Audiobook narrators

Originally published in the Ketchikan Daily News, August 2008; written by Lisa Pearson.

Audiobooks are tricky things. Unlike regular books, in which the talent of the author is the determining factor in the quality of the end product, audiobooks rely as much on the narrator as they do on the author. A mediocre book can be saved by the vibrant delivery of a particularly gifted narrator, while a beloved story can be ruined by an ill-suited reader. I cannot, for instance, listen to the American dramatization of “The Hobbit”. Middle-Earth might be a fictional place, but I know in my heart of hearts that everyone there – except the Orcs – speaks with a British accent.

That being said, we have some new audiobooks at the public library that feature lively interpretations of favorite authors. Whether you prefer a straight rendition of the written work, or a radio-theater production complete with sound effects, there is a range of audio formats at the library to please every taste.

“The Father Brown Mysteries” by G. K. Chesterton are dramatized by M.J. Elliott and performed by the Colonial Radio Players. This collection contains 8 short mysteries, most of which were originally published in 1911, featuring the unassuming little cleric from St. Mungo’s Catholic Church. Father Brown is almost like a bridge between Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple. He uses deduction and reasoning to solve cases, but his innate knowledge of evil and human nature – gleaned from his experiences in the confessional – are what really give him the edge over criminals. The radio-theater format of this production, which includes sound effects and multiple actors, makes this very enjoyable. The actors’ accents may slip occasionally, revealing their American origin, but this is still a good introduction to audiobooks for the new listener and for anyone who enjoys a mystery free of gore and strong language.

You won’t find much explicit language or violence in “Frankenstein, or the modern Prometheus” by Mary Shelley, but you will find a dark, suspenseful story. This audio version is an unabridged reading of Shelley’s classic novel, but the acting talents of Simon Templeman, Anthony Heald and Stefan Rudnicki (as Robert Walton, Dr. Frankenstein, and the Creature respectively) add a nice variety to the narration. Their voices are rich and mellow, and they are well able to convey the emotional feel of the novel. Since this is unabridged, don’t expect it to be much like the old Boris Karloff movie version of “Frankenstein”. Instead, you’ll be treated to a wonderful mix of philosophical musings, Gothic horror and pessimistic science fiction – a true classic.

“Voice of the Violin”, written by Andrea Camilleri, translated by Stephen Sartarelli, and narrated by Grover Gardner, is a traditional audiobook. Gardner is the sole narrator, and he performs an unabridged reading of this entertaining mystery. Camilleri is one of my favorite authors, and I was nervous about how his new Inspector Salvo Montalbano mystery would sound in audio format, but Gardner does a great job. He wisely refrains from trying to fake an Italian accent (mamma mia!), and instead delivers the story as a hard-boiled detective novel. The Inspector’s jurisdiction might be a small seaside community in Sicily, but the feel is as familiar as James Ellroy (“L.A. Confidential”). You can’t go wrong with a good story and a good reader.