Category: the Rant Board
Just got a talking book in the mail only to find out that it's narrated by Bill Wallace, undoubtedly the worst narrator of talking books alive! The dude reads in such a way that he sounds condescending and is a real pain in the ass to listen to. Anybody got any ideas on narrators you especially love or hate? I usually check the narrator when I compile my list of books, and if a book I'm interested in is read by Wallace I skip it. Don't know how this one slipped in, but it did. Really enjoy Jake Williams, though.
I love Kristin Allison and also Madeline Bizard I think her name is
I haven't had a lot of experience with it, but the only thing that really gets to me is as long as they know how to pronounce stuff propperly, and they can change their tone of voice when quoting someone else.
I actually like Bill Wallace. Roy Avers is probably my least favorite. However, I have certain authors and styles of books that I love, and I will order those books no matter who narrates them. I can adjust to the narrator as long as the book is one I want to hear. I've heard other people talk about not getting books if they don't like the narrator, but I won't do that.
Ilike storries narated by Cathy boyd I think her name is. I cant remember the names of te narater that I don't like.
geez... at least the service is made available to you. The unIted States is perhaps the only country with so many resources for people... especially blind people! but guess WHAT? when they are given to you its just a matter of complaining and crying.
I agree with Becky. I like Bill Wallace, but I have to admit that some readers are more suited to certain types of books than others. I came up in an era with older readers who worked in radio and broadway and some television. I don't know what the newer narrators do other than this.
Lou
Nick sullivan, and Chuck bensen are two of my favorits, but they've been doing it a long long time!
louiano, I appreciate the services we get here, believe me. I was just ranting about Wallace's narrating style. Everybody's different, though, and I see that a couple of people really like him, so fair's fair. Sorry if you're not able to get recorded books where you live, but there are some guys who I would definitely pay for the privilege of hearing narrate a good book. Jake Williams, as I said, is fabulous, as is Martha-Harmon-Pardee.
Oh, bill wallace is pretty good, I like pam ward, Merlwin smith, jake williams and chuck benson. Ray booshay, and just so many more. Ralph bell and birt blackwell had strange voices but did well. I also don't like when someone reads a book and they don't get things correct, like pronouncing W's instead of the V sound when reading ww.II books. Interesting topic.
I like the way Jim Dale reads. That's all the narrators that I can think of, I'll have to listen to more of their names when I get library of congress books. O, and Juan does live in the United States.
lol, narrators? awesome people, but ... even if i get a book that i really want to read, and the narrator sucks, it just makes me lose my interest in that book, so yeah. hmm, anne hancock is really good too. i wonder, where do they get these people to read and stuff? lol, man, i think its a hard job just to sit and read a book all the time, lol
Although my preference is braille, I'll always be grateful for people willing to read books out loud. If I could see and had the same values I do now, I'd love a job doing just that.
Lou
So would I.
What bothers me is when text books aren't read clearly or something.
I use braille books to but I do refer the talking books. And they have talking in he UK as well.
Wow, only came across this discussion via google. Madeleine Bazard is definitely my favorite. In fact, I've done a library search for just the books she narrates.
Pam Ward is another top fave. I like Martha Harmon Pardee as well.
I wonder if there is a way to contact these folks; they do such a great job! I really like how they are not too dramatic, but modify their voice a bit for each character.
Mary Cane annoys me.
I'm reading this book, Seventy-two Hour Hold. It's narrated by Pamela Depella, whom I've never heard of. And oh my God, she's got one of the sexiest voices I've heard on a talking book. I'm not really getting into the story so far, but I might just finish it anyway.
Not many narrators really annoy me, and I've never been turned off a book because of one. But I don't like George Patterson much. He sounds old, and tired, and sick of his job.
And I think it's Madeline Buzzard. Honestly I can't blame her for pronouncing it differently.
I don't much Mind which narrators I lisson too just as long as they don't sound bored.
Any favorite narrators you like for magazines?
I used to read Choice Magazine Listening, and I love L. J. Ganser. Does he narrate any actual books?
Yeah he does actually. He works for Recorded Books Incorporated I believe. Found him on their web site. As for NLS narrators, as I said in aother topic my favorites are John Polk, Jon Beryl, Martha Harma-Pardee, Kristin Allison and Bob Askey. Bob Askey took a bit of getting used to but only a bit. Oh, ad I do like Eric Sandvold also I also kinda like Bruce Hunty, although it was a bit odd to hear him narrating a humorous book in that deep, matter-of-fact voice of his. I have one of the Imponderables books by David Feldman and Hunty narrates it. Pretty cool. I wonder what tese folks' actual jobs are. Radio and TV personalities in their local cities perhaps? I could definitely imagine John Polk doing that. He did a fine job narrating Way Station by Clifford D. Simak. As to ones I like less, definitely Roy Avers and Madeline Buzzard. THere's also Faith Pots. Generally I don't care for a narrator if he/she sounds bored with te book they're reading and never gives it any expression.
Anne Flosnik drives me mental. She innunciates way too much.
Bruce Huntey and Bill Wallace are two of my favorites.
There are a few others but that's for me to know and you to find out.
Honestly, I think Bill wallace is fine. Madeline Bizard & Mitzy Freedlander not so much.
Laura Generelli is good & Kristin Allison to! Also Martha Harmon Pardee & Bob Askey & Eric Sandavol.
Hmmm. Kerry Cundath always has a certain, ominous tone to her voice that I don't care for. Roy Avers has almost exactly the same voice as my college roommate's boyfriend, which I strangely love.
I'm not a huge fan of Bruce Hunty, Bob Askee, Ray Fushay, etc. Don't mind Bill Wallace or Erik Sandvold, and can stand Mitsy Freedlander and Laura Generelli.
I absolutely love: Gordon Goolde, John Stratton, George Holmes, David Palmer, Kathryn Byars, Martha Harmon Pardy, Madeline Buzzarde, Barbara Caruso, and several others who's names escape me.
I like Bruce Hunty. I like his deep, calm voice.
I forgot to add Annie Waters, Patrick Horgan, Janice Gray, Gabriella Cavalero, Susanne Toran, and John Polk to the Adoration Cannon.