For audiobooks, does it matter who reads them?

Haven't ever read (heard) one, though am now going to be intrigued enough to search. My initial assumption is sure it makes a difference. I'd keep listening to anything voiced by say, Michael Dorn, or Ewen McGregor, or Christopher Lee.

And as much as I love them, would probably stop listening if voiced by Cyndi Lauper, Gillbert Gottfried, or Angela Lansbury.
 
Just to mention one more title to avoid . . .

One of my favorite books is Norman Maclean's Young Men and Fire. I actually use the (true) story from the book as a teaching tool in some of my classes.

The Highbridge version available at Audible.com, though, is simply atrocious.

They got Maclean's son to John to read the work so I was really excited to grab it the moment it came out. After 30 minutes, though, I just had to switch it off.

John Maclean read this extraordinary book like it was the annual report of a potash manufacturer. He put no life in it at all. His voice was as flat and nasal as you could possibly imagine. I deleted the file so there would be no chance of my accidentally listening to it again. I didn't want the audiobook to spoil an otherwise magnificent piece of writing for me.

This is one that you should get in print.
 
Skepticemea said:
My finger has hovered over the "Purchase" button a couple of times for these. As a fan of the Granada TV series with Hardwicke and Brett I'd be fascinated to hear whether these work for you.
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I was just thinking, as I read the previous few posts, that I'll need to remember to post my impressions here. I'm still debating whether to buy them on CD or download to my Nook (for which I have the Kindle app). Download is cheaper, but my Nook doesn't have the greatest sound. :(

I was disappointed to learn that Hardwicke didn't record as many stories as I'd initially imagined; several of the sets available are duplicates or repackaging. Currently available are three sets of six each, plus one, "The Dying Detective", which is part of an anthology of detective stories, all with different authors and different readers. OTOH, the stories he did record are mostly among those generally considered the best of the canon (though there are a couple of stinkers: "The Sussex Vampire" and "The Creeping Man" :(). I don't know whether he read any others that aren't currently available for purchase.

Meanwhile, here are a couple of samples one of the publishers has posted on Youtube:

Excerpt from "The Empty House":



Excerpt from "A Scandal in Bohemia":

 
I once went on a road trip with a friend. We rented a Tom Clancy audiobook read by David Ogden Stiers. My friend remarked that it was the first audio book that she had heard in which different people did the various voices.

It's a shame that Stiers has only narrated a couple of books. He is amazingly good at it and a good narrator does add much to the enjoyment of an audio book.

-- Roger
 
jadebox said:
I once went on a road trip with a friend. We rented a Tom Clancy audiobook read by David Ogden Stiers. My friend remarked that it was the first audio book that she had heard in which different people did the various voices.

It's a shame that Stiers has only narrated a couple of books. He is amazingly good at it and a good narrator does add much to the enjoyment of an audio book.

-- Roger
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A wonderfully cultured tone, stentorian at times, yet velvety and embracing at others. Rather like Stephen Fry, he could read the ingredients list from a shampoo bottle and make it interesting.
 
Isn't it funny how somebody with a "good voice" is so recognisable? I just "heard" him speaking as I read the post. I'm sure I'd like him as a reader.
 
Lolly said:
Isn't it funny how somebody with a "good voice" is so recognisable? I just "heard" him speaking as I read the post. I'm sure I'd like him as a reader.
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Patrick Stewart is another. I have his "A Christmas Carol" and it's wonderful.
 
Spektator said:
Ben Stein's reading of the P.G. Wodehouse novels is simply depressing.
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Just had to fix that.

To SpitfireIX, can't you use earphones with the Nook? I have an Ipad, and it works great with earbuds.
 
Olowkow said:
To SpitfireIX, can't you use earphones with the Nook? I have an Ipad, and it works great with earbuds.
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I could, and I'll be buying a pair eventually (right now I have a set of "good" headphones that are regular USB, though they're falling apart, literally), but I'd kind of like to have the option of playing through a quality sound system (not that I currently have one). It is an option I'm considering, though. ETA: I'm considering just buying headphones and downloading to Nook with Kindle app, that is.
 
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Roland19 said:
As long as the person reading the book doesn't sound bored. That's what usually kills it for me.
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Same here. Look, reader, you're an actor. It shouldn't matter what the gig is, a job is a job so do your best. Also, if the book is about a subject you're not all that familiar with, do a little bit of background research, like how to pronounce common personal and place names. Yes, that includes you Brits reading American works as well.

The worst audio experience I've had recently was listening to a thriller in which a male narrator read all the parts EXCEPT for one female character, who was voiced by a woman. Really distracting to hear one voice reading the bulk of the text only to be interrupted occasionally by the female - especially when the male voice read "she said".
 
Retrograde said:
Same here. Look, reader, you're an actor. It shouldn't matter what the gig is, a job is a job so do your best. Also, if the book is about a subject you're not all that familiar with, do a little bit of background research, like how to pronounce common personal and place names. Yes, that includes you Brits reading American works as well.
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That's one reason I'm really looking forward to Edward Hardwicke reading Sherlock Holmes; he might be described as having at least a passing familiarity with the material. :D
 
Skepticemea said:
A wonderfully cultured tone, stentorian at times, yet velvety and embracing at others. Rather like Stephen Fry, he could read the ingredients list from a shampoo bottle and make it interesting.
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That reminds me that he was the narrator in the computer game Icewind Dale. And that Black Isle Studios engaged a ton of great actors to voice. Between Fallout 1 and 2, Torment, and IWD:

Stiers
Michael Dorn
CCH Pounder
Tony Shalhoub
Richard Dean Anderson
Michael T. Weiss
Clancy Brown
Sheena Easton
Richard Moll
Dwight Shultz
Mitch Pileggi
John de Lancie
Keith David
Tony Jay
Jeffrey Jones
Ron Perlman
 
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