Read On - The Audiobook Show from RNIB
RNIB Connect Radio
A weekly show all about audiobooks recorded at the RNIB Talking Book studios.
We talk to your favourite authors and narrators, along with reviews and news about new audiobooks.
Presented and produced by Robert Kirkwood, you'll find a new episode here every Friday at 1pm plus bonus content such as longer uncut interviews and episodes of our occasional extra show, The Book Group.
Talking Books is a free service from RNIB giving access to over 40,000 fiction and non fiction books for adults and children. Find out more by searching for RNIB Library.
Get involved and join the conversation by emailing radio@rnib.org.uk or find Robert on Twitter @Talking_Books
Other great podcast channels from RNIB Connect Radio
Connect - Our main channel with news, features and articles on sight loss.
Conversations - Blind and partially sighted people speaking about a wide range of topics.
Tech Talk - Technology for blind and partially sighted people.
Sport - See sport differently.
The Happy Hour - Mental health, mindfulness, and overall wellbeing.
Tracks of My Life - Take a journey through our guest's life.
Support - Other podcasts from RNIB.
TV Guide - Daily audio TV listings
We talk to your favourite authors and narrators, along with reviews and news about new audiobooks.
Presented and produced by Robert Kirkwood, you'll find a new episode here every Friday at 1pm plus bonus content such as longer uncut interviews and episodes of our occasional extra show, The Book Group.
Talking Books is a free service from RNIB giving access to over 40,000 fiction and non fiction books for adults and children. Find out more by searching for RNIB Library.
Get involved and join the conversation by emailing radio@rnib.org.uk or find Robert on Twitter @Talking_Books
Other great podcast channels from RNIB Connect Radio
Connect - Our main channel with news, features and articles on sight loss.
Conversations - Blind and partially sighted people speaking about a wide range of topics.
Tech Talk - Technology for blind and partially sighted people.
Sport - See sport differently.
The Happy Hour - Mental health, mindfulness, and overall wellbeing.
Tracks of My Life - Take a journey through our guest's life.
Support - Other podcasts from RNIB.
TV Guide - Daily audio TV listings
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 11, 2020 • 58min
197: Contemporary Crime Special
In today's show, we focus on Contemporary Crime. Mark Billingham on 'The Killing Habit' Matthew Parris on 'Scorn' Chris Brookmyre on 'Want You Gone' Emma Swan on narrating 'That'll Be The Day' And Red reviews 'Trunk Music' by Michael Connelly
Dec 4, 2020 • 58min
196: Interview with Sally Gardner, Tineka Smith and Alex Court, Charlotte Levin
Sally Gardner brings us a fairy tale for adults with The Snow Song.
Tineka Smith and Alex Court on 'Mixed Up: Confessions of an Interracial Couple'.
Robert Kirkwood talks to Charlotte Levin about her debut novel 'If I Can't Have You'.
And we return to Sally Gardner for the Books of her Life.
Nov 27, 2020 • 58min
196: Rewriting Crime Special with Sophie Hannah and Lynn Shepherd
This week we’ll be using our little grey cells to investigate some new developments in classic crime...
Sophie Hannah tells us why Hercule Poirot is working with a new partner, and her publisher talks about how the collaboration came about.
Lynn Shepherd discusses adding crime scenes to stories inspired by Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.
And Red finds the book in The Library that made him want to be a crime writer.
Nov 20, 2020 • 58min
195: Val Wood, Amanda Robson and Penny Melville-Brown
Val Wood discusses her new historical romance ‘The Lonely Wife’ and her long-standing role supporting those with sight loss in her local area of Hull and Yorkshire’s East Riding.
Amanda Robson leads us into the dark psychological world of her new domestic thriller ‘My Darling’.
Loyal listener, Penny Melville-Brown takes us on a European tour of her favourite crime fiction.
And we have a tribute to the recently departed actor and narrator Geoffrey Palmer.
Nov 13, 2020 • 58min
194: A 2020 Booker Prize Special
Ahead of next week’s announcement of who has won The 2020 Booker Prize, Read On this week features interviews with all six of the short listed authors as they discuss the background to their novels and the material they explore.
Ranging from a re-examination of the role played by African women during Mussolini’s 1935 invasion of Ethiopia to a dystopian near future in which a group of people live as hunter gatherers in the last wilderness on Earth, the six novels in contention for the World’s most prestigious literary prize reveal some surprising facts about their books and show a common concern with examining how people behave under pressure.
And we finish up hearing from one of last year’s joint winners, Bernardine Evaristo, who shares the Books of Her Life.
Nov 6, 2020 • 58min
193: Maaza Mengiste, MJ Ford and Brandon Taylor
Booker shortlisted author Maaza Mengiste takes us back to 1935 and introduces us to the African women who fought Mussolini's invasion of Ethiopia in 'The Shadow King'.
MJ Ford introduces us to his dark new crime thriller 'Watch Over You'.
And Brandon Taylor reveals how his Booker shortlisted debut 'Real Life' had to be saved from the trash!
Oct 30, 2020 • 58min
192: Polly Crosby, Douglas Stuart and Avni Doshi
Polly Crosby leads us into the haunting world of her debut novel ‘The Illustrated Child’.
Douglas Stuart reveals how a childhood afflicted by poverty and addiction in 1980s' Glasgow informed his Booker shortlisted novel ‘Shuggie Bain’.
Avni Doshi discusses the themes behind her debut ‘Burnt Sugar’, reveals how it has changed her view on audiobooks and her delight at also being shortlisted for this year’s Booker.
And we return to Polly Crosby for the Books of her Life.
Oct 23, 2020 • 58min
191: Caroline Corcoran, Tsitsi Dangarembga and Bernadine Evaristo
Caroline Corcoran introduces us to her disturbing new psychological thriller ‘The Baby Group’.
Tsitsi Dangarembga discusses her Booker short-listed novel ‘This Mournable Body’, and reflects on post-colonial life in Zimbabwe.
We hear from the joint-winner of last year's Booker Prize, Bernadine Evaristo.
And we return to share the Books of Caroline Corcoran’s Life.
Oct 16, 2020 • 57min
190: Gill Paul, Diane Cook and The New Wilderness
Gill Paul re-imagines the love triangle between the world’s richest man, the President’s widow, and one of the greatest soprano of all time in her historical novel ‘The Second Marriage’. Diane Cook walks us through her debut novel The New Wilderness, which has been shortlisted for this years Booker Prize. And we return to Gill Paul to hear the books of her life.
Oct 2, 2020 • 58min
189: Morten Bonde, Stuart Turton and Notes on Blindness
Morten Bonde discusses his self-help memoir Sentenced to Blindness: Now What?
Robert Kirkwood looks at Notes on Blindness, and the source material Touching the Rock by John Hull (Starts at 23.25)
And Stu Turton unveils his dazzling new novel 'The Devil and the Dark Water'
