The Borrower
By Rebecca Makkai; Emily Bauer (Read by)
(Highbridge Company, Compact Disc, 9781611744460)
Why didn’t I finish it?
Within just 30 minutes of listening to this audio version, I came very close to scratching my eyes out. I’ve not heard any other books by this particular reader, but this reading was horrible! Her voice was so animated and chipper that it completely took me out of the narrative. She’d be great for a children’s book, but I don’t think that is what she was going for here. She just didn’t fit the book (imo).
My apoligies to the author, but when a book is on audio, the reader can make or break it and this result was not good.
If you’ve read the book or have a differing opinion of the audio, let me know. Afterall, I only gave it 30 min, but it seemed like an eternity to me and I am not quick to give-up on a book. This is my first DNF (did not finish) of the year!
Source: Book was sent to be as part of Library Thing’s Early Reviewer Program.
Book Chatter 
Wow. I agree that narrators can make or break audio books for me. I have not read this though.
I too had a DNF on an audiobook because of a narrator. It’s really a shame when that happens!
Hey…you gave it thirty minutes…a valuable piece of time…voices are so important in an audio nook…her bad not yours!!!
Good for you for putting the book down. I have done this a few times, the voice can make a book experience. For me, I tend to like books less if a male is narrating the story. Isn’t that crazy?
I also just had a really bad reaction to an audio narrator. She was just too breathy and dramatic, and the only thing i could concentrate on was the annoying quality of her voice. I got about halfway through and just couldn’t do it anymore. I can totally understand your decision to give this one up.
And the crazy thing is that most authors have absolutely NO SAY in who narrates their books. Totally a make or break situation.
I’ve had that happen before a few times. One time it was with the author of a memoir/humor book who was reading it herself.
I agree that the narrator sets the mood for the book. Maybe this one would work in print for you.
A bad narrator can really ruin an audiobook!
I know what you mean. I had quite a few bad misses last year that turned me off audio books. The narrators were so bad! I’m extra cautious when choosing audio books now.
Just wanted to say that I LOVED this book in print, and you ought to give it a shot that way. It’s supposed to be a very rueful, ironic, funny voice, and actually the voice of someone older looking back, so it sounds like they didn’t make that fit at all. And like someone said above, authors usually have no say at all in this matter. The only exception would be a major celebrity author… but for someone’s first book, no way. This is my favorite book that I’ve read all year, and while it might not be for everyone (there’s a pretty liberal viewpoint, for instance — like, if you’re a big Michelle Bachmann fan you won’t like this book), but I really hope you’ll give it a try in print.
I’ll try to avoid this narrator then!
This sounds like a good book and is on my wishlist but I think that I’ll stay away from the audio book version! It sounds awful, I can relate as I have stopped listening to audio books before due to narration.
I SO agree. I’d listened to the same reader do another book and groaned when I saw she’d done this one as well. In my opinion, you didn’t miss anything — I disliked the book at least as much as I disliked the narrator. I’m writing up my own thoughts right now and am glad to know I’m not alone!
Can’t wait to read your review of The Borrower. I’ve heard from so many that it just didn’t work for them.