Like me, you may be in one or more book clubs and find that your reading is falling behind at times. Audiobooks to the rescue! They are a fantastic way to get through a book while doing housework, driving or on your daily walk. Audiobooks are also very relaxing, perfect for listening to while in the bathtub (via a safely located phone or speaker) or to wind down with in bed via earbuds. The soothing vocals from the right storyteller can invoke a feeling of calm.
Yet when a narrator does not get it right, it can really ruin the experience. I once attempted to listen to a story that I was very excited about, but the narrator was practically whispering. Annoyed, I decided to read the physical copy instead. My library voice is louder than hers!
On the other hand, when a narrator gets it right, they greatly enhance the story and make listening a pleasure. You may even begin to prefer listening to the audio version of a book to bring the storytelling alive! Many movies are even better on the big screen. Well, audiobooks are essentially the big screen for books, in terms of providing a rich, immersive experience. You can find reviews of narrators via AudioFile (audiofilemagazine.com) and platforms such as Audio in Black (audioinblack.com).
I recently listened to a book that was on my TBR (to be read) list for quite some time. It’s American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson. The narrator was so good that I had to stop to see who it was. Turns out it was none other than narrator extraordinaire Bahni Turpin. Turpin’s pauses and inflections are spot on. And the various accents she used, in addition to spoken French for at least one character, elevated an already exciting story.
The Hollywood connection
Many audiobooks are narrated by some of our most celebrated actors. Their talent and craft adds to our enjoyment. Viola Davis’ narration of the audio version of her memoir, Finding Me: A Memoir, garnered her a Grammy! Added to her Emmy, Oscar and two Tony awards, it also conferred on her EGOT status.
Many other famous actors voice characters. Gabrielle Union narrates Tayari Jones’ Dispossession, a novella only available in audio, as well as Union’s own best-selling memoir, We’re Going to Need More Wine.
Other A-list narrators include:
Oprah Winfrey
Winfrey’s voice can be heard on White Oleander, a novel by Janet Fitch, as well as her own books including What I Know for Sure and The Wisdom of Sundays.
Alfre Woodard
Woodard has performed narrations for Tar Baby by Toni Morrison and Your Blues Ain’t Like Mine by Bebe Moore Campbell.
Samira Wiley
Appearing in uber-popular shows like “Orange Is the New Black” and “The Handmaid’s Tale,” Wiley has used her talent to narrate such titles as Alice Walker’s The Color Purple and Roxane Gay’s Graceful Burdens.
Whoopi Goldberg
Goldberg has narrated many audiobooks including her own, titled If Someone Says ‘You Complete Me,’ RUN!