Audiobooks discussion

Has anyone else listened to "So Pretty it Hurts" by Kate White? I believe it's the most recent book in the Bailey Weggins series. The narrator is Renee Raudman and I have to say that I find her voice to be absolutely terrible. It sounds as if she has a speech impediment and in comparison to the former narrator for the Bailey Weggins character, she sounds much older. I was just wondering if anyone else has heard this Renee Raudman? I googled her and most of her reviews seem to be positive to my complete and utter shock! What does everyone think of Ms. Raudman?

I'm a fan of Renee Raudman's narration of the Kate Daniels series (she's marvelous there) but I think she pronounces the S's very strongly at the end of some words. I don't know that series so I cannot judge if she's good for that or not.

But changes in narrator are always jarring.

Thank you for your comment! I actually had one of my friends listen to her narration for a few minutes to see if she could help me elaborate on why her voice bothers me so. It's something with the S's or the R's. She sounds to me, like she's hearing impaired. I know that sounds terrible but that's what I hear when I listen to her.

Kelly wrote: "Has anyone else listened to "So Pretty it Hurts" by Kate White? I believe it's the most recent book in the Bailey Weggins series. The narrator is Renee Raudman and I have to say that I find her voi..."

I've only heard one audiobook narrated by Renee Raudman and I had no problem with her narration. She read Skinny Bitch (by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin.) This was a book that was too "screelicious " for me to handle in print; but in R.R.'s hands, she managed to make it sound like gossip from a best friend :-)

I'm wondering if the audiobook publisher's post-engineers botched the processing on So Pretty It Hurts. Usually Renee Raudman sounds more like a high school cheerleader type.

The worst narrator I have encountered to date is Casey Affleck narrating Sex on the Moon: The Amazing Story Behind the Most Audacious Heist in History.

Awful. He always sounded like he was on the verge of wheezing or crying. I wish it had been a terrible book, but it was very enjoyable so I listened on, yelling at Casey Affleck all the way through.

J. wrote: "The worst narrator I have encountered to date is Casey Affleck narrating Sex on the Moon: The Amazing Story Behind the Most Audacious Heist in History.

Awful. He always sounded like he was on the ..."

LOLOLOLOL!

J. wrote: "The worst narrator I have encountered to date is Casey Affleck narrating Sex on the Moon: The Amazing Story Behind the Most Audacious Heist in History.

Awful. He always sounded like he was on the ..."

I heard a sample of Casey Affleck narrating something a couple of years ago, when audible first introduced their celebrity readings (one or two years before they re-christened it the "Signature Series" or whatever. I was stunned because I thought that he sounded like an old man! Recently, I watched the movie, Gone Baby Gone in which he starred and realized, that even though he's relatively young, he does sound like an old man! Now I can't un-hear it!

Cynthia Holloway's narration of the Vatta's War series by Elizabeth Moon may qualify as the worst narration I've ever heard because of the mispronunciations. She pronounced "Rafe" as "Raff", "Ciudad" became "Soodad", "through put" became "thorough put" and I can't even recreate what she did to "betrothed". I listened to 4 out of the 5 books because I loved the stories. It was just Holloway's mispronunciations that got to me. She actually pronounced more words wrong the further she got in the series too! I can't believe a producer let that through.

i disliked Tavia Gilbert's narration of Bones in the Nihgt Huntress series - his cockney accent was just bad and the one character, Don, it sounded like Dawn when she said his name - that being said, I liked her narration in a previous book that I listened to

Koeeoaddi wrote: "I won't say he's a bad narrator, but certainly the narrator most mismatched to the work has to be Oliver Wyman reading Mark Helprin's gorgeous Winter's Tale. He's probably fine reading other kinds ..."

Oh no! Not Oliver, I love him.

I can definitely see him being wrong for some books though.

I love Tom Weiner too, but I think having him read a romance would turn it into a comedy.

Koeeoaddi wrote: "I won't say he's a bad narrator, but certainly the narrator most mismatched to the work has to be Oliver Wyman reading Mark Helprin's gorgeous Winter's Tale. He's probably fine reading other kinds ..."

I love Oliver Wyman. He could read the phone book and make it sound interesting. That said, I haven't been able to make it more than 1/8 of the way through Winter's Tale. I laid that at my own feet and the story itself.

Sandi wrote: "Cynthia Holloway's narration of the Vatta's War series by Elizabeth Moon may qualify as the worst narration I've ever heard because of the mispronunciations. She pronounced "Rafe" as "Raff", "Ciud..."

I couldn't get through even one book because of the narrator's voice - sounded like a spoiled, pouty teenager.

Cynthia Holloway is horrible with mispronunciations. She did the same thing when she took over a few of the Anita Blake books. Jean Claude had an English accent, Were wolf became we're wolf. But she did find her place with the Cassie Palmer series.

I hated Alessandro Juliani's reading of Solaris: The Definitive Edition. It was so bland. I don't think I've listened to an audiobook read in such a monotone voice. Since the story is so slow moving (and gets really technical at times), it made it hard to get through. I love the story, but hate the narrator. I really wish it weren't "The Definitive Edition", because I'd really like to listen to someone else do it. I've heard good things about his Nine Princes in Amber, so I'm giving him a second chance.

Oh Pat Starr. I listened to her for #1 Womens Murder Club first to die by James Patterson. Not a great piece of literature to begin with but with her sucking and saliva sounds and her screeching and pretend crying i'm never listening to another.

Kevin T Collins narrated Midst Toil and Tribulation by David Weber and I found him to be very over dramatic and breathy.

You would think a professional narrator would know that if you make everything dramatic then the result is nothing stands out as dramatic. I also don't think you should be able to hear a narrator taking breaths all the time.

If next book in the Safehold series is narrated by Kevin Collins then I shall, regretfully, be switching to the Kindle version.

I think alot of times it is also a matter of a narrator not being right for the work. I've had narrators I didn't like on one book then have blown me away on another. Also it is very subjective on person favorite is another most hated.

One that I thought was awful was The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great by Eva Stachniak Narrated by Beata Pozniak...This started out so slow moving or should I say the narration was so slow moving that I looked in the paperbook and after 2 hours of listening I was only on page 47. I didn't like this narrator the cadence of her voice and the slow reading was too much. This was one of very few DNF's.

MissSusie has it right. Narrators whom I have loved have been condemned by others. And a narrator I can't stand has been highly praised. It's personal and very subjective.

I tried listening to The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, narrated by the author, and turned it off after only five minutes. I couldn't stand her voice. Reading the book has turned out much better.

Koeeoaddi wrote: "I won't say he's a bad narrator, but certainly the narrator most mismatched to the work has to be Oliver Wyman reading Mark Helprin's gorgeous Winter's Tale. He's probably fine reading other kinds ..."

I enjoyed what Sean Runnette did with Helprin's In Sunlight and In Shadow - and it would have been a hard book to listen to with the wrong narrator.

The worst I've encountered recently is Marcel Davis's narration of Naomi Benaron's Running the Rift. I had to stop and request the printed version - he couldn't have sounded more uninterested in the narrative. At first it was just very 'children's story time' with no attempt to connect with the tale, only to pronounce each word correctly, but it quickly became almost deliberately bland. His voices were fine, but anything not in quote marks was treated with the exact same disregard.

Tim wrote: "I hated Alessandro Juliani's reading of Solaris: The Definitive Edition. It was so bland.

Ha, I liked it for the exact same reason! I thought his calm voice fit the tone of the book perfectly. (And I don't think any narration could have helped the long, dry descriptions of the various forms the ocean took.)

MissSusie wrote: "I think alot of times it is also a matter of a narrator not being right for the work. I've had narrators I didn't like on one book then have blown me away on another. Also it is very subjective on ..."

Indeed!

As many regular forum readers are aware, I'm a fan of the late David Case (a/k/a Frederick Davidson). However, his attempt at narrating (the voice of) Runmpole of the Bailey was truly cringeworthy. Ugh!

Chris wrote: "I tried listening to The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, narrated by the author, and turned it off after only five minutes. I couldn't stand her voice. Reading the book has turned out much better."

Nearly all books I've tried that were narrated by the author were not very good quality. They are writers, not performers, as a rule. The only one I can say that was ok reading her own works was Louise Erdrich, which is odd anyway, because even though her reading is fine, in general, I don't like her books!

Myla Goldberg does a very good job reading her own novel Bee Season.

I think Autobiographies that are read by the author are usually pretty good. A lot tend to be abridged but I loved Bill Clintons reading of his My Life and Michael J Fox had me in tears with his.

I´m currently listening
and it´s challenging. I don´t dislike Marc Vietor´s voice but I dislike how I cannot always tell who´s talking or is it just a description. It´s seems he has problems with, eh, keeping the same tone of voice for more than 4 sentences.

We´re reading this book as a buddy read in Fantasy book club and my library had only audiobook when I asked for it. I didn´t think it´ll be that difficult.
I´m happy I was able to loan hardcover yesterday. It´ll definitely help.

Barbara Kingsolver did a good job with Prodigal Summer. Has anyone listened to Flight Behavior? I'd like to as I've loved all her books except The Lacuna which I finally gave up on. But she was a good narrator, I thought.

Lára wrote: "I´m currently listening
and it´s challenging. I don´t dislike Marc Vietor´s voice but I dislike how I cannot always tell who´s talking or is it just a descrip..."

I gave up on that audiobook after restarting it three or four times. I don't recall that the narrator was the main reason. I just couldn't get into the story.

Like you, I had a problem discerning which character was speaking.

Although I loved Barbara Kingsolver's earlier books, I didn't care for her reading of Prodigal Summer.
Flight Behavior, is on my wait list (#42)at the library. A friend assures me that I'll love it.
One book narrated by the author that I did dearly love was Tony Hillerman's memoir, Seldom Disappointed. Maybe partly because his years parallel mine, with the difference of male vs. female, of course.

Thank you for mentioning Hillerman's memoir. I did not know that it existed, and you have just helped me with a birthday gift idea.

I did not enjoy The Lovely Bones audiobook version narrated by the author.

That's funny, because I hated The Painted Drum (which I believe was NOT narrated by the author) but really enjoyed The Master Butchers Singing Club, which was. But I listened on a faster speed, I wonder if that makes a difference?

I hate Bill Bryson's self-narration, though his fans love it.

I discovered today that Scott Sigler does a great job narrating his own work.

Alana wrote: "Nearly all books I've tried that were narrated by the author were not very good quality. They are writers, not performers, as a rule. The only one I can say that was ok reading her own works was Louise Erdrich, which is odd anyway, because even though her reading is fine, in general, I don't like her books! .."

I found Phillip Pullman's narration of His Dark Materials to be very good - I just didn't care for the books that much :)

There are very few authors that can narrate their own books the best of course is Neil Gaiman, I can listen to him read the phonebook.

Lisa Genova's narration of her book Still Alice was so well done when I went to look who the narrator was I was shocked it was the author because I thought it was a pro narrator.

Another one who does a good job is Geraldine Brooks.

Leslie wrote: "Alana wrote: "Nearly all books I've tried that were narrated by the author were not very good quality. They are writers, not performers, as a rule. The only one I can say that was ok reading her ow..."

Agreed Leslie- liked the narration not the book.

Getting back to the subject of the thread, I think Renee Raudman is a pretty decent narrator, although I can understand if some folks have heard a book where her skills weren't the best match.

And now, a word from our moderator ...

We have many narrators who drop by the group to offer their insight from the other side of the mic. I realize they aren't a bunch of thin-skinned, hyper-sensitive folks, but I'm honestly a bit uncomfortable about these kinds of discussions. I believe in free speech, and have let the thread stand (rather than closing it), but would like to remind everyone that it's possible that the reader you say is "terrible" might well see your comments. Thanks.

Heidi (book pimp) wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Alana wrote: "Nearly all books I've tried that were narrated by the author were not very good quality. They are writers, not performers, as a rule. The only one I can say that was ok..."

I don't know...I felt like only Toni Morrison could have narrated Beloved. Obviously she had the best feel for the rhythm of that book, and her narration was very well done. I also felt that way about Precious (a.k.a. Push), narrated by Sapphire.

And of course, nonfiction's a whole different ball game. Hearing David Sedaris and Tina Fey narrate their books is at least 90% of the reason to listen to the audiobook at all!

Kristie wrote: "Heidi (book pimp) wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Alana wrote: "Nearly all books I've tried that were narrated by the author were not very good quality. They are writers, not performers, as a rule. The only..."

I recently listened to Home and loved Toni Morrison reading it.

John wrote: I'm honestly a bit uncomfortable about these kinds of discussions. I believe in free speech, and have let the thread stand (rather than closing it), but would like to remind everyone that it's possible that the reader you say is "terrible" might well see your comments.

"

I've been wondering if the title of this thread could be tweaked to something like "Problems with narrators", other than "terrible.."

Perhaps if we could focus or be sure to comment on the reasons why we find narrators or narrations (sometimes it's not the person but the production) to be unlikeable, maybe it would be more useful to the narrators who are members of GR as well as to those of us who are the listeners.

For instance, and we have commented on this, you and I, I find that David Case (several names) has a thin voice that I just don't like to listen to. I don't think he would be asked to do as many books as he has done if he weren't a very competent narrator and had many listeners who don't find him objectionable. I just don't like his voice, and you have commented (or was it another Mod?) that his voice is well-suited to 18th century books.

I am currently listening to *Calculated in Death*, the newest J D Robb book, read by my favorite Susan Ericksen; something is a bit different about this, and some at Audible have commented that it's a sound system difference, but I find that her pace is just a touch slow enough to be constantly noticeable and it's making it hard to keep focused on the book.

I don't know if this is the sort of information that really would be helpful to our narrator members, but these are the things that make a book or not, for me.

CatBookMom wrote: "John wrote: I'm honestly a bit uncomfortable about these kinds of discussions. I believe in free speech, and have let the thread stand (rather than closing it), but would like to remind everyone t..."

I think that would be great too!!

Thanks, C B M, I think the new thread title works a bit better. And, yes, it was I who said Case is good for more ... classical stuff.

I had a narrator I didn't like on one book and was leary to listen to another but did and really enjoyed her narration very much and that book is up for an Audie.
So I really feel that sometimes a book just may not be right for a narrator and that is not the narrators fault it is the casting/producer.

John wrote: "Thanks, C B M, I think the new thread title works a bit better. And, yes, it was I who said Case is good for more ... classical stuff."

Thanks John Yes that is much better!

I agree!

Peter Hamilton wrote the series of books Pandora's Star and Judas Unchained. Both audio books were narrated by John Lee. He has a very pleasant British accent. However, his voice has a tendency to die off in volume at the end of many sentences. The difference in volume between the loudest portion of a sentence and the weakest portion is considerable. This makes it very difficult to listen to, in any environment that is the least bit noisy.

On the other hand, I learned how to use the "compressor" function on my Sansa Clip-Plus supplemented with Rock Box. This function helped to enhance the weak tones, to make the audiobook a little more listenable.

Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "Barbara Kingsolver did a good job with Prodigal Summer. Has anyone listened to Flight Behavior? I'd like to as I've loved all her books except The Lacuna which I finally gave up on. But she was ..."

I listened to the audiobook of Flight Behavior and I liked it pretty much though I felt it was a book I would have enjoyed reading more than listening to.

John wrote: "I'm honestly a bit uncomfortable about these kinds of discussions. I believe in free speech, and have let the thread stand (rather than closing it), but would like to remind everyone that it's possible that the reader you say is "terrible" might well see your comments."

CatBookMom wrote: "Perhaps if we could focus or be sure to comment on the reasons why we find narrators or narrations (sometimes it's not the person but the production) to be unlikeable, maybe it would be more useful to the narrators who are members of GR as well as to those of us who are the listeners."


I really appreciate both John's and CatBookMom's views about narrators being real people who not only see listener comments but hope to learn from them and continuously improve our performances. I haven't met a narrator who doesn't care about their stories.

I think that part of the problem may be that it can be difficult and time-consuming to analyze WHY you didn't like a book. Saying something like "this narrator is terrible and the worst I've ever heard" is a time-wasting, gut reaction that doesn't help anyone. Other readers and the narrator don't know what prompts such a comment.

I've also noticed that many people can't separate the performance from the story. The goal is for story and performance to fit together seamlessly, but sometimes they don't. If someone hated the underlying story, they often rate the narration the same as the story.

For instance, I just finished listening to Dylan Baker's rendition of The Grapes of Wrath. This has got to be one of the saddest, most depressing stories ever written. The dialogue would be a real challenge to read because Steinbeck wrote it the way he heard it.

While most people raved about Baker's masterful rendition, you still have 1-star reviews across the board like this one in which the reviewer calls it a "terrible" book and Baker's performance "boring". If you're going to take the time to leave a review, why not at least write something constructive that could benefit other listeners and perhaps the narrator?

Also, I realize everyone doesn't find my voice to be their cup of tea. I can't change my voice any more than I can change my fingerprints, and I wouldn't even want to.

However, if a review said something specific like I spoke too slowly, couldn't maintain a character's tonal qualities or rhythm, didn't understand the meaning in the text and gave it the wrong inflection, wasn't emotionally connected, etc. -- these are problems I CAN fix. Each person is entitled to their opinion. If multiple people have the same opinion of an issue, I work to address it.

I take care to pick books that are a good fit for not only my voice but my way of thinking. I want my performance to make the author's words shine so that the listener is transported to the time and place in the book.

I guess I'd like to ask everyone to give narrators a second try before writing them off completely. As MissSusie said: "I had a narrator I didn't like on one book and was leary to listen to another but did and really enjoyed her narration very much and that book is up for an Audie. "

Thanks for a great discussion!

Cordially,
Karen Commins

Karen -

Thank you for your very constructive input! I have been meaning to ask narrators whether there have been times that it's been fairly clear (to you at least), after recording is in progress when it's too late, that the work probably should've gone to someone else, but you soldiered on as best you could to fulfill the obligation?