Chat Between Chapters: Audiobook Narrators

For this discussion post, we are joining the Tell Me Something Tuesday challenge run by Jen at That’s What I’m Talking About. Here’s the topic for this week.

Do you prefer single narrator, duet/dual narration, full cast, or “graphic audio” audiobooks?

 

 Julie:

Ohhhhh this has become my favorite Roman Empire! Audiobooks are LIFE these days. It’s the number one way I consume books. And my favorite? FULL CAST NARRATION!!! The multiple voices has changed my life!

I concur that the “acting” in some of the graphic audio is a bit much sometimes. The breathing? Moaning? Maybe isn’t necessary. But each character being voiced by someone else? EPIC!

Ranked:

1. Full-cast narration / graphic audio
2. Duet narration (Female voice actor for female dialogue and male voice actor for male dialogue)
3. Dual narration (POV chapters take turns but in the same chapter one voice actor voices both male and female dialogue)
4. Single narrator

I have become weary of single narration, because not everyone has the talent of making their characters sound different. And I hate it when everyone sounds the same, like who are we talking to right now? And when the voices for the opposite sex sound horrific. But, there are some narrators that do an AMAZING job with voices. Julia Whelan, Lorelei King, Tavia Gilbert, or Davina Porter for example are absolutely fabulous.

 

Lynn:

I will say a great narrotor makes the book. And a bad narrator breaks it. I’m fully on board with Julie on the full cast narration. That’s the only way to go. Especially with 6 or 8 different POV in some books. Having separate narrators makes the listening far superior. I also like all the background noises. (yes – could do without the breathing and moaning.) But that scene in Fourth Wing where someone actually falls off the parapet? A LOT more intense hearing it in graphic audio form.

There are a bunch of narrators I also love – Ray Porter, Isabella Star LaBlanc, Kristin Atherton, Wil Wheaton (you have to say his name in Sheldon’s voice.), and Daniel Henning to name a few.

Same preference ranking for me.

1. Full-cast narration / graphic audio
2. Duet narration (Female voice actor for female dialogue and male voice actor for male dialogue)
3. Dual narration (POV chapters take turns but in the same chapter one voice actor voices both male and female dialogue)
4. Single narrator

What about you?

 

 

 

We are also linking up our discussion posts with the 2026 Book Blog Discussion Challenge hosted by Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight (and co-hosted by us)!

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