marsters reading the Dresden Files is easily my favourite because he embodies all of the characters so well (after 17 books you'd hope so). You can hear the difference in each character's voice (and there's a massive cast by now), and the acting is so clear all of the way through. He simply is Harry Dresden, he's not just reading the book. Saying that, the first 2 or 3 weren't great and took a bit of perseverance to get through (they changed producers afterwards which made a huge difference).

Generally speaking, I tend to look for actors that I like (some of the audible originals use a cast of actors and I've been enjoying the Sandman recently). I find that I listen to things that I might not otherwise read, mainly because I listen for the narration, and if there's a book I want to read then I'll just read it rather than letting poor narration spoil it for me. Good narration more than makes up for an average book IMO, just like an incredible actor can make up for a so-so script.

@IJumpedAboardAPirateShip I am in awe! Battle Ground was absolutely superb. The voices were spot on, the pacing was right, the emotion was right...I couldn't find fault at all. I wept. Massive congratulations and thanks for such a good job!