As we all know who does the reading of an audio book matters a great deal. A good reader can enhance the book tremendously. A bad reader can ruin the book. I was reminded of this today when I decided to read a memoir that came recommended to me in an audio version. Big mistake. The reader read the book in a flat bored tone and here is the thing, the reader is the author of the memoir.
@KathyV there is nothing better than good readers.
@Cryspeg I understand if a small publishing house can't afford professional readers. But I know what you mean about excruciating. And then you have the opposite where someone really does know how to read. The man who does the audio version of the Louise Penny books does it very well.