Audiobooks discussion

Barbara wrote: "I generally don't like authors reading their own works either but two major exceptions are Bill Bryson and Frank McCourt. "

Interesting. I can't tolerate Bill Bryson's narration. I think he has adenoids. He speaks like someone whose nose is permanently blocked. He also has a very monotonous voice. I absolutely love his books, but cannot listen to his narration. I had to stop listening to At Home: A Short History of Private Life. But I have read several comments from listeners who love his narration.

Thx, Java!

I heard a negative opinion about Bryson's reading from someone else recently, Aileen. His voice is definitely unusual, an interesting mix of American Iowa flavored with living in England for a long time. But, for me, it's very appealing. And, I like his emphasis, pauses, etc. These differences in opinion, though, are some of the most interesting things about discussion.

Aileen wrote: Interesting. I can't tolerate Bill Bryson's narration. ..."

With one notable exception - In a Sunburned Country - I too have found his narrations to be terrible. A Short History of Nearly Everything was so poorly done I couldn't finish it.

My energy's running a little low today, so I'll cop another review I wrote on Amazon back in 2006:

Neither Here Nor There (Travels in Europe)
by Bill Bryson
One Star
Audiobook version is a bomb

When purchasing audiobooks, I normally follow a simple but very effective rule: never, never, never buy an audiobook read by the author. Even if the author is a talented writer, he/she is invariably a terrible narrator. Always look for audiobooks performed by experienced readers, as in Bryson's own "Notes From a Small Island" and "A Walk in the Woods", read by Ron Mclarty.

In Bryson's case I made a rare exception when I listened to "In a Sunburned Country" - the audio version had received reasonable reviews and his performance was indeed adequately entertaining. For this reason I assumed that "Neither Here Nor There" would be equally enjoyable. I was wrong. Bryson's deadpan monologue makes it sound as though he was bored out of his mind while reading this book. Passages that may have seemed amusing in the written version are herein delivered in a sleep-inducing monotone. The sardonically comedic talent he displayed in his reading of "In a Sunburned Country" is totally lacking. I would recommend this audiobook only as a cure for insomnia.

I'm reading At Home: A Short History of Private Life in print, and feel that the humor comes through better this way than the audiobook.

Yes, that's exactly what I guessed about "Neither Here Nor There" - that it might be more humorous in print. I never did pick up the print copy to give it a try.

At the moment, I'm in the process of foregoing an audiobook in favor of the print version. I started listening to "The World's Greatest Sleuth", book 5 in the "Holmes on the Range" series by Steve Hockensmith. The narration is horrible, like an overacted conversation from "Green Acres". If Pat Buttram were still alive and tried to listen to it, I bet he'd hate it too. I put it down after an hour and ordered the print version.

I know from previous entries in the series that the plots are interesting and amusing. I'm guessing the same will be true of "Sleuth". I just hope I can keep the voices of that awful narration out of my mind while I'm reading it.

Kent,

I agree with Amy and Julie. You have here some great posts--not the least of which is, of course, the list of your personally favorite audiobook readers. Have you ever considered making your database generally accessible on the web? I think it would be extremely helpful to be able to look up audiobook readers (and the characters they read for, if the audiobook enlists a true cast of readers) just as one can look up an actor's list of credits on the Internet Movie Database. I'm not suggesting you go so far as to catalog every single audiobook reader whoever took part in recording a book, but you might inspire someone else--that is, someone with much more technical knowledge of cyberspace than I possess--to do so. Such a database could even include a ratings system like yours, but it would also allow other audiobook fans to rate readers as well.

Carlos JP wrote: "Kent,

I agree with Amy and Julie. You have here some great posts--not the least of which is, of course, the list of your personally favorite audiobook readers. Have you ever considered making yo..."

Hi Carlos,
In case you haven't seen it yet, there's an excellent compilation of narrators on the Audiofile website here:

http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/gvpa...

The "Narrator Interviews" have links to their "Complete Audiographies", and sometimes include sample recordings. It's a great resource for info on readers.

Big Al Mintaka

PS: I should have mentioned that registration for the "Web Pass" required to read book reviews is free. There aren't any strings as far as I can see. They ask for your email address but there's an opt-out for receiving email messages from them. The narrator interviews don't require any kind of registration.

R. wrote: "Sandra, you're right about authors not being good readers. During the many years I have been listening to and reviewing audiobooks, I've given a lot of thought to the question of who make the best ..."

Totally agree with your assessment of Ian Carmichael's reading of Wodehouse. He also butchers the Lord Peter Wimsey books :(
Trouble is, it can be hard to find those books with a different narrator.

Thanks, Alan!

It's late now, but I'm looking forward to checking out the link very soon! It does sound like it will prove to be an excellent resource.

Warm regards

I did a review on Davina Porter on my blog, [email protected] and also on Bill Bryson.
I really like Bill Bryson's reading of his own books.
I agree he does sometimes pronounce words through his nose. And he's acquired a faux British accent. I suppose from living so many years across the pond. I favor his books more though when read by Richard Matthews. I can't tolerate William Roberts reading Down Under. I think Robert's sounds like he's trying to hard and gives inflections where they aren't needed. The tone of his voice isn't that great either. I've listened to A Short History of Nearly Everything at least a dozen times. Richard Matthews is well, just awesome. Wish he did all of Bryson's books.
I have to agree with some of you that usually it's best that the author not read their own work. I don't even know why they do it. Maybe to save money? lol
JennieM

R. wrote: "Sandra,

Before posting my complete list, I can use some advice from someone regarding HTML codes. I'd like to post the list in a four-column format, listing names alphabetically, followed by three..."

Have you tried to google 'html code made ez' years ago I found a very easy to follow lessons, I still have it after all these years. It has the codes for making the columns which is fairly ez to do. I got lost when they started the CS which is suppose to be more efficient. But I think (not sure) that most browsers will still read html code.
jm

R. wrote: "John wrote: "Myla Goldberg does a great job reading her book Bee Season."

Well, I was merely generalizing when I said that most writers don't read their own books well. I'll stand by that observat..."

Thanks for mentioning that kindle will read the book. I did not know that. Synthesized reading use to be horrible. So do you think it's improved? What about volume, is that pretty good on kindle??
Thanks
JM

John wrote: "Beth: Thanks, I shall consider giving King a try at reading something other than Stephanie Plum.

S G: I would be willing to participate in a narrator rating scheme, but I doubt I'd go by a number ..."

I like Lorelei King's reading of Stephanie Plum but I think she is to breathy sounding when reading Patricia Briggs series. Overall her voice is not unpleasant. I'll add here an unpopular opinion, I don't like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books. I find them vulgar, and too much swearing. To each his own I guess.

S.G wrote: "I did not mean to put you on the spot John. But if there was a rating for the narration, I would look into work that I might otherwise not try if I found a high rating for the narrator.

If it was..."

That is a really good idea. I wonder if the producers though would find it too expensive to have more than one narrator rendition of the same book. They earn a pretty high fee. I also would like the option to pick from different narrators.
JennieM

I would really love and appreciate it if some of you would visit my blog [email protected]
because I only started it a couple months ago. I'm still struggling with trying to figure out how to make it all work. I have people visit but no one is leaving a response. I would like other opinions on what I think.
I really don't even know if a reply box is showing for visitors. I ran a test and had too many links so I took them all down and did a search by alphabet. Think I messed up by putting it by first name. So I need opinions on that. I'm wondering if I should just add another list with 'by last names' and a list of authors and books. Really need some input on this and would appreciate it. Don't worry about hurting my feelings. I don't have any. lol.
I really like this site and so glad that I found it. xxx

R. wrote: "John,

I haven't encountered the name "Jon McDonough," but I would recognize George Guidall's voice the instant I heard it.

Here's a picture of Guidall reading that I found on the web about ten y..."

Thanks for sharing this picture. I really like it and he is such a good reader. I haven't put any photos like this or books on my blog because I'm not sure of the copy write legalities of it. Although I couldn't resist the one of Henry Bernstein. Imagine a man in his 90's writing such wonderful and touching books.
JM

R. wrote: "Sandra,

Before posting my complete list, I can use some advice from someone regarding HTML codes. I'd like to post the list in a four-column format, listing names alphabetically, followed by three..."

Sounds like you need to use a table, the html is pretty easy, table for a table tag tr for the rows and td for the cells in each row, then close all your tags and you'll be fine.


Name a1131122223323232
Name b1131122223323232


http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_ta...

Javasapien wrote: "Simon Vance also goes by Richard Matthews sometimes. (Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything).

I agree that Davina Porter's narration on the Outlander Series (and a couple other things I'v..."

Agreed!

George Guidall's reading of Stephen King's Dark Tower series is amazing and brings the characters alive and even if you've read it before it's like hearing it for the first time.

Continuity of reader in a series is SO important. the third book in the series is read by Stephen King and is hard to get through because comparatively, he is awful. Fortunately, the rest of the series goes back to George Guidall. If it hadn't I would have never finished it.