Like most audiobook listeners, I have some narrators I love: Jim Dale, Barbara Rosenblat, almost anyone at Full Cast Audio. Then there are some who are just duds, who can turn a good book into an annoying or even miserable experience.
And then there are narrators who can do both. Kirsten Potter is my most recent experience with this phenomenon. About a year ago, I listened to the production of Kirby Larson’s Hattie Big Sky and was unimpressed. I wasn’t hugely thrilled with the story itself, but the narration dragged the book down even further. I thought Potter’s voice for Hattie sounded much too old for the youthful protagonist, and her accents for ancillary characters sounded overwrought and false. Overall, it wasn’t what I would consider a good production.
Then on a whim, I picked up Christina Meldrum’s Madapple, without knowing or caring who narrated it. As I listened, I recognized the voice, but the effect was very different this time. Meldrum’s book has a sleepy, somewhat haunting feel to it, and Potter’s voice is a perfect match. There are no fake accents, and it doesn’t seem like Potter is an adult mimicking a child because the character of Aslaug is so different from Hattie. Potter expertly makes me feel for Aslaug, and her voice keeps me riveted to the story, despite the fact that as a contemporary realistic novel, it’s something I’d usually avoid. Meldrum’s writing combines with Potter’s narration to make Madapple seem almost like a fantasy. It’s a very atmospheric story which fits Potter’s low tones much better than did Hattie Big Sky.
Do you have this relationship with any narrators you’ve listened to? It’s the first time I can remember where my reactions have been almost polar opposites of each other, and I’m curious to know if I’m alone in this.
I'm also a big audiobook fan. I can't remember recognizing a narrator in a second book but I do know that a lot of narrators have fan bases.
I did have a dud narrator once. I won't name the book, but she read so sloooooowly that I thought I'd lose my mind. I had to stop listening.
I loved Hattie Big Sky, so am glad to know I should stay away from the audiobook. 🙂
The only narrator I've listened to over multiple books (not a series) is Jim Weiss, and I think he is more a storyteller than a narrator.
I have realized the importance of the narrator though. There are some books that still live on in my memory b/c of the narrator's skill, while there have been others that I refused to listen to the entire book b/c the narrator interfered so much.
Interesting thought though for me to tuck into my head for the next audiobook.
Narrators are indeed important as it is their voice that takes you into the new world of the story. However, I am with Bridgette, I loved Hattie Big Sky!
This is funny because I really liked the audio of Hattie Big Sky and I hated Madapple (which I read in print) so so much.
Ooooh, how interesting! I haven't had this experience, but your experience does make me want to give narrators I've disliked another shot. Most recently, I had a bad experience with Kim Mai Guest while listening to Anna and the French Kiss. I had determined I would NOT be listening to her other books, but maybe I will give her another shot with Wildwood Dancing or Incarceration. Thanks for sharing your experience!