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!

She!

@ItsAlwaysTwinsI see we agree on Lownie!!

Agree with others - listen to a sample first. I enjoy the Hawthorne & Horowitz series narrated by Rory Kinnear, and Jack Davenport is brilliant reading The Kellerby Code. Jason Issacs reading the Jackson Brodie books is great too.

Yes, I know but it feels mean and I always hope I’ll go back to them and feel differently.

I also love Kobna Holbrook-Smith reading Rivers of London, such a smooth, rich voice.

‘Entitled’ drove me spare. I’ve heard Andrew Lownie speak in interviews and he’s quite eloquent. But reading his own flipping book was a disaster.

That’s really interesting because I actually couldn’t listen to Marian Keyes narrating as I didn’t think she was very good at it. I like an actor who is able to portray different characters through their different energies. I will sometimes actively seek out the narrator rather than the author.

But it is interesting to know that you feel the opposite! We are all different in our tastes I guess!

I agree, I have to like the narrator - that’s a deal breaker. If I like the author, I will then hunt out books they narrate.

Roger Allam could read me a Tesco shopping list and I would be in heaven.

Bizarrely the book I’m listening to I’ve had to slow down! I listen to loads of audio books through BorrowBox and I’ve never had to do that before but the woman reads so fast it’s ridiculous! However slowing it down makes it sound odd so I may give up.
Im with many PP - and have stopped listening to books where the reader’s voice grates, or, occasionally they keep mispronouncing words. One guy did this so often I contacted the company responsible for the recording! It was that bad.

I've never heard MK narrating, but I would have said it was a pretty unusual skill to be able to read aloud engagingly at length, differentiating characters and doing the right kind of vocal colour etc, unless you had an acting or presenting or public speaking background, and certainly not something I'd expect most novelists to have.

Someone like David Sedaris is different, obviously, but his job is as much reading/performing his own work in public as it is writing it -- it's what he's known for. Same as Dickens!

Certainly I can think of many novelists and poets who, even reading brief extracts at an event, are actually disastrous to their own (very good) work. It's just not in their skill set.

Same. Have given up on a few because I don’t like the voice of the narrator.
generally prefer make to female narrators.
Fave of all time narrator is Richard Armitage. Could listen to him reciting the international fishing convention regulations etc..😂

I tried audio books recently and I just hate when they do ‘voices’ like a woman trying to do a deep man’s voice, or different voices for the characters.

I agree with pp who said that they don’t like authors reading their own books. There are some exceptions of course. I tend to listen to books that don’t require much brain power to keep me occupied while I do stuff around the house or go for walks/runs, so there’s probably a lot I don’t pick up on. But I was listening to a series of police procedural novels and really enjoying them, when they suddenly changed to a different narrator about 4 books in. I checked and it was the author reading them. He was awful. Perfectly coherent but there was almost an element of self consciousness about the way he read. I did listen to another couple of books though, because I was invested in the characters😅

I really dislike it when narrators periodically drop their volume for dramatic effect to the point you can barely hear them. Then you turn up the volume and get deafened when they go back to normal.

I’m qualified as a voice coach, having done the Masters in Voice at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Quite a lot can go wrong if you don’t have a professional reading - poor articulation, vocal quality, constriction caused by unnecessary tension, lack of vocal support.

Now I think about it, Lownie falls foul of the last one quite often - he underestimates how much air he needs to take in to support his voice to the end of a phrase and consequently speaks “off support” sometimes.

It’s a really basic error and a professional actor would never do it, as they’re properly trained not to.

I do probably listen very closely, though, because of my training. I’m also a nightmare to watch dramas with, as all suspension of disbelief falls away if an actor is massacring an accent. My native accent is Northern Irish, though my RP is perfect. But unfortunately, it’s often Scottish and Northern Irish accents that are inaccurate - Maxine Peake in “I Swear”: I’m looking at you.

Thoroughly agree re Roger Allam! Rich and sonorous voice. Glorious 👌

Thank goodness its not just me. I love Bob, loved Athletico Mince, but his autobiography and the Long Shoe were terrible. So flat and humourless.
I also heartily dislike the Audible full cast versions of Agatha Christie with Peter Dinklage. He's ok, but the rest of the cast...and the incidental music. Thank goodness they are free.

Oh and Penelope Witton narrating the Cazalets was perfect.

As others have said a poor narrator (or one you do not like) can ruin the experience a good one can make be such a wonderful experience (I love audio books)

I often do not enjoy the author reading their book but other times I don’t believe anyone else could have narrated it any better

I love audio plays too with the sound effects especially when it’s a spooky story (it’s the season soon 😁)

i always listen to the to sample and can usually tell within a few minute if I will enjoy the audio book or not

ones I have especially loved on Audible
Leanne Moriarty books narrated by Caroline Lee especially Big Little Lies and Truly Madly Guilty
Americana by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie narrated by Adjoa Andoh
David Sedaris every book of his
Rivers of London narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
The Shinning narrated by Campbell Scott
Dark Matter by Michelle Paver narrated by Jeremy Northam
Sherlock Holmes narrated by Stephen Fry. I also love his series on Audible Victorian Secrets and the folling series on the Edwardian and 1920’s
Rebacca narrated by Anna Massey

Looking at recommendations too

I imagine in a few years if not sooner (or maybe even now) we’ll be possible to choose the voice you want for the audio - royalties to the chosen ones for the use of their voice…

I saw Roger Allam and Ian McKellan in a play together, third row, first and last time I’ve ever asked for a photo at the stage door. Made dh take it 🤣

@TofuTuesday Oh, I AM envious!

I’ve just finished reading 84 Charing Cross Road, & there’s no way a British person could narrate that, it’s an autobiographical book by a New Yorker. Again, context.

A previous poster said they heard a terrible version of the Poisonwood Bible on Audible - there is a magnificent version narrated by Dean Robertson also that I thoroughly recommend. Superb work.

He's OK. And obvs I loved him as Lucas North in Spooks!

But I listened to some 'twisty thriller' set on a Scottish island recently. And he was awful. And what was with the sound effects, as if I couldn't imagine the sound of a telephone ringing!

I don't need sound effects!!!!

I have the same problem. I use Libby through my library and try previews first.

Johnathan Keeble is fab, I listened to everything on there read by him a few years ago , will check if there’s more ivd not listened to.

Yes. I can't hear deep male voices very well and lose interest. I think it's an old age hearing thing.
I have the same problem with World Service.