The Shoemaker's Wife question

Dear Stephanie, Margaret, Celeste, Anita and Linda,

Thank you for posting here on GoodReads- I love this site.

We tried something with the audio book, that for some readers was a total failure. There are some readers who really liked it- but I felt that we needed to revisit the interpretation on the audio. So, I went back to the publisher and a fabulous actress re-recorded The Shoemaker's Wife in its entirety. Sometimes, as in the case of the Big Stone Gap series, I recorded the abridgments, and a professional actress recorded the unabridged. Now, with the technology, we do unabridged recordings- no more abridgments. I take your opinions to heart and hear you loud and clear. Thank you for listening, for reading and for sharing your thoughts here. xoxo Adriana Trigiani

Dear Stacey, Sorry I am just responding to your post - if you scroll above, you'll see that there is a single narrator recording of The Shoemaker's Wife- I agree, in the two narrator format, the first reader was fabulous. The second voice was me- and I'm laughing so hard- because it takes a certain insight to know that a person is very large from their voice- but from your post, I promise to work harder at the gym - and the speech impediment? I have one! When I'm exhausted I have a lisp- I have an overbite - and it comes out- So please forgive me- going forward, you can listen to the brilliant Blair Brown read All the Stars in the Heavens and the magnificent Edoardo Ballerini read Kiss Carlo- I am sticking to the writing and hope you love the results! Thank you for your honest review! oxoxx Adriana

I too, had two readers. The first was lovely to listen to. The second was not a easy on the ears, but I got used to her. she wasn't bad, just not as lovely as the first. I don't know who was who, and I didn't understand why this was done. Most likely if I had never heard the first and only had the second, I would not have minded hearing it read by her. It was only the comparison of the two that made the latter one sound more harsh. Thanks for clearing up the mystery for me.

I agree the Annabella Sciora was a good choice as narrator. I like the Adriana T. personally responded. I have the Queen of the Big Time on deck in my book case.

I actually am not found of the "professional actress" who reads the audio book. First of all, you need a dramaturg to ensure that the reader does not mispronounce words. I am halfway done and have heard:
"Mantilla" pronounced as man-TILL-a, instead of mahn-TEE-ya;
"moire" (fabric) pronounced as "moir" (
"contemplative" as COM-tin-PLAY-tive instead of "con-TEM-plative

Plus her fake breathy voice annoys me and her Italian accent stinks. I could do a 100% better job and I am willing to do so to prove my point--for free.

I read this book a while ago and just had all of these conversations pop up on my "home" page. I giggled when I read the first post. I loved this book and have to admit that I groaned when the second reader came on board. Towards the end of the book, I became accustomed to the mature voice, the mature character.

I was so confused when the narrator for THE SHOEMAKERS WIFE changed without reason that I Googled to find out why. I see others commented. I love all of your books and hope you don't change narrarators in mid stream again.

Our library has the 2 narrator version of this audio, and I will say, as much as I at first was annoyed, the author's voice actually grew on me. I think, because it was in such stark contrast to the original narrator's voice, it felt wrong at first. However, as I kept listening, Trigiani's voice did fit here and I have enjoyed the rest of the audio. I wept like a baby in the final chapters and I credit Trigiana for giving her characters such emotional depth, in her writing AND in her voice. So, thank you for that, Ms. Trigiani!

I thought I read in someone's review that the second reader was actually Adriana Trigiani??

Stephanie wrote: "I am listening to the audio version of this book and the reader is wonderful then all of a sudden the reader changed, not so pleasant! Anyone know what is going on?? My audiobook says there is on..."
The author takes over the narration half way through.

Pretty cool that the author posted! I felt the same. On the version I had, it did note two narrators, but I still wasn't expecting the transition. I didn't like it at first, as I had gotten use to Annabella Sciorra's voice(and thought it was perfect!), but Adriana Trigiani grew on me by the next disc.

I am currently listening to the audio version, downloaded from my library. As Stephanie commented back in July, all of a sudden the narrator changes. Very unexpected and not as easy to listen to. The first narrator was so pleasant. I wish narrator #1 never left.

Adriana is one of the few famous authors out there who still answers emails herself and responds on her Facebook page.... herself! She is extremely down to earth, kind and generous and is truly grateful to all of her fans. If you ever get the chance to meet her in person at a book signing--- GO! You won't be disappointed. She is extremely funny and honest.

I also listened to the audio and I loved the book. It was a good story and there was only one reader - she was good. I've read or listened to all of Adriana Trigiani's books and I like them!

I sent her an e-mail once and she responded immediately and so thoughtfully.

I agree that the first reader was much more pleasant to listen to. The second reader is the Author. At the end of the recording there is a brief interview with her and she explains why she thought the change in reader added to the telling of the story. Sorry to dissapoint but the original reader won't return.

Hated the 2nd reader. I don't care if she is the author. She should stick to what she does best (writing), and let a person with a good reading voice do all the talking. The first reader was PERFECT! The 2nd one sounded like a very large person with a slight speech impediment and it did not fit the voices of the beautiful, romantic figures featured in the book. Ruined the experience for me. I'm so mad about this, because I was really enjoying the book up to the point where she jumped in. Sorry, but UGH!