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!

Agree preview is essential.

Before I noticed this was possible I bought a few Maeve Binchy books on audible and I find the ones read by Maeve's cousin Kate Binchy impossible to listen to and sadly she narrates most of them.

I like the Jodi Taylor books but the narrator of the audio books is one of those who can't pronounce standard English words ....

@BigWig78 Me too, I can't listen if I don't enjoy the narration.

I really struggle with American narrators as they seem too slow- I may try speeding it up to see if that helps. I’m a big fan of the St Mary’s chronicles, and Zara Ram narrating is a big part of that

Such a lovely thread which ended up accent bashing. What a shame

Massively. Audiobooks have been absolutely ruined for me by poor narrators. Andrew Lownie for one. The man just can’t read aloud.

I love Nicola Walker. She’s great for an audiobook.

I have 21 books sitting in my Audible account, partially read, as the narration irritates me so much.

I cant abide east coast American accents but love a west coast accent. I love a Canadian accent too.

I find podcasts irritating for the same reason; that and the low level they’re often pitched at.

@JustSetFireToIt you know you can get refunds? They're fairly reasonable about it.

I find audiobooks unbearable if I don’t like the narrator’s voice. I particularly hate books read by the author - coming up with words in your head doesn’t mean you have the talent to convey them in your voice.

Juliet Stevenson and Greta Scacchi are my favourites. Bill Bryson has no acting experience but he’s also excellent.

Kobna is amazing. I love the Rivers of London series..can't imagine anyone else doing it!

I am listening to the Odyssey read by Ian McKellan, it is such delight.

I have my favourite narrators and obviously genres. But the narration makes all of the difference.

Tried and tried and nope prefer reading myself...my DH loves narrated books but not for me

i can’t listen to American male narrators at all and always sample before buying

Lorelei King is great -I could listen to her narrate a Nandos menu.
I loved Michael Sheen's narration of Philip Pullman's The Book of Dust trilogy. His interpretation of Malcolm feels rich and carries so much of the plot.
Dan Stevens and Jospeh Kloska do a great job of narrating Wolf Hall and The Mirror and the Light respectively (they make Thomas Cromwell sound like a hot smouldering ember of a dreamboat), but Bring Out the Bodies -part 2 of the trilogy- is read by Julian Rhind-Tutt, whose mic technique means that he goes from a close, intimate, almost inaudible whisper one moment, to a jarring shriek the next, the caricature of Henry being a bit too blatant, and the contrast is too stark for a comfortable listen.
Daisy Donovan reading Hamnet was gorgeous -she brings breath and movement into all the characters, whether small boys or elderly women.

If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a British accent. The number of audiobooks I’ve had to abandon …

@NotAnotherPylon Tee hee, you're stirring the pot. 😂

Moi?😅

Bianca Amato reading Philippa Gregory has quirks - courtier pronounced cort ear, and strange almost glottal stops in words like Lat’n. I snap at her quite a lot.

Another vote for Johnathan Keeble! I’ve listened to him read some non fiction history and he reads them with gravitas and dignity eg a World War One one. But he also reads British History for Dummies by Sean Lang which is amusingly written and Jonathan Keeble gets exactly the right intonation for the funny bits and yet segues into the more serious stuff really well.

Love Georgina Sutton reading Diary of a Provincial Lady.

I’ve also got Martin Jarvis reading Walter Lord’s account of the Titanic A Night to Remember. I think it was serialised on 4 Extra. Beautifully measured reading that was poignant and eerie.

Oh and Clare Corbett manages to voice small children in a way that is uncanny.

It’s not the accent itself, it’s the context.

Non fiction, or fantasy, or something not set in the UK - absolutely fine.

A novel set in London or Cumbria or Bristol where all the characters have American or Australian or French or Spanish accents - not fine.

I really struggle with female American voices. Much prefer male if it's American.

They seem to make everything SO dramatic. Even reading banal lines such as "she put the ketchup bottle on the table"

Love love Robert Glenister doing Strike.

Omg. Frank Gardner reading his new book.

Astonishingly talented journalist. Horrific audio narration. I sent it back and read it on kindle.

Martin Jarvis is one of my very favourite narrators.

I use Libby and Borrowbox via my library so it's free - this is worth doing this too for more options.

I love Julia Whelan - he narrates most of Taylor Jenkins Reid and Emily Henry books.