Speaking Volumes

Some time ago Carol posted to this blog asking people about their favorite audio book readers. As she put it, “Any audio book enthusiast will tell you the narrator can make or break a book. If you don't like the voice, nothing will save the story.” At the time, I didn’t comment on Carol’s post because I had never listened to an audio book. Well, since that time I have tried a few of them and have found just how much the reader, the voice, can make or break the book.

My favorite by far (mind you, I’ve only listened to a handful) was Feed, by M.T. Andersen. Feed is a YA book that takes place in a future world where almost everyone has a ‘feed,’ which is like a television, radio, and computer all in one, implanted into their brains. The audio book was read by David Aaron Baker who did and excellent job with the boy AND girl teenage voices. In conversation between the futurist teens he switched seamlessly between loud, obnoxious, boy voices, to sarcastic, drawl, valley-girlish, girl voices. His reading made the futuristic slang believable and natural. (I literally almost found myself using it in conversation afterwards). And perhaps best of all were the ‘feedcasts,’ the constant stream commercials and chats pouring in through the feed. Su is the one who originally recommended the audio book, and now I’ve found myself pushing it to our teen patrons.  

Right now I am a little more than halfway through Loving Frank, by Nancy Horan. Loving Frank is a fictionalization of the life of Mamah Borthwick Cheney, who’s best known as the woman who architect Frank Lloyd Wright ran off to Europe and had an affair with. Even this far in I have mixed feelings on the story, but one thing is clear, Joyce Bean, the woman who reads the book is incredible. Although a lot of the book is told through the voice of Mamah Cheney, the book she switches from child, to man, and a variety of characters with heavy German, Swedish, and Irish accents. I am so impressed with her reading – it may be reason I have stuck with the book this far.

Ok last one and NOT a positive reader review. In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollen – uggg. This one was read by Scott Brick. I picked it up on audio because I was interested in what the book had to say, but I know I get bored easily with non-fiction. I thought the audio book would solve that problem; but Scott Brick’s voice is dramatic and condescending. The whole thing sounds like a BORING college lecture. When I looked at reviews on Amazon to see if anyone else felt the same way, I found one reviewer who wrote, “sounds like a bad version of Frasier Crane.” I couldn’t have put it better myself.

Let me know your about latest adventures in audio!