Audiobooks discussion

I can only recall a few narrators that I truly hated. One is a man whose name I can no longer remember -- a shame because I vowed to never listen to another book read by him, as I had listened to a couple and thought he sounded flat and like an amateur trying to sound sincere. The other one was Mary Peifer who narrated the Sue Grafton alphabet PI series back in the old days when I rented books mail order from Books on Tape. I see Audible still has an edition that is read by her, but there apparently new editions read by Judy Kaye. Maybe they're the same person? I dunno. But Mary Peifer's reading was flat, monotone, monotonous and completely without character. I kept renting the books because I liked the stories, but every time I listened to one I fervently wished they'd find a different narrator.

Other narrators I find are good for some books, but not others, like Simon Vance, who I know everyone loves, and I did, too, until I listened to books by Guy Gavriel Kay that he narrated and I thought he sounded snooty and condescending. He also ended up putting me to sleep! So whenever I listen to a Kay book I try to find an edition with a different narrator.

ARGH!! I just went back to look at the Sue Grafton books and see that the Judy Kaye narrations are ABRIDGED! A pox on you recorders! Who wants abridged books??? Not me!

Are they? I've listened to her reading Grafton, and I could swear they weren't, unless those abridged ones are older titles in the series where Mary P. read the full text (earlier)?

John wrote: "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..."
John,

Thanks for this moderator reminder! Yes, there are more and more narrators (myself included), who peruse these posts both as fans but mostly as professionals who hope to enliven our own work through interaction with fans.

I truly appreciate thoughtful feedback and constructive criticism. As our industry evolves, so do listeners' tastes, so I do pay attention to your comments as I strive to better my craft.

As an actor, I chose to be in a profession which pretty much sets me up for rejection and criticism of work that I create with my own mind and body and emotions and imagination (so it can be a challenge to not take it personally). However, as John and others following have noted, I think we are all more able to take in and use your criticism when it is balanced.

I know there are listeners out there who just don't like the sound of my voice, but there's not a whole lot I can do about that. Pacing, however is something I can change. Differentiation of characters is another thing I can shift.

There are things like casting, however, that I have less control over. I have turned down a few books where I simply thought I wouldn't do as good a job as someone else (one where the book was set on Mars, but everyone was from the United Kingdom, and another, a memoir written by an African American woman). But sometimes one just doesn't "click" with a book, or one makes a choice that doesn't work in one's interpretation, and that is unfortunate.

In the Romance Audiobooks group at Goodreads, there's a thread where listeners encourage each other to give narrators a second chance. That is a lovely way to go. But I think what's most useful is to be a specific and clear in your criticism as possible. Then we can tell if it's something we can change. But more importantly, YOU can tell if it's something that matters to you as a listener or not, making a review more helpful in making your purchasing choices.

And remember, you can always give feedback to Audible, at least, by returning the book, again with your specific criticisms.

Thanks for listening!

Koeeoaddi wrote: "Really interesting comments, both from listeners and from narrators. I am curious whether narrators get feedback from authors and whether or not authors have any say in who narrates their work.

S..."

Generally, authors have to have it in a contract to get narrator approval. From what I hear that is happening more and more often as audiobook royalties increase. But some producers argue that authors are sometimes not so objective in their choices :) At the same time, most publishers do try to accommodate when possible.

There was a narrator who had a large chorus of fans singing her praises over a series she does. Well, folks, I listened to one of those books, finding the experience downright painful, so tastes do vary, indeed!

Getting back to Renee, I'm not a cat person, but really liked her reading of Homer's Odyssey; if you are a cat person, it'll be "feline porn" for you. Renee also reads the Tai Randolf mystery series, where I think she does a great job with both the often exasperated Tai, and her boyfriend Trey, who was left completely analytical (Data/Spock) after an accident (before the two met). And, if you're wondering how they can have a relationship, he cares about her, it's more that his reaction to every situation is purely logical analysis.

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."

I agree. My son liked hearing Stephen King and I like hearing his comments. But I listened to 11-22-63 and I am not sure he could have done as well as the professional who read the book.

I wanted to listen to Lord of the Flies. I was all set to listen. Then I found out that it was read by the author, William Golding; the reviews of his narration were enough to put me off the book.

I thought Bobcat Goldthwait might be a good choice for future readings... :).

John wrote: "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..."

John, the only time it has happened to me personally has been in the prep process. I contacted the publisher and said, "I will do this if you want me to, but I think there is probably someone else better suited. I even recommended someone for one." It was appreciated, I believe.

In looking back at my recent comments about a couple of the narrators I don't like to hear - David Case and Cynthia Holloway (Vatta's War series) - and thinking about other books I haven't liked, there's a commonality: a thinnish, relatively high-pitched voice. As I think about this, my dislike of this kind of voice is present in real life, too, having known at least a couple of co-workers who sounded 'squeaky and shrill', as I thought of them. So perhaps with me it's just a sound range that is unpleasant to my ears, and as one narrator has commented above, she cannot change her voice, though she can learn different tricks and ways to use it.

Joan Hickson played a wonderful Miss Marple on TV, and a couple of years ago I grabbed her narration of one of the Marple books from Agatha Christie. I remember commenting negatively on the Ravelry audiobook forum that 'she just read the book,' without any changes in voice for the different characters. Well, sometimes that's not such a bad thing, as I've found with more listening, and she did a good job of 'just reading the book;' it was pleasurable to hear her voice and envision the TV episode.

It also seems that a production studio can make a big difference in an audiobook. Often you can tell if a recording was made in the late 90s or early in the 2000s, even if the recording doesn't have the so-annoying leftovers from when it was on tape, reminding you to turn the tape. James Marsters started the narrations of The Dresden Files books quite a few years ago, and I and many others listened because we like his acting and his voice, in spite of those early recordings being full of mouth noises; the more recent books have been done without those sounds coming through - either James has learned or the production is improved, or both.

I am not good about posting even short reviews at Audible, or even here; I feel others are better at describing their reactions. I will have to try to be more helpful both to other listeners and to narrators.

CatBookMom wrote: "Joan Hickson played a wonderful Miss Marple on TV, and a couple of years ago I grabbed her narration of one of the Marple books from Agatha Christie. I remember commenting negatively on the Ravelry audiobook forum that 'she just read the book,' without any changes in voice for the different characters."

I'm re-reading the Poirot and Miss Marple series in audio and I just cannot get into her narrations. She just read the book and EVERYBODY sounds the same, which in this day and age (when we're used to narrators doing different voices for different characters), it's jarring. I let my husband listen to the sample and he almost died laughing because she portrayed everybody the same - young women, men, children, etc.

I hope they re-record those audios one of these days with a new narrator.

John wrote: "Are they? I've listened to her reading Grafton, and I could swear they weren't, unless those abridged ones are older titles in the series where Mary P. read the full text (earlier)?"

I went back and rechecked and they have both. Mary Peiffer does the unabridged ones up to a certain point, then Judy Kaye does. And apparently she narrated a bunch of the earlier ones in abridged form. I tried to see something about Mary Peiffer's life to see if she died or something, like Anna Fields :-(, but didn't find anything.

D.G. wrote: "I'm re-reading the Poirot and Miss Marple series in audio and I just cannot get into her narrations. She just read the book and EVERYBODY sounds the same, which in this day and age (when we're used to narrators doing different voices for different characters), it's jarring..."

That´s exactly the problem with The Black Company. The only difference being that you can hear narrator is trying to sound different but it´s simply not working. And he´s trying to change voice in a completely inappropriate occasions.
I´m fighting with this audiobook for two days already.. I´m completely focused on narrator´s voice and not on the book at all. I am really close to giving it up (not the book, but the audio edition).

I´m listening to Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning and enjoying so far. I already read paperback so I know the story. Still, it´s nice. The narrator is doing all kind of different sounds. Sometimes it´s almost like she´s not alone (you can tell it is, though).

John wrote: "There was a narrator who had a large chorus of fans singing her praises over a series she does. Well, folks, I listened to one of those books, finding the experience downright painful, so tastes do..."

You and I have spoken of this before I love her narration and you can't stand it, just goes to show different tastes.

CBM- I agree there are certain pitches in voices that annoy me too and I think that is personal too.

Lára wrote: "I´m listening to Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning and enjoying so far. I already read paperback so I know the story."

If you are liking this one, you'd love #4 and #5 with the dual narration. Those are awesome!

D.G. wrote: "I'm re-reading the Poirot and Miss Marple series in audio and I just cannot get into her narrations. She just read the book and EVERYBODY sounds the same, which in this day and age (when we're used to narrators doing different voices for different characters), it's jarring. I let my husband listen to the sample and he almost died laughing because she portrayed everybody the same - young women, men, children, etc.

I hope they re-record those audios one of these days with a new narrator."

Yes, I agree. Recently I bought the Hickson version of *Nemesis* Nemesis and couldn't stand it. Hickson's voice was uneven, almost quavery - she may have been ill. Audible returned my credit, and I discovered a 2009 version by Rosalind Ayers in my Audible library, which was most enjoyable. BTW, neither of these versions is now available for sale.

And for our future enjoyment, apparently a version narrated by Emilia Fox will be released on 3/26/13. I'm wondering if this is really a new recording or a re-release.

CatBookMom wrote: about Calculated in Death..... Funny I thought it was me.... I love Susan's work, and have listened to authors just based on her reading, but something is off on the audio on this one. Wanted to put it on (slightly) fast forward,. She does a great job as always...but it's like the recording equipment is bad.

OMG! I just checked and the book I'm up to next in the Miss Marple series - 4.50 from Paddington - will be released in audio at the end of this month! Yay!

The one narrated by Joan Hickson is not even available.

Jackie wrote: "CatBookMom wrote: about Calculated in Death..... Funny I thought it was me.... I love Susan's work, and have listened to authors just based on her reading, but something is off on the audio on thi..."

OK, not just me, not just you. We're apparently hearing the same thing.

CatBookMom wrote: "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."

That makes me nervous to listen! What's the totally running time? Is it significantly longer than the others?

There are far more narrators I love than ones I don't. I'm currently listening to Polar Star narrated by Frank Muller who is always fantastic. I think he died not too long ago.

lostime4me wrote: "One of my all time favorite narrators is Xe Sands. She did the Nightwalker series by Jacquelyn Frank & a few of Anne Stuart's Ice series. I know that she has a very diverse selection that she's n..."

Thanks, lostime4me! Your support means so much to me.

As Karen said earlier, I recognize that my voice just isn't going to work for everyone. But where feedback becomes integral to professional growth is when there are specific delivery issues called out over a broad number of reviews. If I notice that many listeners over different books are calling out, for example, a pacing issue, that gives me something to think about in terms of the effect my delivery is having and whether it's something I should consider working on/shifting.

Sara ♥ wrote: "CatBookMom wrote: "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..."

Just under 13 hours; the last two books have been 20-30 minutes longer (according to Audible). I found that either I got used to the slightly slower voice as I went on through the first part, or the phenomenon went away. By the time I switched to the 2nd part, I didn't notice it any more.

CatBookMom wrote: "Just under 13 hours; the last two books have been 20-30 minutes longer (according to Audible). I found that either I got used to the slightly slower voice as I went on through the first part, or the phenomenon went away. By the time I switched to the 2nd part, I didn't notice it any more."

That's promising! I'm still working through it in print... waiting for the audio from the library!

lostime4me wrote: "One of my all time favorite narrators is Xe Sands. She did the Nightwalker series by Jacquelyn Frank & a few of Anne Stuart's Ice series. I know that she has a very diverse selection that she's n..."

Thank you for the kind mention, lostime4me!

Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "There are far more narrators I love than ones I don't. I'm currently listening to Polar Star narrated by Frank Muller who is always fantastic. I think he died not too long ago."

A few years back he had a motorcycle accident that left him fairly severely disabled, dying a while after that. His narration of Motherless Brooklyn remains my all time "best" audiobook.

John wrote: "Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "There are far more narrators I love than ones I don't. I'm currently listening to Polar Star narrated by Frank Muller who is always fantastic. I think he died not too long..."

Oh, that's awful! He has a beautiful rich voice.