354: Books of 2023 - Part 2
Read On this week has more of the best interviews of 2023 with Joe Haddow, Charlotte Levin, Victoria Bennett, Carnegie Winner Manon Steffan Ros, and a round up of new books for January
58m Jan 12, 2024
58m
353: Books of 2023 - Part 1
We listen back to some interviews from last year including Randee Dawn on Tune in Tomorrow, C.K. McDonnell on The Stranger Times, Catherine Simpson on One Body and hear from narrator Gabriel Woolf. Plus we find some brand new books for January.
58m Jan 05, 2024
58m
352: Christmas Special
On today's show we curl up with some Christmas TV, or at least the books that they came from. Julia Donaldson and Charlie Mackesy talk about turning very visual books into audiobooks, we hear about the science behind James Bond, and listen to books about both Doctor Who and Ghosts.
58m Dec 22, 2023
58m
351: Rachel Greenlaw - One Christmas Morning
Another festive book on The Audiobook Show, this week Rachel Greenlaw tells Robert Kirkwood about her groundhog day inspired novel, One Christmas Morning. We also dive into the history of fairy tales and find some new listens in the RNIB Talking Books library.
58m Dec 15, 2023
58m
350: Peter Swanson - The Christmas Guest
In today's show Robert Kirkwood talks to Peter Swanson about his festive novella The Christmas Guest, and how the murder mystery at Christmas genre is unique to Britain. We also listen back to Tony Hawk's tennis adventure in Moldova and find some new books in the RNIB Library, one of which is written by Judy Dench.
58m Dec 08, 2023
58m
349: Science Special
In today's show a round up of some of the best science writing we've had on the show including Stephen and Jane Hawking, Chris Lintott, Marcus du Sautoy and The Boy Who Played with Fusion. Plus we find some new science books in the RNIB Library.
58m Dec 01, 2023
58m
Paul Lynch wins the Booker 2023
Winner of the Booker 2023, Paul Lynch. For the full interview head to episode 345.
5m Nov 26, 2023
5m
348: Booker Prize Winners Special
In today's show we listen to some previous winners of the Booker, the youngest ever winner Eleanor Catton on The Luminaries, Marlon James on his winning book, A Brief History of Seven Killings plus last year's winner Shehan Karunatilaka with The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, Plus we listen to some brand new books available in the RNIB Library.
58m Nov 24, 2023
58m
347: Jonathan Escoffery - Booker Prize 2023
In today's show we chat to Jonathan Escoffery about his debut novel, shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2023, If I Survive You. We also find some new books in the talking books library and discover why Google recently held a conference on accessible publishing.
58m Nov 17, 2023
58m
346: Paul Murray - Booker Prize 2023
In today's show we talk to Paul Murray about the multiple narrators in the audio version of his Booker shortlisted book, The Bee Sting, plus we hear a clip from Western Lane by Chetna Maroo. We'll also hear about some new books entering the Talking Books library.
58m Nov 10, 2023
58m
345: Paul Lynch & Sarah Bernstein - Booker Prize 2023
In today's episode we chat to two authors on the Booker Shortlist 2023. Paul Lynch takes us to a dystopian Ireland in Prophet Song and Sarah Bernstein spins a web of culpability and criminality in Study for Obedience.
58m Nov 03, 2023
58m
344: Rachel Hore - The Hidden Years
In today's show Robert Kirkwood finds out about Rachel Hore’s captivating new novel of secrets, loss and betrayal - set on the beautiful Cornish coast during World War Two and the heady days of the 1960s, The Hidden Years. Plus we find four brand new books entering the Talking Books Library.
58m Oct 27, 2023
58m
343: Nigel Planer, Kate Mosse and Rory Cellan-Jones - Wigtown Book Festival
Three more authors interviewed at the Wigtown Book Festival in this week's show. Ex-BBC technology correspondent, Rory Cellan-Jones tells Robert Kirkwood about his memoir Ruskin Park, we go swashbuckling with Kate Mosse and her book The Ghost Ship, and we time travel with actor and writer Nigel Planer as he tells us about Jeremiah Bourne in Time. Plus we find some new books entering the Talkin...
58m Oct 20, 2023
58m
342: Maggie O'Farrell, Kathryn Harkup and Jo Caulfield - Wigtown Book Festival
In a second visit this year to Wigtown, Robert Kirkwood talks to comedian Jo Caulfield about her moving memoir The Funny Thing About Death, we get poisons, monsters and some secret lairs in Kathryn Harkup's Superspy Science and we take a trip during the Italian Renaissance with Maggie O'Farrell and her book, The Marriage Proposal. All that plus four new gems in the Talking Books library, one o...
58m Oct 13, 2023
58m
341: Louise Doughty, Lynsey May, Stuart Paterson and Ruth Scurr - Wigtown Book Festival
This week Robert Kirkwood travels to Scotland's Book Town and talks to novelist Lynsey May about her debut book, Weak Teeth, Stuart Paterson reads his viral poem, Here's the Weather, historian Ruth Scurr talks about Napoleon: A Life told in Gardens and Shadow and author Louise Doughty talks about her brand new thriller, A Bird in Winter. Plus we find four new gems in the Talking Books Library.
58m Oct 06, 2023
58m
340: 20 Years of RNIB Connect Radio with Read On - Part 2
As RNIB Connect Radio turns 20, Read On this week looks back at some of the first authors, narrators and looks behind the scenes we've had on the show. Actor Allan Tall talks about preparing a Christopher Brookmyre book for narration and being thrown from his horse during the filming of Braveheart. Author Alan Bissett joins Robert Kirkwood after narrating his book, The Incredible Adam Spark. ...
58m Sep 29, 2023
58m
339: M.A. Kuzniar - Upon A Frosted Star and Midnight in Everwood
This week author M.A. Kuzniar joins Robert Kirkwood to talk about her bestseller Midnight in Everwood, a magical retelling of The Nutcracker, and her brand-new book, Upon a Frosted Star where The Great Gatsby meets Swan Lake. We also find some new gems in the RNIB Talking Books library.
58m Sep 22, 2023
58m
338: Ava Glass - Alias Emma: The Chase and The Traitor
Out now is Ava Glass’s second book in the Alia Emma series, The Traitor. Ava joins us to talk about her background as a journalist in America and with MI5 and MI6 in the UK and how it all shaped her main character. We also hear some new books in the RNIB Talking Books Library.
58m Sep 15, 2023
58m
337: 20 Years of RNIB Connect Radio with Read On
As RNIB Connect Radio turns 20, Read On this week looks at books of the same vintage. 2003 was a great year for books with bestsellers including Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix, The DaVinci Code and even The Atkins Diet. Robert Kirkwood picks five books from 2003 available from the Talking Books library, and we chat to authors Lynne Truss (Eats, Shoots and Leaves), Mark Haddow (The C...
58m Sep 08, 2023
58m
336: Charlotte Levin - If I Let You Go
This week Robert Kirkwood is joined again by Charlotte Levin, who was last on the show with her debut novel, 'If I can't Have You' which was released at the height of lockdown. Now a few years later, Charlotte is back to discuss a gripping, darkly comic tale of searing loss, coercive control and the consequences of taking the wrong path, her new novel 'If I Let You Go' ... and also to blame Rob...
58m Sep 01, 2023
58m
335: See Sport Differently
A sporty feel in today's show as we chat to commentator Mike Ingham about his book 'After Extra Time and Penalties: Memories of a BBC Football Correspondent' and why he had to narrate the audio version. John Carlin tells us about his book 'Playing the Enemy' and the Rugby World Cup Final that united South Africa, plus we find some old and new books about sport in the RNIB Talking Books library.
58m Aug 25, 2023
58m
334: Extreme Travel
In today's show, two extreme travellers. We hear about Royal Marine Commando Mick Dawson 'Rowing the Pacific' and his subsequent adventure with ex-marine Sparky Sparkes, who was not only a rowing novice, but also blind. Plus 25 years on, we revisit Chris Stewart, the eternal optimist. A man who flies to Spain, sees a peasant farm on the wrong side of the river and, with scarcely a second thoug...
58m Aug 18, 2023
58m
333: Books Behind Bars
In today's show we've been banged up! We hear the real life story about a prisoner of war escaping jail and execution as his cell was destroyed in the Dresden bombings, Rachel Kushner tells Robert Kirkwood about her jail novel, The Mars Room, and real life prisoner Erwin James talks about learning Braille in jail. We'll also find four new gems in the Talking Books Library.
58m Aug 11, 2023
58m
332: Maggie Craig - The Glasgow and Clydebank Sagas
In today's show author Maggie Craig tells Robert Kirkwood about the six books in her Glasgow and Clydebank Sagas and the people and places that inspired them. She also talks about her non-fiction history books, a forgotten hero, and gives us the books of her life. Plus we find some brand new titles entering the Talking Book library.
58m Aug 04, 2023
58m
331: Summer Reads
On today's show Cathy Bramley tells us about old fears, happy endings and new beginnings in The Summer that Changed Us, Monty Don tells Robert Kirkwood about his French Garden Journey, we find some new books generously donated to the RNIB Talking Books Library by some top UK audio publishers and end the show with some self-help books for summer.
58m Jul 28, 2023
58m
330: Life Unseen: A Story of Blindness with Selina Mills - Part 2
Today is the second part of Robert Kirkwood's interview with broadcaster and author Selina Mills about her brand-new book 'Life Unseen: A Story of Blindness', today looking at technology, education and asking, 'What is Blindness?' We also find four new gems in the Talking Books Library.
58m Jul 21, 2023
58m
329: Life Unseen: A Story of Blindness with Selina Mills - Part 1
In today's show we have the first part of an interview with broadcaster and author Selina Mills about her brand-new book 'Life Unseen: A Story of Blindness' a personal and unsentimental historical quest through the lives, stories and achievements of blind people. We also find some new books in the RNIB library and get the books of your life from film-maker Antony Baxter.
58m Jul 14, 2023
58m
328: Art is Everywhere with Joe Haddow
Joe Haddow is a super-fan of all forms of art. He is on a mission to show everyone how art can be found in so many different places, and created by so many different people. Robert Kirkwood chats to Joe about this inspiring, friendly guide to art and why it matters. Plus with Lynne Livingston of RNIB we find four great new gems in the Talking Book Library.
58m Jul 07, 2023
58m
327: Narrator Special and the Summer Reading Challenge
In today's show we talk to three very different narrators. Joan Walker talks to us about other publications recorded at the studios, Tam Dean Burn tells Robert Kirkwood how he became the voice of Irvine Welsh and Stephanie Ellyne talks about one the hardest books she has ever narrated. Plus we hear about some books available from RNIB in the Summer Reading Challenge and also some new books ent...
58m Jun 30, 2023
58m
326: Elodie Harper on The Wolf Den
Today Amelia Hilton chats to author Elodie Harper about her Wolf Den Trilogy, we get the books of your life from Louise Finch, hear some new books in the RNIB Library and find out the winner of the Yoto Carnegie Medal for writing.
58m Jun 23, 2023
58m
325: Louise Finch, Katya Balen and Sita Brahmachari
Today we chat to the three remaining authors on the Yoto Carnegie Shortlist. Katya Balen on the sweet but turbulent, 'The Light in Everything', Louise Finch gets us caught in a time loop with 'The Eternal Return of Clara Hart' and Sita Brahmachari finds light in the tragedy and trauma of 'When Shadows Fall'. Plus with Lynne Livingston, we find some new books in the RNIB Library.
58m Jun 16, 2023
58m
324: Jessie Burton and Patrice Lawrence
This week we listen to two more books shortlisted for the Yoto Carnegie Medal. Forget everything you've been told about Medusa as author Jessie Burton flips the script in this astonishing retelling of Greek myth. Plus a powerful and heart-rending exploration of a teenager's journey through grief, rage and getting caught in the criminal justice system in the book Needle from author Patrice Lawr...
58m Jun 09, 2023
58m
323: Manon Steffan Ros and Ruta Sepetys
In our first show featuring the shortlisted authors for this year's Yoto Carnegie Medal, Manon Steffan Ros talks about writing and translating 'The Blue Book of Nebo' and Ruta Sepetys takes us to Romania in her chilling book, 'I Must Betray You'. Plus with Lynne Livingston we find out what's new in the RNIB Library.
58m Jun 02, 2023
58m
322: Michael Morpurgo, Esme Young, Val McDermid & Andrew Cotter - Boswell Book Festival 2023 Part 2
In the second of two Boswell Book Festival shows, Robert Kirkwood talks to Michael Morpurgo about 'The Boy Who Would Be King' and why we should leave Roald Dhal books alone, Esme Young from Sewing Bee goes 'Behind the Seams', Val McDermid says why her books '1979' and '1989' were written due to Covid, and Andrew Cotter decides which one of his labs, Olive or Mabel, would make the better guide d...
58m May 26, 2023
58m
321: Giles and Mary, Gordon Turnbull and Katba Kassabova - Boswell Book Festival 2023 Part 1
In the first of two Boswell Book Festival shows, Robert Kirkwood talks to Boswell expert Gordon Turnbull about Boswell's travel writing, takes a journey through history, nature and the people of a Bulgarian valley with Katba Kassabova and her book Elixir and talks to reluctant TV stars Giles and Mary from Gogglebox about the peaks and troughs of county life. Plus, in the spirit of the Boswell f...
58m May 19, 2023
58m
320: Victoria Bennett - All My Wild Mothers: Motherhood, Loss and an Apothecary Garden
At seven months pregnant, Victoria Bennett was looking forward to new motherhood and all that was to come. But when the telephone rang, the news she received changed everything. In today's episode we chat to Victoria Bennett about her memoir All My Wild Mothers, the story of how sometimes life grows, not in spite of what is broken, but because of it. Plus with Lynne Livingston we find three n...
58m May 12, 2023
58m
319: The Coronation in Literature
In today's show we hear about the history of coronations with author Lucinda Gosling, hear some books by, and about, King Charles, and talk to Baroness Glenconner about her book Lady in Waiting - My Life in the Shadow of the Crown. Plus Lynne Livingston will be along with her round up of some new books entering the Talking Books Library
58m May 05, 2023
58m
318: New Books in the RNIB Library
There are so many books entering the RNIB Talking Book Library at the moment it can be hard to keep up, so with help from audio publisher Dominic Gribben from Hachette, senior audio manager at Orion, Paul Stark and Lynne Livingston from RNIB Library, Robert Kirkwood takes a deep dive to find some new gems.
58m Apr 28, 2023
58m
317: Ghost-writing with Marcia Layton Turner and motivational speaking with Blazin’ Blake Lindsay
The Invisible Pen and The Power of Words - two fascinating worlds of writing and speaking. Marcia Layton Turner has written over 30 books, and her work has appeared in major publications such as The New York Times and USA Today. She will share her secrets on how to bring someone else's story to life, the importance of trust and communication in the ghostwriting process, and how to maintain aut...
58m Apr 21, 2023
58m
316: Ryan Love - Arthur and Teddy are Coming Out
Robert Kirkwood talks to debut author Ryan Love about the brand new 'warm hug' of a book, Arthur and Teddy Are Coming Out Plus we listen back to a chat with an author and presenter listed in The Independent's list of most influential gay people, Neil McGregor
58m Apr 14, 2023
58m
315: History Books Special
From the sinking of the Titanic, Great Britain's Great War and the importance of preserving historical audio this show explores great works of history available from RNIB Talking Books, and even the history of RNIB itself.
58m Apr 07, 2023
58m
314: Multi-Cast Audiobooks
From the 166 voices in Lincoln in the Bardo, the dramatisation of a selection of 2000AD comics, or the multiple voices in The Golden Compass, today we explore the world of audiobooks that feature multiple voice actors. Featuring interviews with author George Saunders and head of audio production at Penguin Random House, Chris Thompson, join us as we dive into the world of multi-voice audiobook...
58m Mar 31, 2023
58m
313: Lost in Translation
This week, let's explore the fascinating world of translating books. Join us as we delve into the intricacies of language and the art of transforming literary works from one tongue to another. Nicola Smalley chats about her work translating Norwegian and Swedish into English and instead of a 'books of your life' she gives us three favourites she's translated. Plus we listen back to how 'The Dis...
58m Mar 24, 2023
58m
312: Narrator Gabriel Woolf
Today's show features a celebration of, and a chat with, one of the most distinctive and prolific voices in the RNIB Talking Books library, who first recorded for RNIB around 60 years ago, Gabriel Woolf.
58m Mar 17, 2023
58m
311: Books that Won the Oscar for Best Picture
From All Quiet on the Western Front, to 12 Years a Slave, and possibly returning to All Quiet on the Western Front, many winners of the Best Picture Oscar have been based on books. Robert Kirkwood grabs some popcorn and explores which of those books including Forest Gump, Silence of the Lambs, Gone with the Wind and the Godfather, amongst many others, are available in the RNIB Talking Books lib...
58m Mar 10, 2023
58m
310: World Book Day 2023 and Tips on Writing with Sight Loss
This week blind author Ami Turnbull tells the Tech Talk team how she wrote her book 'More!', we talk to children's author Laura Ellen Anderson about Amelia Fang and being a previous World Book Day Book author and we hear all 13 titles that blind and partially sighted children can get for free on this year's World Book Day.
58m Mar 03, 2023
58m
309: Catherine Simpson and Rosanna Amaka
On today's show Robert Kirkwood chats to Catherine Simpson about her memoir One Body: A Retrospective and how anyone can pick up a free audio copy on World Book Night. Rosanna Amaka weaves together the realities of war and the pain of first love in the brand new book 'Rose and the Burma Sky'. We also get some more healthy book recommendations from Paulina Kuchorew and Barry Snell talks to som...
58m Feb 24, 2023
58m
308: C.K. McDonnell - The Stranger Times and The Dublin "Trilogy"
In today's show we talk to C.K. McDonnell about his series of books, The Stranger Times, including the brand new book 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' and also the "increasingly inaccurately titled" Dublin Trilogy.
58m Feb 17, 2023
58m
307: Jon Gingerich, David Graham and some AI narrators
In today's episode we hear from author Jon Gingerich about his book The Appetite Factory, and how he raced to finish the book as his eyesight failed. We chat to our friends at Tech Talk about the new batch of AI narrators that are reading commercially available audiobooks. And we chat to a proper human narrator and voice of everything from Daleks to Peppa Pig's grandpa via Parker in Thunderbird...
58m Feb 10, 2023
58m
306: Meik Wiking, Richard Wiseman, Percival Everett and Everything I Know About Love
This week Paulina Kuchorew talks to Meik Wiking about his book, My Hygge Home, Robert Kirkwood talks to Professor Richard Wiseman about fear, magic and smiling, Amelia Hilton reviews Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton and we get the books of your life from Booker shortlisted author Percival Everett
58m Feb 03, 2023
58m