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.
@singlemaltgirl That's true because audio reading requires acting skills and a writer may have written a very fine book. That doesn't mean they are the right person to read it.
@KathyV The author should have known better. Voiceover work and reading for audiobooks is more difficult and competitive than it might appear. There are even some long time on-air radio people who have been surprised when they were unable to get work in that field.
@researchagain I am wondering if some authors who maybe don't have big bestsellers decide to read the audio book version themselves because hiring a reader is too expensive. Not sure how the business works but agree the author should have known better or had people around her who could say in a delicate way, look you are not the best reader of your own material.
@KathyV my favorite author co runs a small press, and apparently their budget is severely limited. They use one reader for all the characters in all their books. He speaks all women characters with the same nasally falsetto. It’s excruciating.
@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.
@KathyV there is nothing better than good readers.
@KathyV i seldom enjoy when a reader reads their own work.