Narrator Michael Kramer

Mr.... Death · 06-19-2015, 04:42 PM

So, I'm dying to know if anyone has the same problem with listening to Michael Kramer's voice. He's narrated, pretty much, ALL of Brandon Sanderson's books, and the whole, freaking Wheel of time series.

If you haven't heard any of Kramer's works, try listening to this (There's a listening sample just beneath the picture):

http://www.audible.com/pd/Sci-Fi-Fan...4745272&sr=1-1

Now, I'm norwegian, so my english obviously isn't the best. But both my siblings agree, we just can't listen to his intonation rising and falling in the same way every time.

BUT! There are apparently a lot of listeners who DO like his voice, consindering that the audiobooks has some really good reviews!

Would love to hear what you guys think.
In advance, thank you!

Ps.
You're probably thinking "Just read the god damned books instead!"
However, I've got narcolepsy which makes it difficult to sit still and read, since I always fall asleep after short while :P

pwalker8 · 06-20-2015, 06:30 AM

He doesn't bother me. I have the first two Wheel of Time books. The reason I didn't buy the rest has more to do with all the slow parts in the books after the first two that I tend to scan over when I read but can't scan over listening rather than the readers. I'm not sure I would put him up with some of the readers who I would buy a book for the reader rather than the author, but I've listened to the first Wheel of Time book a number of times.

Not to say that you don't have a right to your opinion. As they say, different strokes for different folks. The world would be a pretty boring place if we all liked exactly the same things. If he doesn't work for you, then he doesn't work for you.

Marrella · 06-21-2015, 12:02 PM

I have the same problem with Tom Weiner whom a lot of people seem to like, too. I am German, so English isn't my first language either.

I have listened to the sample of the Brandon Sanderson book, I don't think I could listen to 20 hours or more of that voice, but it is a question of personal taste since so many listeners rate Kramer's performance 5 stars.

BenG · 07-05-2015, 08:41 AM

He wouldn't be my first choice but he's OK. Aren't the female POV chapters read by a woman?

My least favorite so far is the narration for Kim Stanley Robinson's Science in the Capital series.

http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Fo...099454&sr=1-16

The inflection never changes.

Hitch · 07-08-2015, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenG

He wouldn't be my first choice but he's OK. Aren't the female POV chapters read by a woman?

My least favorite so far is the narration for Kim Stanley Robinson's Science in the Capital series.

http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Fo...099454&sr=1-16

The inflection never changes.

Is that sample from the actual book? No, right--that's read-along, not actual narration?

Hitch

BenG · 07-13-2015, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitch

Is that sample from the actual book? No, right--that's read-along, not actual narration?

Hitch

That's the actual narration. I gave up after 2 hours.

Hitch · 07-14-2015, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenG

That's the actual narration. I gave up after 2 hours.

That's not real narration. I mean, I'm not arguing with you, but that sounds mechanical to me, like the usual Kindle read-along. We (subcontract) audio narration out, and it doesn't sound ANYTHING like that. ANYTHING. Man, that's crazy, and you should return that bloody book for a refund and tell them WHY.

Thanks for replying.

Hitch

victauria · 07-17-2015, 09:39 AM

One of the fascinating things to me about audio books is that a narrator can make or break the experience of a book. And like actors in a movie or TV show, voice actors have niches or characters that fit perfectly...or don't. Michael Kramer narrates the Butcher Boy series (by Thomas Perry) and is the perfect voice for this character. For me, he is compelling and absolutely spot-on for that character and series. I've heard him in other things, liked him well enough to continue the book, but his style is pretty much the same no matter the material. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't.

There are a couple of narrators who are an auto do-not-buy for me, Kramer is definitely not in that category.

Catlady · 07-17-2015, 12:24 PM

I think a really good narrator can improve a book--e.g., I don't think I would have enjoyed Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness books nearly as much without Katherine Kellgren's narration--but I don't know agree that poor narration can sink a book. If the book's interesting, after a while I'll get used to the narration, whatever the flaws.

CRussel · 07-17-2015, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

I think a really good narrator can improve a book--e.g., I don't think I would have enjoyed Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness books nearly as much without Katherine Kellgren's narration--but I don't know agree that poor narration can sink a book. If the book's interesting, after a while I'll get used to the narration, whatever the flaws.

I have one name for you: Ulli Birvé.

She reads all of the Georgette Heyer mysteries (not the Regencies, thank goodness.)

Catlady · 07-17-2015, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRussel

I have one name for you: Ulli Birvé.

She reads all of the Georgette Heyer mysteries (not the Regencies, thank goodness.)

I listened to a sample. Sounds OK to me.

CRussel · 07-18-2015, 01:35 AM

I tried to listen to The Unfinished Clue. It was intolerable, even at 1.50x speed. (My review of the book is on the Audible site.)

Catlady · 07-18-2015, 11:41 AM

Earlier this year, I listened to Eric Brooks narrating Anne Perry: The Murder of the Century, even though the narration has horrible reviews, and the sample certainly seems to live up to the reviews. I was interested in the book anyway, and I got used to the voice and the narrator's style. I wouldn't go looking for another Brooks narration, and if I had a choice between him and someone else I'd go with someone else, but the content held my interest nevertheless.

06-19-2015, 04:42 PM	#1
Mr.... Death Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2015 Device: none	Narrator Michael Kramer So, I'm dying to know if anyone has the same problem with listening to Michael Kramer's voice. He's narrated, pretty much, ALL of Brandon Sanderson's books, and the whole, freaking Wheel of time series. If you haven't heard any of Kramer's works, try listening to this (There's a listening sample just beneath the picture): http://www.audible.com/pd/Sci-Fi-Fan...4745272&sr=1-1 Now, I'm norwegian, so my english obviously isn't the best. But both my siblings agree, we just can't listen to his intonation rising and falling in the same way every time. BUT! There are apparently a lot of listeners who DO like his voice, consindering that the audiobooks has some really good reviews! Would love to hear what you guys think. In advance, thank you! Ps. You're probably thinking "Just read the god damned books instead!" However, I've got narcolepsy which makes it difficult to sit still and read, since I always fall asleep after short while :P

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Worst narrator ever?	pidgeon92	Audiobook Discussions	53	04-19-2018 10:29 AM
M92 has narrator in English?	martienne	Onyx Boox	10	06-26-2014 10:09 AM
Spiritual Kramer, Heinrich & Sprenger, Jakob: Malleus Maleficarum or The Witches Hammer	GinoXB	Other Books	1	12-31-2012 09:26 AM
The Unreliable Narrator	elemenoP	Reading Recommendations	26	04-28-2012 03:19 PM
Audio book narrator looking for work	dennisblake	Writers' Corner	3	03-23-2011 01:37 PM

06-20-2015, 06:30 AM	#2
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,195 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	He doesn't bother me. I have the first two Wheel of Time books. The reason I didn't buy the rest has more to do with all the slow parts in the books after the first two that I tend to scan over when I read but can't scan over listening rather than the readers. I'm not sure I would put him up with some of the readers who I would buy a book for the reader rather than the author, but I've listened to the first Wheel of Time book a number of times. Not to say that you don't have a right to your opinion. As they say, different strokes for different folks. The world would be a pretty boring place if we all liked exactly the same things. If he doesn't work for you, then he doesn't work for you.

06-21-2015, 12:02 PM	#3
Marrella Cambrian crab Posts: 2,834 Karma: 3229927 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Germany Device: Kindle, Pocket Book, Kobo, Sony	I have the same problem with Tom Weiner whom a lot of people seem to like, too. I am German, so English isn't my first language either. I have listened to the sample of the Brandon Sanderson book, I don't think I could listen to 20 hours or more of that voice, but it is a question of personal taste since so many listeners rate Kramer's performance 5 stars.

07-05-2015, 08:41 AM	#4
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,729 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	He wouldn't be my first choice but he's OK. Aren't the female POV chapters read by a woman? My least favorite so far is the narration for Kim Stanley Robinson's Science in the Capital series. http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Fo...099454&sr=1-16 The inflection never changes.

07-17-2015, 09:39 AM	#8
victauria Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,990 Karma: 17560944 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Florida, USA Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD	One of the fascinating things to me about audio books is that a narrator can make or break the experience of a book. And like actors in a movie or TV show, voice actors have niches or characters that fit perfectly...or don't. Michael Kramer narrates the Butcher Boy series (by Thomas Perry) and is the perfect voice for this character. For me, he is compelling and absolutely spot-on for that character and series. I've heard him in other things, liked him well enough to continue the book, but his style is pretty much the same no matter the material. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. There are a couple of narrators who are an auto do-not-buy for me, Kramer is definitely not in that category.

07-17-2015, 12:24 PM	#9
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,345 Karma: 52398889 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I think a really good narrator can improve a book--e.g., I don't think I would have enjoyed Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness books nearly as much without Katherine Kellgren's narration--but I don't know agree that poor narration can sink a book. If the book's interesting, after a while I'll get used to the narration, whatever the flaws.

07-18-2015, 01:35 AM	#12
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,163 Karma: 79742714 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), Fire HD 8	I tried to listen to *The Unfinished Clue*. It was intolerable, even at 1.50x speed. (My review of the book is on the Audible site.)

07-18-2015, 11:41 AM	#13
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,345 Karma: 52398889 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	Earlier this year, I listened to Eric Brooks narrating Anne Perry: The Murder of the Century, even though the narration has horrible reviews, and the sample certainly seems to live up to the reviews. I was interested in the book anyway, and I got used to the voice and the narrator's style. I wouldn't go looking for another Brooks narration, and if I had a choice between him and someone else I'd go with someone else, but the content held my interest nevertheless.

Advert

Advert