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

[✨Susan✨]

I am more than half way done and I had to stop. I know I would like the characters but the narrator is putting such a terrible voice to everyone it feels like I'm in school and the old, male, monotone teacher is reading it for a test. Argh. Going to buy the book.

[Joyce]

When I first started listening to audio books I quickly learned to listen before buying because some of the readers are wonderful and some can drive you nuts! If you got it from audible they will sometimes give a refund.

[Bobby]

Susan wrote: "I am more than half way done and I had to stop. I know I would like the characters but the narrator is putting such a terrible voice to everyone it feels like I'm in school and the old, male, monot..."

I'm totally curious. What book...and who was reading it?

[Michael]

Maybe get the kindle version and use text to voice (if you have a kindle). Maybe that will be easier to listen to :p

[Dee]

The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry

and its narrated by Scott Brick (per audible) - so the bad narrator comments intrigue me, since he was/is well known

[[deleted user]]

Bobby will be thrilled.

[Kristie]

Yeah, Bobby is really shy about his feelings on Scott Brick. :)

[Bobby]

I KNEW IT!!! I'm not going to say anything else because apparently, (haha) I've said plenty. Let me just say, I empathize. "Argh" indeed.

[Trish]

I have abandoned books after the first chapter. There's a female narrator with a throaty (smoker) voice--like nails on a chalkboard!
I now check reviews before I'll purchase one.

[✨Susan✨]

Dee wrote: "The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry

and its narrated by Scott Brick (per audible) - so the bad narrator comments intrigue me, since he was/is well known"

He is so loved by many and I have listened to him on other books with no problem that is why I did not preview first. Audible always refunds. Getting it on kindle or paperback.

[Jonette]

I felt the same way about the narrator of Fifty Shades of Grey horrible!

[Jane]

Susan wrote: "Dee wrote: "The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry

and its narrated by Scott Brick (per audible) - so the bad narrator comments intrigue me, since he was/is well known"

He is so loved by..."

A book I listened to The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America was narrated by Scott Brick also. While I really liked his narration it seemed improved by increasing the speed to 1.25. Just a thought. :o)

[Kristie]

Shelley (Goodreads is All About the $$$) wrote: "Susan wrote: "Dee wrote: "The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry

and its narrated by Scott Brick (per audible) - so the bad narrator comments intrigue me, since he was/is well known"

He ..."

I forgot he narrated The Devil in the White City. I listened to him narrate another nonfiction, Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith, on 2x speed, and I too thought he was fine.

[Jane]

Kristie wrote: "I forgot he narrated The Devil in the White City. I listened to him narrate another nonfiction, Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith, on 2x speed, and I too thought he was fine."

Yeah, while I loved Devil in the White City, some parts seemed to drag, both because of the narration and because of the sheer volume of the description of minutiae in some parts. All in all, though, it was awesome.

[Stacy]

Jonette wrote: "I felt the same way about the narrator of Fifty Shades of Grey horrible!"

I agree. That is the only book I have ever sent back to Audible. They gave me a different audiobook with no questions asked.

[John, Moderator]

I have never heard the (in)famous Mr. Brick read anything, so have been looking forward to trying this one. It'll be a library book.

[Kristie]

John wrote: "I have never heard the (in)famous Mr. Brick read anything, so have been looking forward to trying this one. It'll be a library book."

Right now I'm listening to him narrate Helter Skelter. So far I've only heard him narrate non-fiction, and I think he's fine. It might be his fiction narration for which people have a problem?

[Jeanie]

I really enjoy his narration in the Ender's Game and sequels. But nearly went crazy listening to his overly dramatic and oddly phrased reading of Plum Island. When a book fits his style it's great, but when it doesn't it can ruin the experience.

[Julia]

The narrator for The House of Hades is terrible, while the narrator for the first three, Joshua Swanson, books actually did a good job handling the various characters.

[Catherine]

Ok people, this discussion has sparked my curiosity. I have just downloaded Tonight I Said Goodbye from the library read by the we-love-to-hate-him Scott Brick. I'm in the mood for some suspense and haven't listened to anything he's read so I'll give it a go.

[Jan]

I'm not a fan of Brick - I'm trying to get through Six Years narrated by him at the moment. I just picked up the book today at the library and might give up on the CD's. This is my second book narrated by him and I doubt I'll choose another.

[[deleted user]]

Could some of the discomfort with his voice be caused by medication he's taking or changes to the sound of his voice? Or did he sound exactly the same before his diagnosis?

[Scott S.]

I thought the Audible sample for said book sounded great, but I haven't heard a Scott Brick narration that I didn't enjoy. I think 62 hours of Atlas Shrugged proved his isn't a voice I'll tire of.

I've only found a couple of audiobooks that were narrated poorly enough to make me quit. It usually has to be a combination of bad book & bad narrator. The closest I ever came to quitting a good book was Casey Affleck's narration of Sex on the Moon, but the story intrigued me enough to muscle through.

[Margaret]

Val McDermid has rewritten Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey and an online book group is going to discuss it. I wanted it on audio (eyesight). Luckily, I checked Audible's blessed audio sample before ordering. The narrator sounds like "fingernails on a chalkboard". I have to read it on paper.

[[deleted user]]

Usually if the author narrates his own book its dreadful

[John, Moderator]

As a generalization, I agree.

[Kristie]

Jayme wrote: "Usually if the author narrates his own book its dreadful"

I've definitely experienced authors who are effective narrators. Obviously for nonfiction, folks like David Sedaris, Tina Fey and Rob Lowe, who are also entertainers, are a delight to listen to. I also thought Barbara Kingsolver and Toni Morrison did admirable jobs when I heard them. In fact, I can't imagine anyone capturing Beloved as the author intended but the author herself.

But this is obviously not always the case. I love Bill Bryson's books, but I can't listen to his voice...nails on the chalk board.

[John, Moderator]

Agreed re: Bryson, but don't find Sedaris much better.

[Patricia]

I have been reading the Mortal Instruments series. After I read each book I listened to them. The first book had a ok narrator. The second and third had a REALLY good narrator and I was getting really into the series. THEN the forth-sixth and final book had HORRIBLE narrators. I hate where they change narrators in the middle of a series.

[[deleted user]]

Kristie wrote: "Jayme wrote: "Usually if the author narrates his own book its dreadful"

I've definitely experienced authors who are effective narrators. Obviously for nonfiction, folks like David Sedaris, Tina Fe..."

haven't listened to any books by those you listed, will have to give it a shot. thanks! :)

[Kristie]

John wrote: "Agreed re: Bryson, but don't find Sedaris much better."

I can see where some might find Sedaris' voice grating, but I think it adds to the character of his writing. I can't imagine anyone else narrating his books.

Sarah Vowell's voice is another one I have to take in small doses. A whole book of it is a LOT for me.

[Jan]

Jayme wrote: "Usually if the author narrates his own book its dreadful"

An exception to this would be Joshilyn Jackson. She did an outstanding job on A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty.

[[deleted user]]

She did indeed, Jan!

[Kristie]

Jayme wrote: "Kristie wrote: "Jayme wrote: "Usually if the author narrates his own book its dreadful"

I've definitely experienced authors who are effective narrators. Obviously for nonfiction, folks like David ..."

Good luck! FYI, the Barbara Kingsolver book I heard her narrate was Flight Behavior. I thought she was good, though I don't think it took a lot of "range" for a narrator to do that book.

If you haven't listened to Bossypants I highly recommend it. Laugh out loud funny.

[[deleted user]]

Jan wrote: "Jayme wrote: "Usually if the author narrates his own book its dreadful"

An exception to this would be Joshilyn Jackson. She did an outstanding job on [book:A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty..."
Nice!! thanks for the suggestion! I can see that maybe I lumped all authors into the crappy narration barrel too soon. :D

[[deleted user]]

I HIGHLY recommend A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty.

[[deleted user]]

Jennifer (Feedback's just another word for we don't give a damn) wrote: "I HIGHLY recommend A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty."

Put it on my to read! thanks!

[Minda]

When I saw this thread, I automatically thought, "This has got to be in reference to 'The Hunger Games' trilogy." The books are great, but I can't understand why a woman who sounds 50 years old was selected to read a book from teenage Catniss Everdeen's viewpoint. Her over enunciation drove me batty.

On the other hand, Raul Esparza did a great job with Stephen King's "Under the Dome" (listening to that huge tome is a lot easier than hauling the print version around!), and Craig Wasson was fantastic reading "11/22/63" by King.

[Sandi]

Cemeterygal wrote: "When I saw this thread, I automatically thought, "This has got to be in reference to 'The Hunger Games' trilogy." The books are great, but I can't understand why a woman who sounds 50 years old was..."

I agree. I felt like a teacher was reading the book to her class. It should have been Katniss telling her story.

[Catherine]

I enjoyed Joshilyn Jackson reading The Girl Who Stopped Swimming She is an excellent narrator of her own work.

[Louise]

Oh Cemeterygal, I LOVED Wasson in "11/22/63" - I even cried at little at the end :-)

I had to return the book after listening for 10 minutes to Geraldine Hughes reading TransAtlantic by Colum McCann, she seemed so overly dramatic and over pronouncing every word, that it drove me nuts!

[Natalie]

I'm probably a little special as far as this subject goes. I can stand most narrators and I've run the gamut of squeaky voices, southern twangs, bad imitation of the opposite sex, and odd miscellaneous accents.

What bothers me the most is the male narrators who try to give the females in the book some high-pitched lilting fairy-like voice. That, for me is the worst. Other than that- I can deal with the narrator, it's generally just the book itself that may rub me the wrong way.

[Karen]

Catherine wrote: "I enjoyed Joshilyn Jackson reading The Girl Who Stopped Swimming She is an excellent narrator of her own work."

I noticed in Jackson's bio that she has a theatre background. That most likely gave her the skills she needs to narrate well. Might be something to check on before buying if you're unsure about an author read.

[Heidi]

I only got about 1 hour into the Hunger Games on audio and had to quit. Luckily for me I already read it in print and loved it. I sure hope those who did not read it already don't judge the book on the audiobook!

[John, Moderator]

Kristie wrote: "John wrote: "Sarah Vowell's voice is another one I have to take in small doses. A whole book of it is a LOT for me."

She's up there with Sedaris and Bryson in the "I'll read a print copy" category.

[Lori]

Dee wrote: "The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry

and its narrated by Scott Brick (per audible) - so the bad narrator comments intrigue me, since he was/is well known"

Miracle Cure by Harlen Coben (read by Scott Brick) is only my second audio book. I feel like I'm part of the club now....not often I get in on the joke this early. :).

Brick was fine for the male voices, but his females sounded like breathless bimbos....which was okay for one character, but not for the young investigative reporter. I was thankful to have picked up the abridged version.

Can't place all the blame on Brick, Coben has a note inside the print version warning readers to pass on this, his first work, unless you are already familiar with his work.

On a positive note, I think Brick would be good with other works. His voice has an uppercrust, British-like demeanor to it. I could see him doing nonfiction well.

[Kristie]

Lori wrote: "Dee wrote: "The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry

and its narrated by Scott Brick (per audible) - so the bad narrator comments intrigue me, since he was/is well known"

Miracle Cure by H..."

Brick does do non-fiction very well. I think I've listened to 3 non-fiction books narrated by them, and all were well done.

[John, Moderator]

Lori wrote: "Dee wrote: "The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry

and its narrated by Scott Brick (per audible) - so the bad narrator comments intrigue me, since he was/is well known"

Miracle Cure by H..."

I found Brick's female Fikry voices were well done.

[Jim]

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 great book's audio format boring and a total waste of listening time.

A great author is not necessarily qualified to narrate the audio format of their work.

[Jeanie]

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 too much "drama" into it. He has that William Shatner thing going where he pauses in odd places and his emphasis always makes me feel there's an inside joke I'm not getting or a dramatic point I'm missing. His reading in The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry was fine, except that his slow somber pace for the first fourth of the book depressed me slightly. After the story lightened up, Brick's reading was fine, but the book itself wasn't really my genre so my enjoyment was less than others who prefer literary fiction.