Anyone else have issues with audiobook narration?

[Anonymous]

I like hearing the authors narrate their autobiographies.

[Anonymous]

https://www.audible.com/blog/videos/jim-dale-narrator-of-the-harry-potter-series

I enjoyed this voice performance.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on the book. Too many characters early in the book make it hard to follow. In the actual book, you would circle back to clarify, but that is impossible in the audio version.

[Anonymous]

I have a hard time with many narrators. I absolutely love Joe Jameson, though.

[Anonymous]

I always listen to samples first and also look closely at what reviewers are saying about the narrators specifically. When I find a great narrator, I look for other stuff they've read.

[Anonymous]

I really struggle with audiobooks for this reason, so much so that if I find a narrator in like I will listen to everything they’re recorded rather than looking for a book in my normal genres. One I’ve liked recently is Truth Be Told by Bev McLachlin — it’s the autobiography of the retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and read by her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The narrator matters at least as much as the author for audio books. You have to listen to the samples before buying

+1

I read almost exclusively via audible. I love audiobooks.

The narrator is 100% performing and I love it.

Rebecca Lowman reading Rules of Civility
Sissy Spacek reading To Kill a Mockingbird
Neil Patrick Harris reading Henry Huggins

NPH narrating the Nate the Great series will always be favorite in our house!! His Roseamund voice made us shriek with laughter!!!!

[Anonymous]

When I find a narrator I like, I search Audible or our library app for their books they’ve narrated. Julia Whelan is a personal favorite. Dion Graham, too. (American War was terrific on audio, BTW.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which ones didn’t you like?

The Fever by Megan Abbott
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
Look Alive Out There by Sloane Crosley

Agree, couldn’t listen to this one and I love audiobooks.

Keep trying, I like Julia Whelan who’s been mentioned and Marin Ireland is a favorite. And Bahni Turpin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really struggle with audiobooks for this reason, so much so that if I find a narrator in like I will listen to everything they’re recorded rather than looking for a book in my normal genres. One I’ve liked recently is Truth Be Told by Bev McLachlin — it’s the autobiography of the retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and read by her.

I do this too. I will listen to anything with Will Patton, who was the narrator of the Raven Cycle books by Maggie Stiefvater.

[Anonymous]

I like narrator Marian Ireland.

Listening to a book by someone else and the narrator is making a 1970's teen girl sound like an old drag queen. Hopefully that character won't be around much, always throws me for a loop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which ones didn’t you like?

The Fever by Megan Abbott
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
Look Alive Out There by Sloane Crosley

Agree, couldn’t listen to this one and I love audiobooks.

Keep trying, I like Julia Whelan who’s been mentioned and Marin Ireland is a favorite. And Bahni Turpin.

I’m glad to have seen this. It’s hard to figure out which voice actors did the parts in audiobooks, but I absolutely loathed the performance of the actor who did Monique’s voice in the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I thought it was Julia Whelan, because she is often the first person listed on the credits. But now I know she was the one who did an amazing job with the tabloid reports! The actress who read Evelyn’s voice was unbelievable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like hearing the authors narrate their autobiographies.

me too! David Goggins and Katie Couric were two favorites of mine.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the commiseration and suggestions. I'm currently trying Educated by Tara Westover. It is okay except that the female narrator does a stupid low "male" voice for any male characters. It sounds so dumb, and is really distracting, but trying to power through anyway...

-OP

[Anonymous]

I don't like them. I can't concentrate.