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

[PaperFlyingFucks]

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!

I just can’t listen to books if I don’t like narrator.

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

Good narrators make all the difference!

Unless I know the narrator’s one I like, I always listen to the preview first.

If you’re a member of your local library, I’d also see if you can sign up to the Libby & BorrowBox apps to borrow audiobooks. They often have different narrators from Audible.

I always prefer it when the author is narrating. Recently listened to Marian Keyes narrating her old Walsh Sister series of books and Kathy Burkes and Cher’s autobiography that they both narrated themselves and really enjoyed them.

I can’t listen if I don’t like the narrator’s voice either. I started a really interesting book not long ago, but the narrator had an awful American drawl and I couldn’t bear it. Tried speeding it up but that didn’t make any difference. Ended up reading it on my kindle as I wanted to know what happened.

Yep, I'm the same. If I'm not keen on the narrator sometimes changing it to 1.2 or 1.5 speed can help.

I cannot listen to American narrators any more. It never bothered me before but now I can't stand it. No idea why 🤔

Ah, I didn't realise I could listen to an excerpt. I'll do that then. The one that I'm listening to now, I don't particularly like, but I'll always try and finish a book but the narrator is making it worse.

I listened to my first podcast last week which is a true crime podcast from Australia and the narrators voice was very broad and grated on me a little. However I soon got used to it and found I'm really enjoying the podcasts now.

A good narrator makes such a difference. I love Hattie Morahan narrating, and the narrator of the Ann Cleeves 'Vera' books on Borrowbox is outstanding - Janine Birkett. Conversely the bloke who narrates her George and Molly Palmer series is awful to the extent that I can't listen.

Maeve Binchy's niece, Kate Binchy, narrates many of her aunt's books and is wonderful -so warm and characterful. I can't listen to Marian Keyes narrating her own stuff, although I love listening to her chatting on radio.

I struggle with most American narrators/presenters on anything and will
avoid them if I can, although I’m currently listening to The Hunger Games with is narrated by an American and she’s doing a great job.

You can return books to audible for any reason.

Some are shocking. If I find one I like I track their recordings! It makes that much difference.

Sometimes putting them on 1.1 or 1.25 speed improves it. I hate overly slow reading.

Lorelei King is one of the few US narrators I enjoy listening to.

The narrator can absolutely make or break it.

I love Tom Clancy books but cannot bear the voice of the American narrator they've used. I gather he sounds similar to Mr Clancy but I can't listen to the drawl, his intonation is abysmal and it ruins my favourite stories.

You can look up a narrator you like and get audiobooks they've done. I just did that with Samuel West after I heard him narrate Precipice.
I'm another one who can't listen to a book read by a voice I dislike. I'll get the print version if I really want to read it.

Absolutely. And no I don’t think it improves. I really struggle with American narrators as I like to listen at high speed and it makes some accents sound AI. I also have a preference for female narrators.

I sometimes don't like narrators when I start an audiobook, but I normally get used to them and continue listening. But listening to a good narrator makes all the difference. There was one narrator once that I loved so much that I started searching for audiobooks she had narrated instead of aelecting books for the books themselves
I don't like books narŕated with american accents either

Steven Pacey is a superb narrator.

Reading a book and writing a book are two different skills and I don’t agree that an author reading their own book always works!

i also listen to previews first.

I’ve enjoyed Precipice like a pomp, and the narrator of Land (current listen) is excellent too.

I recently listened to Gisele Pelicot's book. It was exquisitely read with perfect French from time to time.
I was surprised at the end to hear it was read by Emma Thompson!

Completely agree. He did all the Simon Serrailler books by Susan Hill.

Another one here who can't stand American narrators.

I tend to prefer narrators whose voice matches the book, so a female narrator where the main character is a woman, an American narrator where the setting is America and so on.

There are a number of audiobooks I've given up on because the narrator just sucks. Bad accents are a particular bugbear of mine. If a minor character is supposed to be Irish but the narrator's American then I'd much prefer that character to be narrated in a good American accent than a bad Irish one.

Daisy Jones and the Six and Project Hail Mary had amazing narrations.

I can’t continue a book if I don’t like the narrator.

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