I’m a devoted audiobook listener, but also fairly picky about what books I’ll listen to instead of reading visually. And I’m sure most audiobook fans would agree that perhaps the most important component of a good audiobook is the narrator. Even if it’s a great book, a bad narrator can ruin the experience. So, what’s needed in a narrator to make a good book become a really fabulous audiobook? Here are a few ideas I’ve settled on. What are yours? I’d love to hear your thoughts in comments! 

Knowing and Enjoying the Text 
It’s easy to tell if a narrator isn’t enjoying or immersed in the story they’re reading. The voice will often be flat, monotone, or just feel detached from the story. The person reading to you is a large part of what will pull you in and help you really sink into a story, so if they’re not totally into it, there’s a good chance you won’t be either. Knowledge of the text is also important for an audiobook narrator. With a thorough understanding of the story and characters, a narrator will more accurately represent each character’s personality, the author’s intent, and any other subtleties that are important for a reader to notice. 

Not Distracting from the Story 
The best audiobook narrators know how to make the reader forget they’re present, because they make the story that engaging. Voice nuance is vital for a narrator, but some can really overdo it. Nothing’s worse than feeling like I’m being yelled at or not being able to decipher what the narrator’s actual voice sounds like because they sound too formal the whole time. 

Character Voices 
I’d imagine this has to be the trickiest and most demanding part of audio narration, as some books have so many characters to voice. But giving each character a distinct voice is a vitally important part of making the listening experience fun and memorable. The best audiobooks I’ve listened to have nailed this aspect perfectly. The voice variations for each character are usually different enough to give them all a personality and to make it easy to determine who is speaking, but they’re also slight enough so that the narrator doesn’t sound too artificial or forced. It has to be exhausting. And I just have to say that Jim Dale, narrator of all seven Harry Potter books, wins the all-time prize for this. He gave every single character in that series a unique voice and never slipped up once. There had to be 700 or more voices total. It’s incredible. 

Tone Matching the Story 
This is an important part of conveying the mood of the story and the direction of the drama. It may seem obvious, but if something scary happens, the narrator needs to let the listener hear fear in his voice. If a serious or disturbing situation arises, the narrator should adopt a grave tone. There’s a very fine line between this and becoming that distraction mentioned above, but tone is everything when it comes to showing where the story is going.

So what do you look for in audiobook narration? I'd love to hear your thoughts! To conclude, I'll leave a few of my favorite narrators for you:
 

• As already mentioned, Jim Dale's narration of the Harry Potter series
• Dan Stevens, particularly his narration of Murder on the Orient Express
• Oliver J. Hembrough's narration of the Poldark series

What are your favorites?

My affection for audiobooks began relatively recently. I started with one of the cheap audiobook apps that offers public domain works, or more accurately, all the classics! :) This worked for a while, but I took the leap to Audible a few months ago and highly recommend it. With a 30-day free trial, you get one free audiobook, and after that, you get one for the monthly price. It’s a pretty good deal, considering the regular price of most audiobooks, and Audible’s selection is enormous, which was one of the biggest draws for me. The classics are great, but you can only listen to the same book so many times. I’ve now spent many happy hours getting lost in a good story and feeling completely productive at the same time. Excellent feeling. Here are a few of my favorites for audio. 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (read by Kate Rudd) 

You may only know of this story because of the movie, and I admit that the movie trailer was my first exposure to it. I was honestly nonplussed after seeing the trailer, but a friend later encouraged me to try the book, and I’m so glad I did! In truth, I decided on the audiobook because I don’t naturally pick up young adult fiction and didn’t want to risk spending a ton of time on it and then not liking it. Ha! But it ended up being a fantastic audio production and the story is excellent. The narrator has an appropriately sassy but empathetic tone, and she varies her pitch only slightly to distinguish between characters, which takes real talent. And the narration is simple to follow while still drawing you in. John Green is a talented author, the characters are easy to imagine and sympathize with, and the story tackles tough situations masterfully. 



Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (read by Rosamund Pike) 

Ah, the classic that remains so dear to hearts across the world, mine being no exception. This new audio version is superb. You perhaps remember Rosamund Pike as the lovely Jane Bennet in the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, so her Austen exposure and natural British elegance served her well in this project! This is undoubtedly my favorite audiobook version of this Austen gem. Rosamund Pike’s voice is like silk in every scene, and her subtle variations in tone for each character are thoughtful and distinguishable. I especially liked her voice interpretation of Mr. Bennet, if you can believe it. This is a great option if you have trouble reading an Austen classic. You’ll think hard, laugh, and sigh happily as you listen to this version! 

Rosamund Pike as Jane Bennet in the 2005 film version of Pride and Prejudice
Photo Credit: Fanpop

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows (read by Paul Baymer, Susan Duerden, Roselyn Landor, John Lee, and Juliet Mills) 

What a mouthful! But a very worthwhile one, I assure you! This will likely be on my list of top books of 2016, and it was a complete joy to listen to. It focuses on the Nazi occupation of the English Channel Islands, specifically the island of Guernsey, and the literary club that forms there will steal your heart instantly. London newspaper columnist Juliet Ashton begins corresponding with the club members by chance, and she’s not at all prepared for how they’re about to steal her heart. I plan to read the physical book at some future point, but I’d almost argue that it’s better to hear than to read. It’s perfect for audio because it’s told entirely through letters between Juliet, her longtime friends, and the Guernsey natives. So, each character has a different voice actor and it sounds and feels perfectly natural. The characters’ personalities come to life vividly as a result, and the letter format gives a unique look into their emotions and struggles. You’ll also want to book a trip to Guernsey by the end! I’m usually wary of books told in epistolary form, but this one knocked it out of the park. Cannot recommend it highly enough! 

Are you a fan of audiobooks? What are your favorites? Have you read or listened to any of these? Let me know! I’d love to discuss and am always looking for more audiobook recommendations!