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
Aug 9, 2019 • 58min
131: Liz Fenwick, Mark Billingham and Di Langford
Liz Fenwick transports us to the Cornish coast in her atmospheric new novel ‘The Path to the Sea’. (1.20) Mark Billingham reveals how narrating his Thom Thorne detective thrillers has changed the way he writes them. (20.00) The doyen of audio description Di Langford reflects on bringing books, plays, TV series and feature films to life for those of us who have difficulty seeing them. (36.15)
And we return to Liz Fenwick for the books of her life. (52.12)
Aug 2, 2019 • 58min
130: Holiday Special
In a round up of some books we think you might pack in your suitcase, we listen back to ...
Stuart Turton on 'The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle' (Starts at 1.18)
Joanne Ramos on 'The Farm' (7.31)
Bart Van Es on 'The Cut Out Girl' (18.45)
C.J. Tudor on 'The Chalk Man' and 'The Taking of Annie Thorne' (28.12)
Lucy Foley on 'The Hunting Party' (36.40)
And for the first time ever, Robert asks Red for The Books of His Life. (49.10)
Jul 26, 2019 • 58min
129: Jess Butterworth, Andy Stanton and Jess Townsend
Jess Butterworth takes us deep into the Louisiana swamp in her new novel ‘Swimming Against the Storm’. (Starts at 1.25)
Mr Gum author Andy Stanton reflects on how history can inform our view of the present. (11.53)
Jessica Townsend picks up the story of her cursed and magical heroine, Morrigan Crow, in ‘Wundersmith.’ (26.48)
Blind author N.B. Dixon reviews a medieval adventure (42.18)
And we return to Jess Butterworth for the books of her life. (49.28)
Jul 19, 2019 • 58min
128: The Moon Landings in Literature
Celebrating 50 years since we first walked on the moon.
Andrew Smith reveals the stories of what the moon walkers did next in a brand new reissue of ‘Moondust” (Starts at 2.08)
Robert Kirkwood explores the works of fact and fiction inspired by space exploration. (21.15)
Commander Chris Hadfield reflects on his time as an astronaut. (34.43)
And we return to Andrew Smith for the Books of his Life (46.15)
Jul 12, 2019 • 58min
127: Frances Hardinge, Kwame Alexander, Elizabeth Acevedo and New College Worcester
Frances Hardinge revisits The English Civil War through her tale of dark inheritance: ‘A Skinful of Shadows’. (Starts at 1.00)
A group of students from New College Worcester tell us what they look for in a good book. (17.50)
The winner of this years CILIP Carnegie Medal considers the merits of literary awards. (24.00)
Kwame Alexander extols the benefits of basketball in his novel, ‘Rebound’. (35.38)
And we return to Frances Hardinge for the books of her life. (46.55)
Jul 12, 2019 • 14min
Summer Reading Challenge 2019 with RNIB
It's time for this year's Summer Reading Challenge, where children aged 4 to 11 are encouraged to visit their local libraries and read over the summer. The aim is to get each child to read 6 books. But what if print is not accessible? Well RNIB Library have the answerThis year's theme is 'Space Chase' ... and Lynne Livingston has more
Jul 5, 2019 • 58min
126: Dame Stella Rimington, Frederick Forsyth and Frank Gardner
Dame Stella Rimington reveals that she still keeps a sharp eye out for espionage despite retiring as chief of MI5. (Starts at 1.10)Frederick Forsyth and Frank Gardner go head to head in Cheltenham and spill the beans about how close fact comes to fiction (Starts at 25.25)And we return to Dame Stella Rimington for the books of her life (Starts at 51.00)
Jun 28, 2019 • 58min
125: Joe Heap, Niq Mhlongo, Celestial Bodies and more
On today's show, as ‘The Rules of Seeing’ is crowned Debut Romantic Novel of 2019, its author, Joe Heap, tells us what inspired him to write about sight loss. (Starts at 1.30)
Robert Kirkwood talks to Niq Mhlongo about how much things have changed for South African authors since the birth of The Rainbow Nation. (21.40)
We learn more about the Omani novel, Celestial Bodies, that won this year’s Man Booker International prize from publishers Sandstone Press (30.50)
Listener Gill Garret recommends a hidden gem that celebrates the beauty of The Lake District. (43.40)
And author of Long Way Down, Jason Reynolds, shares the books of his life. (51.12)
Jun 27, 2019 • 11min
Read On presenter Red Szell conquers Am Buachaille
What Red Szell did on his holidays!A blind British sportsman has successfully completed a unique extreme triathlon, including climbing a sea stack taller than Nelson’s Column, as part of a global challenge to show that disability is no barrier to adventure. Robert Kirkwood talks to our very own Red Szell.
Jun 21, 2019 • 58min
124: Ursula Buchan on John Buchan, Joanne Ramos on The Farm, plus Pen & Inc
This week, Ursula Buchan takes us Beyond The Thirty-Nine Steps to reveal the remarkable life of her grandfather John Buchan. (Starts at 1.02) Joanne Ramos asks what price would you pay for a new life in her extraordinary debut novel ‘The Farm’. (19.40) We bring you news of 'Pen & Inc' a new magazine dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusivity in children’s literature. (33.50)And a return to Ursula Buchan for the books of her life (46.50)
