Tanya Lunn

Narration offputting

Revisado: 11-06-22

I’m a fan of Clare Chambers’ work, which is why I’ve given this two stars; the previous audiobook of hers that I listened to was excellent, and I’ve read another of her novels . I’m only a few chapters in but am giving up on this recording as I’m finding the style of narration irritating. There’s reading aloud with expression, and then there’s reading with exaggerated expression. I feel as though I’m listening to an enthusiastic primary school teacher reading to a class of six-year-olds.

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Superb!

Revisado: 08-17-20

I purchased this audiobook because I realised I had had a hard copy on my shelf for years, and had never read it. I had not read any of Murdoch’s works but knew that this novel had won the Booker Prize in 1978, the year I left school. What a wonderful audiobook this is! Although the protagonist, Charles Arrowby, is a vain and egotistical misogynist, his character is superbly drawn. In some ways, although this story is set in the 1970s, the narrative feels more evocative of the 1950s. This may be because the protagonist, and most of the characters, are in their 60s (and the author herself was aged 59 when it was published). Their views, tastes, foibles and behaviours seem to come from a slightly earlier era, which I enjoyed. I found the story itself gripping, and Richard E. Grant’s narration/performance superb.

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Love Picoult, hate the narration!

Revisado: 02-26-14

What did you like best about Songs of the Humpback Whale? What did you like least?

I agree wholeheartedly with reviewer Michelle about the narration of this book ruining the experience. I am a recent convert to Jodi Picoult's work and have now listened to several of her books on Audible, very much enjoying them. But this one it driving me nuts - in fact, I've paused it to write this review, about one-quarter of the way through.

What did you like best about this story?

The story is grabbing me and I'm hoping to learn more about the habits of Humpbacked Whales, as one thing that Jodi Picoult is renowned for is her thorough research of the subject about which she is writing.

What aspect of the narrators’s performance would you have changed?

However, the narrator for the part of Rebecca is terrible. Rebecca is supposed to be 15 years old - I have a daughter of that age and she does NOT talk like a five-year-old! She is speaking far too slowly, reminiscent of a young child reading aloud in class. I can't stand it!!

Was Songs of the Humpback Whale worth the listening time?

I'll persevere with it as far as I can (I usually listen to audiobooks while cooking and working in the kitchen!) but may have to ditch it if Rebecca turns out to have too big a role in this book. I've recently listened to Picoult's 'Change of Heart' and 'House Rules' and they were a great deal better.

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