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 go through 3 or four audible books a month and the narration can indeed make or break a novel.

My pet hate is producers/narrators who allow recordings with disparate sounds levels. It drives me up the wall!

The narrator actually screams and whispers when/as described and as a result you have to adjust your volume setting constantly.

They also seem to forget that a lot of readers use headphones or listen in confined spaces (like cars), so the whole screaming / whispering thing is horrendous.

Sorry to hijack your thread - but I really do agree! @IJumpedAboardAPirateShip - how does one get into being a narrator? I currently do it voluntarily and would be interested in looking into doing it professionally.

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.

Yes - he narrated brilliantly. I absolutely loved this book and the narration made it even more enjoyable.

Another fantastic narrator I've heard read a couple of books is Adjoa Andoh. Her narration of Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is brilliant.

Also, I'm currently listening to Summerwater by Sarah Moss and loving it.

The seasons quartet Autumn, Winter, Spring & Summer by Ali Smith are also excellent - good narrator imo.

Robert Glenister who is really good.

He is apart from his Glaswegian accents which are truly terrible.

I've got the Dutch House on reserve so looking forward to that arriving.

Audio books make dull chores much more bearable!

I love Audible. The narrator has to suit my taste or I can’t listen to the book. I always listen to the samples. I’ve just finished Pride and Prejudice narrated by Rosamund Pike and she is amazing and her voices were wonderful.

My pet peeve is when loud music plays across the opening and closing parts of the audiobook. Sometimes I struggle to hear the actual words over the music. Argh!

@CoronaCurls and @BreastedBoobilyToTheStairs that’s really kind of you, it was a beast to do but James is a real artist and so committed to the books. It took a LOT of prep especially as he hadn’t narrated one in 6years but def made me want to be able to work on a long series like that with a performer. I think Jim Butcher has plans for a third in this current instalment and I’ll be directing James again on it. (This is obviously all very outing!)

@EspressoX10 me too but that’s the job of the engineer to get the levels right in recording and the editor in post - you’ll find those issues with sound usually happen when it’s home recorded by the actor, which is obviously happening for everyone at the moment but if you listen to books producer by PRH you shouldn’t ever have this problem.

Loving all the recommendations, I never listened to them before I started working in audio and now I LOVE audiobooks but I download them for free via LIBBY or Overdrive.

@Yesyoudoknowme I work in the US so it might be slightly different but if you can put together a voice reel with different voices and accents you’ve done on books you can send it to voice agents as a first port of call - the fact you’ve done some already is really helpful as stamina is a big deal.

I honestly think it’s one of the hardest jobs for an actor (and I’ve directed actors in most mediums by now) and am in awe of them really

I also use Libby, I really like it.
I sometimes have to wait for books I want but it is a great way to access a library virtually.

@TheWindOnTheMoon

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.

Yes - he narrated brilliantly. I absolutely loved this book and the narration made it even more enjoyable.

Another fantastic narrator I've heard read a couple of books is Adjoa Andoh. Her narration of Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is brilliant.

Also, I'm currently listening to Summerwater by Sarah Moss and loving it.

The seasons quartet Autumn, Winter, Spring & Summer by Ali Smith are also excellent - good narrator imo.

Thanks for some great new recommendations.

@IJumpedAboardAPirateShip I could honestly ask you a hundred questions about it all because I find the idea of recording quality audiobooks completely fascinating (and I've been such a fan of both Butcher and Marsters for years so you basically have my dream job), but I won't grill you...unless of course you decide to do an AMA, in which case the gloves are off I will however think of you when Mirror Mirror (pretty sure Butcher said that's the next one?) is released.

Sorry for the thread hijack Op. Hopefully you're getting some good ideas to help to choose your next audiobook, I know my list has certainly grown.

I usually go for actors whose voices I know are great (or arousing 😳). Then I get annoyed because they’ve got stage or tv careers and can’t spend their time narrating audiobooks for me 🤣

David Rintoul is my favourite narrator :)

@BreastedBoobilyToTheStairs feel free! I love my job! Will prob then name change after that 😂

@IJumpedAboardAPirateShip if you're being serious I'll drop you a PM!

Sure!

Sorry for hijacking - but would anyone be able to offer some guidance on my first audiobook? I've got into reading again but would love to listen to audiobooks when I'm doing boring chores!

I would love to find some fictional audiobooks with a good story that isn't too depressing and with a good narrator. I like Stephen Fry as a narrator but have only heard him narrate kids books. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Really depends what you enjoy -
Two thrillers -
Rogue Male - absolute classic from late 30s. Read by robin Browne. Really enthralling.
Tom Bradbury - secret service recent - i loved it.

For really light fun - I’m right now relistening to the Mapp and Lucia books. There are around 6 or 7 - listen in the right order. Laugh out loud but won’t suit all tastes.

Use the ‘sample’ before purchase so you can see if the narrator will drive you a bit mad or not.

Thanks Heron, I like most things (not keen on horror or superficial rubbish with no storyline and can't read/listen to anything to do with missing kids since becoming a parent such as that "Found" book that keeps popping up on my reading list suggestions!).

So I love your suggestions and thanks for the tip on the "preview".

I really liked where the crawdads sing as an audio book.

@AliceWhiteRabbit do you like mythology? Stephen Fry narrates his Mythos books and, while I haven't listened to them on audible, I did see him live while he was touring and telling the stories and he was excellent.

Like others have said, definitely check out the samples. Sometimes you can grow accustomed to narrators after a while, but generally if someone's voice grates on you to start it's going to massively reduce your enjoyment until you (hopefully) get used to it.

Stephen Fry should narrate all audiobooks, in my opinion 😀
His autobiographies are wonderful to listen to.

For non-fiction books I have yet to be disappointed by the author reading it. Particularly autobiographies - I want to hear their own voice!

For fiction, Sean Barrett is amazing.

I use borrowbox which gives free audio books from county library.. thousands for free. I found audible so expensive. It's ideal because you can just return and choose another if the reading is poor.

Style doesn't worry me so much unless very awkward like yours sounded, but southern drawl American accents, genetic Australian accents and glasweigan and Liverpudlian accents I return immediately (I either find them difficult or they really really get to me).

I thought audible was expensive but in reality on an hour by hour basis its cheaper than netflix. You can always return an audible book even if you are halfway through.

Thanks BreastedBoobily!! That's great I might look into. I love Mythology!

Krook - I totally agree that Stephen Fry should narrate all books. I just love his voice and he is so good at changing characters!