Witches, Weres, and Vamps, Oh MY! discussion
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Can the Narrator Make All The Difference?
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I think the narrator can make all the difference. My highest rated audiobooks were more enjoyable and maybe picked up a star (or at least half a star) more than if I had read the book myself. I read Storm Front after trying to get my hands on the audio version and failing. Maybe I will listen to book 2 next.
I agree, it can make a big difference, plus and minus. There have been a few books that I just couldn't listen to because I did not enjoy the reader. And a few times when the publisher changed readers in the middle of the series and I had to read the rest on paper. Once the voices are so clear in my mind the change is really jarring. I remember that happening in the middle of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books and I just hated the new narrator. Maybe if I'd heard her first it would have been ok... One narrator who really adds to the tale is the woman who reads the Kinsey Milhone alphabet mysteries by Sur Grafton. She's just perfect for Kinsey, smart and wry. I can't quite decide how I feel about the woman who narrates Cassandra Clare's City of Bones. She sounds right for the main part, but is sometimes stilted. More like a regular reader than an actor, you know? But I am enjoying it.
Thanks for the Butcher/Marsters idea! Any other suggestions?
I agree about narrator making the difference. For Storm Front, I tried reading the book twice before I finally finished it on audio. I just couldn't get into the book, even though I was sure I'd love it. Somehow, James Marsters MADE Harry Dresden for me. He got the character and his motivations, so he made it believeable. Now I plan to read the whole series on audio, as long as Marsters narrates.
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Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy is excellently narrated. If you want to read the book I highly recommend the audio version. The author uses a lot of dry humor and the narrator (can't remember his name off hand) NAILS it!
Thanks guys! I try to get my audiobooks from the library, but there isn't much UF or PRN on the shelves, mostly suspense/mysteries and nonfiction. If I know what to request I can get stuff more to my liking from throughout the library system. This helps!
There are actually some books I don't want to listen to as audiobooks because I'm afraid the voices on the tape are going to corrupt the ones I've created in my own imagination when I read the book.
I read STORM FRONT some years ago when it first came out. I HATED it!! Thought it was one of the worst things I'd read. A friend convinced me to try the 2nd book a few years later and I'm glad I did. When STORM FRONT was released on audio a few years ago I decided to try it again specifically because James Marsters was the reader. He turned a book I hated into one I actually liked. Proof positive that a reader makes ALL the difference!
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I have my favorite audio book readers. I will even pick up books read by specfic authors.
Another really special one is The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy series read by author Douglas Adams. Listening to it made me catch a lot of jokes and irony that my eyes would have skimmed over, and as the author, Adams got all of the emphasis just right. Hilarious! (Miss him! Will read the new book in print from the library.) Also, comedians' books are always more fun read by the author than in print.
I feel left out...I've never listened to an audio book. I want to but I just haven't gotten around to it yet. I carry my books around with me. I would want to put the book on my mp3 player but my computer isn't working right so it makes things difficult. Maybe when I get a new computer I'll feel more confident to get an audiobook. lol
Witches, Weres, and Vamps, Oh MY!
Books mentioned in this topic
Storm Front (other topics)Skulduggery Pleasant (other topics)
For you Audiobookers out there - did you enjoy reading this book or listening more? Any other books you've listened to that you liked more because of the narrator?