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!

And another!

Richard Armitage is fantastic and so is Nicola Walker.

He's good fun!

I don't usually listen to audiobooks at all but was in the car when my husband was listening to Dungeon Crawler Carl and I absolutely loved the narrator of that! And it's not the type of book I would ever listen to.

I love an audio book but I can't stick with it if I don't like the narrator. I have loved the Harry Potter full cast audio editions but they do require the focus and attention of a movie so found myself drifting back to the Stephen Fry editions for relaxation and whilst doing activities. I also got so settled with the Phillipa Gregory novels read Emelia Fox, I just don't get on with the ones she doesn't do! I'm sure somebody has recommended already but make sure you listen a sample before you use your credits on a title ❤️ happy listening!

This

Accents do matter. I started listening to a story about a Victorian woman & her family visiting Egypt, told in the first person, but had to stop because the American narrator’s constant use of ‘my poppa’ was driving me nuts.

I always, always, listen to the preview first.

Some are dreadful at reading aloud, though. Donna Tartt reading The Secret History is godawful.

Anything read by Juliet Stevenson is wonderful. Such a lovely voice.

there are a few AI narrations which I loathe.

also hate it when the narrator mispronounces words - A peak example was a pronunciation of Himalayas as Him—aal-yas (3 syllables and not 4!)

The absolute worst is books where there’s a ‘common’ or lower class character and a posh narrator who puts on a bad cockney accent. Extra points if they say ‘bleedin’”

Totally agree. Her narration of Miss Benson’s Beetle is sublime.

I can’t listen to any book read in American accents unfortunately. It’s annoying but I’m hoping one day we’ll be able to change the narrator with a click of a button. Now that would be transformative.

My absolute favourites are the Phyllida Nash narrations of Georgette Heyer books, but I can only get those on BorrowBox.

Another vote for Juliet Stevenson. Authors reading their own fiction generally don't work for me.

Big shout out to Kobna Holdbrook-Smith for his brilliant narration of the Rivers of London series!

I run audio books overnight to help me sleep so I have an enormous library of them and also very distinct likes and dislikes. For example, I LOVE Bill Bryson's books, but can only listen to the ones he narrates himself. William Gibson narrates some and, to me, he has a whiny, nasal American accent which I just can't listen to. Likewise, some female narrators have a voice that is too high pitched for comfortable listening, and I cannot overcome the narrator, however much I might want to listen to the book.

Yep. I can’t listen if the narrator is a Australian at all and some American voices are a no no, yet my favourite narrator is a male American.

I really love the Strike books as Robert Glenister’s narration is too notch.

If something were narrated by David Tennant I’d be reaching for the refund button as well!

I have learnt the hard way to listen to the sample.

I had to stop listening to one recently because one of the characters had a comedy accent and it was very distracting.

What sort of books do you like @PaperFlyingFucks we may be able recommended some good narrator

Much to my surprise the worst narrator I heard was Bob Mortimer reading his own book.

Always listen to a preview before selecting. I have to like the voice or it's just not going to work.

A good narrator reallly elevates the experience of listening to an audiobook doesn't it? If the narrator doesn't "fit" the book it's so painful.

i love Robin Hobbs Realm of the Elderlings novels, my absolutely favourite books.
however, for many years they were narrated by a man whose voice, accent and attitude just did not fit! I just could not listen, it was so painful. Recently Joe Eyre has become the narrator and the books spring to life. It's amazing, the difference this has made.

For me the absolute best fit for novel and narrator is found in the Ellacot and Strike books by Robert Galbraith read by Robert Glenister. If I read a a physical copy I find that I hear his voice.

The other super partnership is Ben Aaronovitch's River of London series read by Kobna Holbrook Smith.

I agree that trying BorrowBox and listening to a sample make all the difference. I do hope you find something you really enjoy soon.

Rivers of London were an absolute masterpiece.

I keep checking in when they’re going to be made in to a series! It is happening apparently!

Dp always listens to audio books where as I always read a book, and not getting on with the narrator is the reason I don't listen. I've tried so many times, but find they are either too slow, or it's the accent. I listen to podcasts in the car as I drive too much for my job, and I've lost count on the amount of new ones I've tried, only to give up halfway through an episode due to the way they are narrated. I too didn't know you could listen to previews, so I may give them ago again.

That is actually the correct/ local pronunciation, the 4 syllable version is anglicised. It just sounds wrong when you’re used to hearing it said a particular way.

I had to stop listening to the Rob Rinder books as cannot stand the narrator and how he voices the mother. Such a shame!

Some of them talk too fast. This happened with A Tale Of Two Cities. I had to get the speed down to 0.8 or I just tuned out. He was talking too fast! Audible too.