A book I want to read but the narrator is ruining it

[John, Moderator]

The early part of the book is supposed to be a bit grim, focusing on Fikry's bitterness.

[Robin P]

I recently returned Attachments because the way the narrator did the 2 main characters, both women, I couldn't tell them apart. I just know with another narrator I would have enjoyed it.

[Stephanie]

If I don't like the reader, I get the ebook and use TTS now. That said, I almost exclusively purchase scifi/fantasy/horror. I agree that not everything a very good narrator does is great. Sword of Shannara was just OK mostly because Mr Brick didn't differentiate characters very well, so unless you've read the book, you may have trouble figuring out who is who for about the first 1/3 of the book.

I actually LIKE the drama that is inflected in readings by ACTORS (and Mr. Brick is one). It often gives more life to the story than it would on the page.

[Sandra]

Stephanie wrote: "If I don't like the reader, I get the ebook and use TTS now. That said, I almost exclusively purchase scifi/fantasy/horror. I agree that not everything a very good narrator does is great. Sword ..."

I like drama, too, if it's well done. I don't think Scott Brick has any acting ability. He sounds like I'd sound if I tried to read dramatically... lousy and fake.

[Scott S.]

Are you single, Sandra? If I can find Bobby (the resident Brick hater) I think we may have a match.

LOL

[John, Moderator]

In the spirit of the thread title, I'm currently listening to a book Room at the Inn, a mystery series set in Buffalo (although this one's actually in Vermont). The narrator sounds like many guys I know from New Jersey (where I lived much of my life) instead. The print book would have been a much better decision!

[Sandra]

J. wrote: "Are you single, Sandra? If I can find Bobby (the resident Brick hater) I think we may have a match.

LOL"

Yes, lol, but I'm almost 75 so I don't do match making any more. Ha.

[[deleted user]]

You can be his wicked grandmother and send him birthday gifts. One Scott Brick narration a year, and he's locked in the basement until he finishes the book.

[Scott S.]

I still don't think anyone should be able to identify a bad narrator until they've heard the gold standard for poor narration... Casey Affleck.

[Sandra]

Jennifer (Horrendously off-topic and proud of it!) wrote: "You can be his wicked grandmother and send him birthday gifts. One Scott Brick narration a year, and he's locked in the basement until he finishes the book."

lol

[Michael]

Jim wrote: "A professional, talented narrator can make even a mediocre book's audio format entertaining and worth the time and effort expended to listen.

An amateurish, unskilled narrator will make even a gre..."
That is definitely the truth! I find myself listening to Larry Corriea books just to hear Bronson Pinchot, even though I've been bitterly disappointed by the books themselves. I know a lot of people love his books, and I don't begrudge it.

Jeanie wrote: "Brick is part of the ensemble cast in Ender's Game and his reading was appropriate for the sections he read so I enjoyed it. But he often approaches books as a dramatic reading and puts a little t..."

Yes, that does seem to describe his narration. I don't mind it, but that is a good description.