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When it comes to locations, unless it's near me, I probably wouldn't know the difference. I have no idea where "Sault Ste. Marie", let alone that it's said "Soo", not "Salt". I probably personally butcher all kinds of placenames. I listened to a book that recently had a bit of Welsh dialog and names in it. Assuming the narrator was right, I can only say I wouldn't have gotten any of the pronunciation right!
Back to the original post, I'd have to say to some degree, whether a narrator was "good" or "bad" would be subjective.
Issybird mentions Xe Sands. She does seem to be popular, but in the series of books I've listened to which she narrates, her "breathy sexy kitten" voice drove me crazy. That's the voice she uses for the non-dialog. Her dialog voices fit the characters, as best as I remember.
Angela Dawe gives emphasis in her non-dialog sections as if she's reading to a metronome in most of the books I have that she's read. Interestingly, in the most recent book (or two?) I've listened to from her, she's added a statement that she's a member of SAG-AFTA (I could be getting that acronym wrong). I think she's taken some acting classes that definitely improved her narration recently.
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