Matthew’s review of The Light Between Oceans > Likes and Comments
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Great review, Matthew! That's a shame about the audio narration part. Thanks for being honest. There is no way I'm going to listen to this one.
Good to know, because I tried the audiobook and abandoned it...I could not listened to him. I'll have to try the book, as it is still on my TBR, which means I recognized that the narration was the problem...
Ioana - glad to know it's not just me!
Nice review! Thanks for the tip on the audiobook - I had this in my audio queue and perhaps I'll go with print now.
PorshaJo wrote: "Nice review! Thanks for the tip on the audiobook - I had this in my audio queue and perhaps I'll go with print now."
No problem - if I had it to do over again, I would read it instead.
I agree, the narrator was horrible! I know of two people who just quit listening because they couldn't understand him well. I eventually got used to it, but the quiet reading/whispering was torture.
Just goes to show you, everyone is different. I loved the narrator and his quiet delivery. I thought it fit the characters and the story beautifully.
I agree that the narrator was terrible. I read the book and enjoyed it.
Yes, my thoughts exactly about the audio book narrator!!!
I couldn't agree more. The book was beautifully written, and characters were fully explored. The audiobook, on the other hand, was painfully to listen to
My girlfriend turned me onto this book and she is listening to the audio version. She is also having a hard time understanding his accent and is distracted by this. I am enjoying the written story.
I promise I will always be sure my next audiobook is not read by Noah Taylor. Did he have something in his mouth the whole time? Did he walk out of the dentist office and into the recording studio? It's just so bad there has to be an explanation.
Thanks everyone for your replies and input - I see that a few people didn't mind the narration, but overall the feelings about the audiobook. match mine.
I have listened to many books before and since and I have yet to find one that drives me quite as crazy as this one. Well . . . I take that back - the guy that reads a lot of the Jim Butcher Dresden series (who I believe is also an actor) whispered and read slow - even during the action scenes.
Yes, yes, yes!!! The Dresden Files narrator drives me crazy. I stopped listening and will continue reading the actual books, but just FYI - someone mentioned the other day that the further down in the series there is a different (and better) narrator.
Ioana wrote: "Yes, yes, yes!!! The Dresden Files narrator drives me crazy. I stopped listening and will continue reading the actual books, but just FYI - someone mentioned the other day that the further down in ..."
I gave up on the Dresden series after 3 books. People kept saying it gets better, but I thought 3 books was a pretty decent amount "trying". :)
We don't often disagree, but I actually like the narrator! He has that pronounced lisp and yes, he sometimes seems to be whispering, but I just "hear" him as Tom. I tried to read this on the page and just couldn't get into it, but am really enjoying the audio book.
Kandice wrote: "We don't often disagree, but I actually like the narrator! He has that pronounced lisp and yes, he sometimes seems to be whispering, but I just "hear" him as Tom. I tried to read this on the page a..."
Okay, I will let it go this time! But next time you better agree with me! ;)
Matthew wrote: "Okay, I will let it go this time! But next time you better agree with me! ;) ..."
I will do my best, Sir Matthew!
I thought the reader was bad also. I just couldn't make out some of his words. And his voice was so soft I couldn't always hear him. The Catch 22 line is a perfect description!
Michelle wrote: "I thought the reader was bad also. I just couldn't make out some of his words. And his voice was so soft I couldn't always hear him. The Catch 22 line is a perfect description!"
Thanks Michelle! Luckily, I still have yet to run into a narrator as hard to listen to as this one. The narrator of the book I am listening to now (Sunshine) is almost too chipper for the content - and that seems to be nearly as bad!
That makes you wonder how to select the reader for your book. Thank you for sharing your opinion. Great review.
Hahaha!! I like listening to books on audio so the narrator does make a difference! What conclusion did you come up with at the end of the book. I think I would have kept the baby especially since the woman didnt KNOW she was alive. Of course, I would have reported the incidence! It felt like a quick ending and even sadder that the girl showed up after Izzy's death. I love that Lucy understood and forgave. The author definitely knows how to extract sighs!
Well, they might have been going with the narrator's accent since this is set in Australia.
Michelle wrote: "Hahaha!! I like listening to books on audio so the narrator does make a difference! What conclusion did you come up with at the end of the book. I think I would have kept the baby especially since ..."
I tend to feel guilty when the truth is not told - I cannot keep secrets at all! So, I probably would have had to tell the truth no matter how much it hurts or the consequences.
Michelle wrote: "Well, they might have been going with the narrator's accent since this is set in Australia."
Yes . . . but, accents usually don't bother me - in this case, the mumbling and down inflection combined with the accent . . .
There has to be a better narrator from Australia! :)
Soul crushing is a great description!
I agree! At least it crushed my soul! :)
Michelle wrote: "I agree! At least it crushed my soul! :)"
Greta wrote: "Soul crushing is a great description!"
Yes! It is not often I become quite so invested in the ottone of a book - to the point that my actual mood depends on it. This was one of those books.
I really enjoyed the narrator - I thought he nicely reflected Tom's character. I listen to so many audio books that it was nice to hear a different voice then I'm accustomed to. I guess my only complaint was that his voice was a little too quiet sometimes. I definitely in the minority here though.
Amber wrote: "I really enjoyed the narrator - I thought he nicely reflected Tom's character. I listen to so many audio books that it was nice to hear a different voice then I'm accustomed to. I guess my only com..."
I kinda wonder if it is the way each persons mind is set up to respond to sounds. You know how some people get driven crazy my the sound of people chewing. In this case, maybe the sound of his voice is perfect for some, but drives others crazy!
Rebecca wrote: "I loved the audio book lol"
I am glad! I am always happy when a complaint I have about a book is not shared by others. :)
I'm glad it's not just me who can't understand the reader. It's like he is whispering and I miss what he is saying so I don't know what's going on. His voice puts me to sleep.
Sherry wrote: "I'm glad it's not just me who can't understand the reader. It's like he is whispering and I miss what he is saying so I don't know what's going on. His voice puts me to sleep."
Exactly! ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..................
I loved the narrator, but I am a huge fan of Noah Taylor [as an actor] so I am used to his way of speaking, cadence-wise. I felt that his quiet, understated way of speaking fit the character of Tom perfectly. It seems to be a love/hate thing and I totally get how it could be off-putting if you have never heard him before.
Dawn Michelle wrote: "I loved the narrator, but I am a huge fan of Noah Taylor [as an actor] so I am used to his way of speaking, cadence-wise. I felt that his quiet, understated way of speaking fit the character of Tom..."
I think I have only seen him in one thing before, but I don't remember much about the performance.
I have encountered other whispering narrators sense - I think as an "active" audiobook reader - i.e. mowing, driving, walking, etc. while I listen - makes whisperers frustrating for me. Even if it fits the scene, I need to be able to hear what is happening! :)
Matthew wrote: "Dawn Michelle wrote: "I loved the narrator, but I am a huge fan of Noah Taylor [as an actor] so I am used to his way of speaking, cadence-wise. I felt that his quiet, understated way of speaking fi..."
That is true - I wasn't doing anything noisy while listening, so I can see how that would be frustrating.
He was the dad in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the band manager in Almost Famous [he is amazing in that], Shine, The Life Aquatic etc etc.
Dawn Michelle wrote: "Matthew wrote: "Dawn Michelle wrote: "I loved the narrator, but I am a huge fan of Noah Taylor [as an actor] so I am used to his way of speaking, cadence-wise. I felt that his quiet, understated wa..."
Willy Wonka is where I saw him, I believe.
Megan wrote: "Very nice , honest review Matthew!"
Thanks! 😃
Nice review! For me, this was one of those rare cases where I liked the movie better than the book. I love the story, but Im not sure why I ended up preferring the movie.
Kara wrote: "Nice review! For me, this was one of those rare cases where I liked the movie better than the book. I love the story, but Im not sure why I ended up preferring the movie."
I still need to see the movie!
I’m almost exclusively a book listener than reader. The narrator of this book was completely off putting and the book was a DNF as a result. Glad to know I’m not alone.
Karen wrote: "I’m almost exclusively a book listener than reader. The narrator of this book was completely off putting and the book was a DNF as a result. Glad to know I’m not alone."
Too bad it caused you to DNF - it is a decent book, otherwise. Let me know some of your favorite narrators and I will keep my eye out for them.
This book is really a book about bad decisions, fleeting happiness and severe punishments., which lets face it, makes for a difficult read no matter what. Having such a book read aloud by a poor reader would be torture to me.
Elaine wrote: "This book is really a book about bad decisions, fleeting happiness and severe punishments., which lets face it, makes for a difficult read no matter what. Having such a book read aloud by a poor re..."
As an avid audiobook listner, I frequently wonder about books I didn't like. Was it the book or the narrator?
I really loved the audiobook! I had to turn it up loud, but other than that loved it.
Sus wrote: "I really loved the audiobook! I had to turn it up loud, but other than that loved it."
Cool! Glad you liked it! I had it cranked and still had a hard time hearing it.
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Jennifer
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May 14, 2016 07:57PM
Great review, Matthew! That's a shame about the audio narration part. Thanks for being honest. There is no way I'm going to listen to this one.
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Good to know, because I tried the audiobook and abandoned it...I could not listened to him. I'll have to try the book, as it is still on my TBR, which means I recognized that the narration was the problem...
Ioana - glad to know it's not just me!
Nice review! Thanks for the tip on the audiobook - I had this in my audio queue and perhaps I'll go with print now.
PorshaJo wrote: "Nice review! Thanks for the tip on the audiobook - I had this in my audio queue and perhaps I'll go with print now."No problem - if I had it to do over again, I would read it instead.
I agree, the narrator was horrible! I know of two people who just quit listening because they couldn't understand him well. I eventually got used to it, but the quiet reading/whispering was torture.
Just goes to show you, everyone is different. I loved the narrator and his quiet delivery. I thought it fit the characters and the story beautifully.
I agree that the narrator was terrible. I read the book and enjoyed it.
Yes, my thoughts exactly about the audio book narrator!!!
I couldn't agree more. The book was beautifully written, and characters were fully explored. The audiobook, on the other hand, was painfully to listen to
My girlfriend turned me onto this book and she is listening to the audio version. She is also having a hard time understanding his accent and is distracted by this. I am enjoying the written story.
I promise I will always be sure my next audiobook is not read by Noah Taylor. Did he have something in his mouth the whole time? Did he walk out of the dentist office and into the recording studio? It's just so bad there has to be an explanation.
Thanks everyone for your replies and input - I see that a few people didn't mind the narration, but overall the feelings about the audiobook. match mine. I have listened to many books before and since and I have yet to find one that drives me quite as crazy as this one. Well . . . I take that back - the guy that reads a lot of the Jim Butcher Dresden series (who I believe is also an actor) whispered and read slow - even during the action scenes.
Yes, yes, yes!!! The Dresden Files narrator drives me crazy. I stopped listening and will continue reading the actual books, but just FYI - someone mentioned the other day that the further down in the series there is a different (and better) narrator.
Ioana wrote: "Yes, yes, yes!!! The Dresden Files narrator drives me crazy. I stopped listening and will continue reading the actual books, but just FYI - someone mentioned the other day that the further down in ..."I gave up on the Dresden series after 3 books. People kept saying it gets better, but I thought 3 books was a pretty decent amount "trying". :)
We don't often disagree, but I actually like the narrator! He has that pronounced lisp and yes, he sometimes seems to be whispering, but I just "hear" him as Tom. I tried to read this on the page and just couldn't get into it, but am really enjoying the audio book.
Kandice wrote: "We don't often disagree, but I actually like the narrator! He has that pronounced lisp and yes, he sometimes seems to be whispering, but I just "hear" him as Tom. I tried to read this on the page a..."Okay, I will let it go this time! But next time you better agree with me! ;)
Matthew wrote: "Okay, I will let it go this time! But next time you better agree with me! ;) ..."I will do my best, Sir Matthew!
I thought the reader was bad also. I just couldn't make out some of his words. And his voice was so soft I couldn't always hear him. The Catch 22 line is a perfect description!
Michelle wrote: "I thought the reader was bad also. I just couldn't make out some of his words. And his voice was so soft I couldn't always hear him. The Catch 22 line is a perfect description!"Thanks Michelle! Luckily, I still have yet to run into a narrator as hard to listen to as this one. The narrator of the book I am listening to now (Sunshine) is almost too chipper for the content - and that seems to be nearly as bad!
That makes you wonder how to select the reader for your book. Thank you for sharing your opinion. Great review.
Hahaha!! I like listening to books on audio so the narrator does make a difference! What conclusion did you come up with at the end of the book. I think I would have kept the baby especially since the woman didnt KNOW she was alive. Of course, I would have reported the incidence! It felt like a quick ending and even sadder that the girl showed up after Izzy's death. I love that Lucy understood and forgave. The author definitely knows how to extract sighs!
Well, they might have been going with the narrator's accent since this is set in Australia.
Michelle wrote: "Hahaha!! I like listening to books on audio so the narrator does make a difference! What conclusion did you come up with at the end of the book. I think I would have kept the baby especially since ..."I tend to feel guilty when the truth is not told - I cannot keep secrets at all! So, I probably would have had to tell the truth no matter how much it hurts or the consequences.
Michelle wrote: "Well, they might have been going with the narrator's accent since this is set in Australia."Yes . . . but, accents usually don't bother me - in this case, the mumbling and down inflection combined with the accent . . .
There has to be a better narrator from Australia! :)
Soul crushing is a great description!
I agree! At least it crushed my soul! :)
Michelle wrote: "I agree! At least it crushed my soul! :)"Greta wrote: "Soul crushing is a great description!"
Yes! It is not often I become quite so invested in the ottone of a book - to the point that my actual mood depends on it. This was one of those books.
I really enjoyed the narrator - I thought he nicely reflected Tom's character. I listen to so many audio books that it was nice to hear a different voice then I'm accustomed to. I guess my only complaint was that his voice was a little too quiet sometimes. I definitely in the minority here though.
Amber wrote: "I really enjoyed the narrator - I thought he nicely reflected Tom's character. I listen to so many audio books that it was nice to hear a different voice then I'm accustomed to. I guess my only com..."I kinda wonder if it is the way each persons mind is set up to respond to sounds. You know how some people get driven crazy my the sound of people chewing. In this case, maybe the sound of his voice is perfect for some, but drives others crazy!
Rebecca wrote: "I loved the audio book lol"I am glad! I am always happy when a complaint I have about a book is not shared by others. :)
I'm glad it's not just me who can't understand the reader. It's like he is whispering and I miss what he is saying so I don't know what's going on. His voice puts me to sleep.
Sherry wrote: "I'm glad it's not just me who can't understand the reader. It's like he is whispering and I miss what he is saying so I don't know what's going on. His voice puts me to sleep."Exactly! ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..................
I loved the narrator, but I am a huge fan of Noah Taylor [as an actor] so I am used to his way of speaking, cadence-wise. I felt that his quiet, understated way of speaking fit the character of Tom perfectly. It seems to be a love/hate thing and I totally get how it could be off-putting if you have never heard him before.
Dawn Michelle wrote: "I loved the narrator, but I am a huge fan of Noah Taylor [as an actor] so I am used to his way of speaking, cadence-wise. I felt that his quiet, understated way of speaking fit the character of Tom..."I think I have only seen him in one thing before, but I don't remember much about the performance.
I have encountered other whispering narrators sense - I think as an "active" audiobook reader - i.e. mowing, driving, walking, etc. while I listen - makes whisperers frustrating for me. Even if it fits the scene, I need to be able to hear what is happening! :)
Matthew wrote: "Dawn Michelle wrote: "I loved the narrator, but I am a huge fan of Noah Taylor [as an actor] so I am used to his way of speaking, cadence-wise. I felt that his quiet, understated way of speaking fi..."That is true - I wasn't doing anything noisy while listening, so I can see how that would be frustrating.
He was the dad in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the band manager in Almost Famous [he is amazing in that], Shine, The Life Aquatic etc etc.
Dawn Michelle wrote: "Matthew wrote: "Dawn Michelle wrote: "I loved the narrator, but I am a huge fan of Noah Taylor [as an actor] so I am used to his way of speaking, cadence-wise. I felt that his quiet, understated wa..."Willy Wonka is where I saw him, I believe.
Megan wrote: "Very nice , honest review Matthew!"Thanks! 😃
Nice review! For me, this was one of those rare cases where I liked the movie better than the book. I love the story, but Im not sure why I ended up preferring the movie.
Kara wrote: "Nice review! For me, this was one of those rare cases where I liked the movie better than the book. I love the story, but Im not sure why I ended up preferring the movie."I still need to see the movie!
I’m almost exclusively a book listener than reader. The narrator of this book was completely off putting and the book was a DNF as a result. Glad to know I’m not alone.
Karen wrote: "I’m almost exclusively a book listener than reader. The narrator of this book was completely off putting and the book was a DNF as a result. Glad to know I’m not alone."Too bad it caused you to DNF - it is a decent book, otherwise. Let me know some of your favorite narrators and I will keep my eye out for them.
This book is really a book about bad decisions, fleeting happiness and severe punishments., which lets face it, makes for a difficult read no matter what. Having such a book read aloud by a poor reader would be torture to me.
Elaine wrote: "This book is really a book about bad decisions, fleeting happiness and severe punishments., which lets face it, makes for a difficult read no matter what. Having such a book read aloud by a poor re..."As an avid audiobook listner, I frequently wonder about books I didn't like. Was it the book or the narrator?
I really loved the audiobook! I had to turn it up loud, but other than that loved it.
Sus wrote: "I really loved the audiobook! I had to turn it up loud, but other than that loved it."Cool! Glad you liked it! I had it cranked and still had a hard time hearing it.
