Over the past few years I’ve occasionally given readings of A GOOD AMERICAN while it was still a work in progress. Invariably at the Q & A part of the event, someone would put up their hand and ask, often a little tentatively, “Shouldn’t you be reading that with an American accent?”
It’s a fair question.
The answer is that yes, I should: the novel’s narrator, James Meisenheimer, is an American, through and through, born and raised in deepest, darkest Missouri.
The answer is also that no, I absolutely should not: my American accent is terrible, beyond strange, and if I tried it people would be so perplexed and offended that they wouldn’t pay any attention to what I was reading. In terms of awful mangling, it’s somewhere beyond Dick van Dyke in Mary Poppins, which is really saying something.
So, no surprise then that I was not invited to read for the audiobook version of A GOOD AMERICAN.
Instead the novel is going to be read by a gentleman named Gibson Frazier. This is what he sounds like, reading the opening passage of the novel:
Just as every reader brings their own perspectives and experiences to a book, and so makes every act of reading a unique experience, so every person who auditioned to read for the audiobook interpreted the words on the page in a different way. It was fascinating to hear the choices each person made – where to stop, where to pause, what to emphasize. For me, it breathed fresh life into text that I had (as you might imagine) read more times than is probably strictly healthy.
It’s a funny sensation, though, hearing your words read by someone else. Perhaps it shouldn’t be, given that the act of writing a book is itself an extended act of mimicry, especially when you choose a first person narrator to tell your story. But the more I’ve listened to Mr. Frazier read this piece – this was his audition – the more I’ve grown to like it. He has given my words a rich new dimension. I’m looking forward to listening to more.
I confess I have no experience of audiobooks as a consumer and so I come to this all as a complete novice. I’d love to know what you think. Did you enjoy the reading?
Comments 14
How fun! Is that how you pronounce Jette’s name? Never knew.
I think it sounds lovely, but the key for me is whether it sounds the way you envisioned it sounding. When I heard Kirsten Potter read the prologue of The Weird Sisters, I thought, ‘That’s exactly how I would have read it!’ Very cool.
That was wonderful! And between this and the extract, I’m really looking forward to reading your book (probably won’t do the audiobook, just because I don’t listen to them very often, just on very very long car trips!). I can only imagine how weird it is to hear another person read your words aloud –what a cool experience!
Author
I didn’t have any preconceived ideas about what I was looking for, but there was something about this guy that just sounded right to me. He sounds authentic – unactorly, if you like. I liked that.
Author
Of course, Eleanor, I only had one narrator to think about, but you had three, simultaneously!
You got a pretty good narrorator, dad. I like him.
Author
Thanks, Hallam. I’m glad you like him!
I have zero experience with audio books, and the first thing I thought (the writer in me) – before reading your comments after the sample audio, was, “I wonder if Alex liked this. I wonder how he reacted to someone reading words that mainly lived only in his mind, in his voice only.” I imagine it was quite an odd experience to listen to all the auditions (but exciting, too). I will say that I enjoyed every word of this audio excerpt and that the more your narrator read, the more I liked the sound of his voice. It was very soothing, but lively – if that’s possible. I agree with Julia. These two little morsels for us to sample have definitely whetted the appetite. Thank you. And can’t wait!
PS – And how sweet that your son weighed in! Love it.
I enjoyed that. There was a quality to the voice that gave enough interest to the piece without going over the top. That extract made me want to hear more.
Terry.
Author
Thank you Terry. I think it’s an incredibly difficult balancing act to keep a listener’s interest without going over the top, as you say. I think he does a great job.
And yes, Melissa – I know what you mean by “soothing, but lively”! I think you captured it well. Thanks for your kind words.
He does have a soothing voice — draws you in. A nice mix of emotion and change of pace without getting in the way of the listener’s own reactions. A new-to-me narrator.
I love this. I can’t wait to hear/read more!
Author
Thank you, Erika!
Alex, your language is gorgeous (“fell on her like a shower of jasmine”–perfect!) and the tone of Mr. Frazier is so suited to the words. You must be so thrilled. So looking forward to reading/hearing more. Will the audiobook come out at the same time as the book release (I’m not familiar with this part of publication…)?
And oh, how I thought Dick van Dyke’s MP’s accent was so right on when I was little–then I grew up and realized it was pretty ghastly (though Hollywood Maine accents aren’t much better)…but I will still admit a soft spot for that twinkling smile under all that carefully-applied soot!
Author
Thanks, Erika – yes, the audiobook will be released at the same time as the book.
I don’t think Dick van Dyke could get away with his accent these days. I’ve heard Americans do faultless British accents… and vice versa. Just not me, clearly!