I was noticing from another thread that a lot of folks here listen to romances on audio. Every so often I listen to a book on audio - I like putting them on my ipod for long road trips, mowing the lawn, taking a walk, etc. As some people have pointed out, some narrators are better than others. For example, I listened to
Meg Cabot's Princess Diaries series on audio narrated by Anne Hathaway several months ago and really enjoyed it. However, I tried listening to
The Devil Wears Prada and I don't remember who the narrator was, but she was clearly a good 30 years older than the heroine of the book - and since the story was told in the first person, the narrator REALLY threw off my enjoyment of the book (she was a good narrator, just not for this book).
Anyway, what are some of your favorite romances on audio? Or are there some to avoid? Any favorite narrators?
Can I add a question?
I've found that I have a very strong preference for male readers over female readers. Do they have any romances that are read by guys?
In answer to the question of favorite readers, not romance, but I adore Jim Dale from the Harry Potter audiobooks.
Message edited by its author, Nov 6, 2009, 9:47am.
For some reason, I generally listen to mysteries and classics on audio. Maybe because I like to sit down and snuggle with a good romance.
I have some of the
In Death books on audio. The narrator (whose name escapes me) is pretty good, although I think she makes Roarke's accent a little too Irish, but hey that's me.
I listened to
Don't Look Down by
Jennifer Crusie with both male and female narrators. I thought that worked really well.
In terms of preferring a male or female narrator, I can only say that my very favorite narrator is Barbara Rosenblatt who reads Elizabeth Peter's Amelia Peabody mysteries.
I have listened to some I like and some I don't both male and female, but one that sticks out in my mind is Marie Caliendo. I listened to a
Nora Roberts series that she narrated and really enjoyed her reading. And Max Bellmore
did a pretty good job with the
Lords of the Underworld series. I have also read/listened to a few with Susan Ericksen (I think she does some of the
In Death series), I enjoyed her narration also.
The
Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn narrated by Simon Prebble is excellent on audio, one of my favorites. Karen Marie Monings
Highlander Series is great, narrated by Phil Gigante as well.
I listen to a great deal of audio's especially in the car but also here at home. A narrator makes the audio book. So here are some of my favorites and some that I really don't like. If the narrator is good I don't mind if it is a female or male although Simon Prebble can make my heart beat very fast when he reads those steamy love scenes!
Simon Prebble also narrates Stephanie Laurens Cynster novels and does an excellent job. He is my favorite narrator. Davina Porter narrates Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series and she is excellent. Another woman who is good is Jill Tanner and does the Bastion Club series by Laurens. Virginia Leishman does Barely a Bride and Hardly a Husband by Rebecca Hagan Lee. Deborah Hall narrates Julie Garwood's Prince Charming and that is excellent. Steven Crossley did The Wedding by Garwood and he is terrible as is david Dukes who narrated LaVyrle Spencer's That Camden Summer. He totally ruined the book for me.
I just listened to the romance excerpt on Simon Prebble's website. I'm sorry but I don't think I could listen to a whole romance audio book. I sounds a bit ridiculous, maybe comedy would be better for me. Hm.
Julia
Julia, I think I feel the same way. I have never really been satisfied with a romance book on audio -- even my very favorite
In Death books. Maybe that's why I mostly listen to mysteries on audio.
I'm glad, I'm not the only one. :D
I am listening to the Highlander series on audio right now! The narrator
Phil Gigante has a wonderfully resonant male voice. Gives me shivers!
Julia and Mamalaz - trust me, if you listen to When He Was Wicked with Simon Prebble narrating - you will not feel like laughing. Oh. My. God.
ktleyed
You are totally right!! Simon Prebble is amazing!
OK, I'll give it a shot.
ktleyed... you sound so convincing that I am even considering listening to it. :D
I would recommend
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and
The Thirteenth Tale in the audio version. I also liked
Pillars of the Earth but you have to have 40 hours to listen (I was driving a lot). I hated Twilight and
Dark Slayer on audio.
The Nora Robert's books are almost always good in the audio version. I just finished the Born In trilogy (
Born in Fire,
Born in Ice and
Born in Shame) and they were very good.
I also listened to a little book called
Thale's Folly by Dorothy Gilman. It is an old book but I really enjoyed it. I have listened to quite a few Jayne Ann Krentz on audio also and almost always enjoy them.
Georgette Heyer in audio is also wonderful.
Rosamunde Pilcher is another I enjoy listening to. Donada Peters reads many of them and does a great job.
Simon Prebble is wonderful. I could listen to him read the phone book. I didn't like the Laurens' books by him because it made me uncomfortable to listen to him read pages and pages of her sex scenes. For me these days, Stephanie Laurens fills too many pages of her books with sex instead of story.
Message edited by its author, Nov 13, 2009, 12:46am.
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