Who are your favorite narrators and why? What do you look for in a narrator? Have a preference between male or female narrators?
It is no secret that narrators can make or break an audiobook. Their performance – and it definitely is a performance – can enhance the innate tension and drama as well as highlight the emotions swirling around the narrative. Then again, they can take the emotion and tension and hide it so thoroughly a listener never stands a chance in discovering it. Similarly, an audiobook performance is an intensely personal experience. The narrators are speaking to the listener, and to the listener alone. Their words are being intimately whispered into a listener’s ear. If it is not the right fit, the experience goes from very private and close to pure torture.
I want narrators that enhance the narrative, that add the right amount of inflection, reflect the ongoing emotions of a character, and are doing more than just reading the words on a page. Good narrators are involved with the story in a way that a reader cannot, and they bring the story to life that is akin to seeing the story on stage. They paint pictures with their interpretation of the author’s words. Narrators who do this are narrators to whom I will flock over and over again.
That does not mean I enjoy every one of their performances. It does mean that I am more likely to choose an unknown or untested audiobook they narrate because they are narrating. I let the story decide the perfect narrator. I love Grover Gardner but his performance on Before Versailles left me disconcerted because his voice just did not fit a young and vibrant French court. Simon Vance’s voice is absolutely gorgeous and beyond sexy, but I found his voice too soothing for the slow progression of A Secret Kept.
So, who do I enjoy whispering sweet words into my ears? James Marsters will probably top that list. His performances reading Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden series are absolutely perfect, in my opinion. He is the embodiment of Harry, and I will not enjoy the series any other way than by listening to it. Amanda Ronconi narrating the Jane Jameson series by Molly Harper also tops my list. Again, she nails the main character and makes this fun series even more enjoyable. Grover Gardner, Simon Vance, Scott Brick, and Davinia Porter are all masters of narration, but I also like discovering hitherto relatively unknown narrators, like Amanda Ronconi, Susan Bennett, and even Isabella Sciorra. The relatively unknown narrators provide some of the best, most-surprising performances, and at the end of the day, a narrator’s performance, is all that truly matters when it comes to audiobook enjoyment.
Do you agree or disagree? Who are some of your go-to narrators? Who do I need to check out ASAP?
Davina Porter is unquestionably the best narrator that I have ever heard. She has the most incredible range. Susan Bennett is another favorite of mine- I first heard her while listening to the Christopher Moore novels- Bloodsucking Fiends, You Suck and Bite Me. I have never laughed so hard… part of it was, of course, the writing- but her narration was utterly perfect and hillarious! Simon Vance and Will Patton are amazing as well.
I’m not a huge fan of Simon Vance. I know everyone else loves him, but his voice is too soothing. It puts me right to sleep. Davina Porter is an excellent narrator, but I feel she has pigeon-holed herself into the Outlander world. I’m not certain I would want to listen to her narrate anything else because I wouldn’t be able to separate her from those performances. I know what you mean about Susan Bennett in Bloodsucking Fiends. That is a hilarious book.
My favorite narrators still are James Marsters and Amanda Ronconi. I think they are amazing in whatever they narrate.
Other than James Marsters, I do not seek out narrators. If I have listened to a narrator more than once, it is either because the narrator reads a series or purely through chance. I think life is too short to listen to only one or two narrators!
Kristin, a distinct personality for each character is essential. I've listened to a few audiobooks where the narrator reads it straight. This may work for novels with few characters or little dialogue but can be an absolute pain otherwise.
James Marsters is my absolute favorite narrator. I have to pace myself on listening to the series, otherwise I would have listened to all twelve or thirteen immediately!
I like Grover Gardner as a narrator, but I don't think he was a great choice for BEFORE VERSAILLES. The narrator needed to be younger and less world-weary. The story itself isn't bad, but I would recommend reading it in print versus listening to it.
Glad you agree! I do love Amanda Ronconi's Jane Jameson. I enjoyed the book in print but absolutely fell in love with her narration.
I haven't listened to any narrator more than once so I'm definitely keeping an eye out for some of the ones that you mentioned.
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I'm not familiar with the narrators you mentioned but I'll have to keep an eye out for them.
I like when the narrator gives each character a distinct personality. It helps to keep everyone separate.
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I've heard that James Marster's is amazing with the Harry Dresden series so I'm eager to give those a try. I think you said it all just right- thanks for sharing your thoughts!
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I need to go back to Grover Gardner, BEFORE VERSAILLES was the only one of his that I've tried, but I didn't like the story or the way his voice fit, so I didn't get more than an hour into it.
I haven't made it to the Dresden series and James Marster's narration but I am in complete agreement about Molly Harper and Amanda Ronconi. I think that tops my list of the absolutely perfect pairing of material with narrator.