Leslie Tavares-Raposo
asked:
Just started listening to the audio version... The narrator's voice is brutal. Slow, slurred and drawn out speech, almost mumbling. I thought maybe it was to depict the state of mind of the character, but sounds like that's just the audio book's narrator's voice. Please tell me the 8+ hours of listening to her is worth it?
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Olivia Barry
I hated the audio so much. Switched to reading, and loved the book. A good narrator can make a huge difference.
Akouto Von
I was so annoyed by the narrator's voice so much that I stopped listening to the audiobook and read the ebook version instead. It felt much better! The book is worth reading though! hah!
Michi
I really had to push myself to finish because the narrator was AWFUL. She would use this laid-back, inarticulate voice for male characters, but then would carry it on sometimes for others. It did not suit their personalities at all! Totally ruined the book in my opinion. Halfway through I had to look up reviews of the narration because I couldn’t believe how bad it was, and according to audible, she does a great job. What? How? What a relief to see here that others share my opinion.
Lisa McCarthy
I love Xe Sands! She was the main reason I read the book. Ms Sands brought the book to life!
elisha
I was annoyed by her voice/reading as well. But to answer your question, yes, it is absolutely worth it!
Sheri Hursh
I just finished this. Xe Sands is one of my favorite narrators and I thought she did a stellar job with this book. Isn't it funny how we all have such different perspectives?
Leslie Tavares-Raposo
Not a question... just following up on my post. I love that we have such different opinions towards the narration. It just goes to show how personal reading (and listening!) to books really is. Thank you everyone for your personal thoughts. Happy reading!
Margaret Schwind
I also started with the audio version and about 10 minutes in started asking the same question. I gave it a try but couldn't finish it - I don't think I even got to the halfway point. There may be a good story in there, but I'm going to have to get the print version, since I find the narrator sufficiently annoying that I just can't finish and am returning it.
Karen.Books.Cats.Travel.Food.
Oh wow I thought I was the only one, I returned the audio and finished with e book. I think I would have liked this more if I just read the whole thing.
cdundas
Definitely agree. Narration is whispery, gravelly. It was also very fast, so I slowed it down. Despite that, I am enjoying the book. I've read other reviews of this narrator, and many like her, and she has actually won some awards. I guess to each his own.
Tammie
Really bothered me too!
Maggie
I've always enjoyed Ms. Sands narration To each his own of course.
Stefanie MagMag
This intrigues me because I just started and I love the narration. I'm still on disc one though so maybe I will change my mind. 🤷♀️ The last book I HATED because of the narrator and others had the opposite reaction as well. Kooky!
Lynda
I loved this book, and Xe Sands was the perfect narrator for it. Five stars.
❀Heather❀Brown❀
She ruins every book I listen to narrated by her .. how has she won all these awards??? Seriously the slurring, mumbling, and high pitch to low is torture to listen to. Don’t even try regular speed! Oof! Even sped up it’s just as bad. She narrated The Once and Future Me and I can’t even listen to the audio.
Bethany
The only thing that bugged me was how she pronounced Mary J Blige- couldn't believe no one corrected that.
Helen Washer
I’m listening to The Prayer Box now and I wish I had just gotten the book. XE Sands is so breathy and mumbly, I have a super hard time understanding her. It’s a shame because I’m enjoying the book.
Linda Schodowsky
I wish I would've read this before I purchased the audiobook. It gave me a headache and I had to quit listening to it after getting more than halfway through. I actually slow this down to 65x because some of the narration was so mumbled and words were not annunciated properly. That's when I started to give me a headache and I quit all together. This is the first book I ever quit because of the narration.
Lihsa
I listened to it at 1.80 speed. It was the only way I could bear it.
Carol
So glad you posted this. I found the narrator’s cadence to be particularly hard to follow. It was fast in some places and almost slurred in others. I thought it was just me!
Tanja
I dislike the narrator so much, but books seems really good so far, I'm hoping I'll stick to it. She sounds mumbly and annoyed, like do I really have to read this?
Joann
I also stopped listening she mumbled and slurred her way through the book. Audio versions it is so important to get the right narrator. Awful and I hope she doesn't do anymore books I finished it with a print book as well.
Ann
I listen to my audio books in my car on the drive back and forth to work. I kept turning the volume up and down to try to understand some of the dialogue. It seems more understandable on my phone but still slurred every now and then. I am interested in the story so will continue to listen but may have to get another for the drive.
Laura Cannon
The book is worth it-just read it.
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