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Topic: AUDIO's -- Who are your favorite narrators?

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classicana avatar
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Subject: AUDIO's -- Who are your favorite narrators?
Date Posted: 2/27/2015 6:06 PM ET
Member Since: 2/12/2006
Posts: 5,841
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I'm just starting to get into audiobooks, and have checked a few out of the library.  One narrator that I liked was Michael Beck.  There was also one woman (forgot to write down her name) that I definitely Did Not like -- very nasal and whiney.  I'll have to backtrack my library records to find the name.  I was amazed that an author/publisher would use someone who's voice was so hard to listen to.. 

So, I looked around the forum and found nothing pertaining to the narrators.  Does the narrator play a part in the audio's you choose?  Who do you like / dislike and why?



Last Edited on: 3/1/15 11:09 AM ET - Total times edited: 1
rhyta avatar
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Date Posted: 3/4/2015 7:50 PM ET
Member Since: 10/7/2008
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Narrators can make or break an audiobook production.  Most times I find I like the narrators, though some take a bit of time to get used to.  I am assuming that you listen to John Grisham books?  That is what I found on a search for Michael Beck, funny that he was the male lead in Xanadu with Olivia Newton-John.  Many actors gravitate to audio.

I read a lot of mystery and fantasy/sci-fi and listen to some on audio.  My faves are Simon Vance (does all kinds of things, I enjoyed him for His Majesty's Dragon series), Lisette LeCat for the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency (makes me feel I am in Botswana, wonderful voice), Susan Eriksen for the In Death series by J.D. Robb, she does a decent Irish accent for Roarke and the one who got me into audio books is Jim Dale of Harry Potter fame, love him!

p.s.  there is a good group of audiophiles at Goodreads, I have learned a lot from them and about narrators and such.



Last Edited on: 3/4/15 7:52 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
classicana avatar
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Date Posted: 3/4/2015 10:13 PM ET
Member Since: 2/12/2006
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Thanks, Karen.  Actually, the audiobook with Michael Beck was a Grisham, although I don't generally like his books.  This one was Street Lawyer and I totally enjoyed it.  I'll list your recommendations in my audio info file. 

I joined GoodReads ages ago, but have never taken time to learn my way around the site.  I'll have to check out the audiophile group!