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
Sep 20, 2019 • 58min
137: Mary Beard, Chris McQueer, Andy Stanton, Booker Shortlist and an audiobook party
A packed show this week with Red Szell out and about at a party and a picnic ...
A chat with Eve Smith from the Booker Foundation at the 2019 shortlist party.(Starts at 1.14)
Chris McQueer tells Robert Kirkwood how he started writing. (8.35)
Mary Beard on history books and contemporary politics. (17.25)
From RNIB Library, Lynne Livingston gives us some new book recommendations. (28.28)
We hear some familiar voices enjoying The Audiobook Workers Picnic. (34.25)
And Mr Gum author Andy Stanton shares the books of his life. (48.05)
Sep 16, 2019 • 9min
Chris McQueer - narrating short stories n' that.
As his books 'Hings' and 'HWFG' are released in audio, author Chris McQueer joins Robert Kirkwood in the RNIB Talking Book Studios to chat about writing, narrating and ending up in Twitter jail.
Sep 13, 2019 • 58min
136: Booker Prize Retrospective
As the 2019 shortlist is announced, Robert Kirkwood and Red Szell listen back to some past Booker winners
2018 - Red reviews Milkman by Anna Burns (Starts at 1.20)
2017 - Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (4.38)
2016 - The Sellout by Paul Beatty (15.42)
2015 - A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James (23.58)
2014 -The Long Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan (33.10)
2013 - The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton (44.50)
... all interviews recorded before the winner of that year was announced.
Sep 6, 2019 • 58min
135: Celia Anderson, Jackie Kay and Christopher Scott
Today we’re exploring life’s long and winding road ...
Celia Anderson transports us to Cornwall for a stroll down to '59 Memory Lane'. (Starts at 1.10)
Jackie Kay traces her roots along ‘The Red Dust Road’. (16.45)
Christopher Scott reflects on his career as a Talking Book narrator, and how it changed his life. (28.00)
And we return to Celia Anderson for the books of her life. (46.30)
Aug 30, 2019 • 58min
134: Patrice Lawrence, Peter Robinson and Kate London
This week we’re investigating crime fiction:
Patrice Lawrence discusses her eagerly anticipated new novel ‘Rose Interrupted’. (Starts at 2.04)
Peter Robinson opens the case file on his best-selling detective DCI Banks. (14.10)
Former Met Police Officer Kate London tackles knife crime in ‘Gallowstree Lane’. (29.40)
Red investigates the crime story that made him want to become a writer. (37.00)
And we return to Patrice Lawrence for the books of her life. (45.05)
Aug 23, 2019 • 58min
133: Hope Through Adversity
Harriet Shawcross explores the awkwardness of silence in her book “Unspeakable”. (Starts at 1.00)
Carolina Setterwall reveals how writing helped her navigate bereavement. (21.08)
Zena Cooper takes an upbeat look at what you can see when you can’t see. (35.38)
And we return to Carolina Setterwall for the Books of her Life. (48.43)
Aug 16, 2019 • 58min
132: All at Sea
Today we’re manning the boats and taking to the sea.
Historian David Gange takes us on a journey of discovery around ‘The Frayed Atlantic Edge’ of Britain and Ireland. (Starts at 1.14)
Robert Kirkwood plunges into some books about The Titanic. (19.50)
Adventurer Mick Dawson recounts the highs and lows he encountered when rowing The Pacific. (31.30)
Coastal dweller Joanna Streetly discusses her ‘Wild Fierce Life’ beside, and in, the sea. (43.00)
And we return to David Gange for the books of his life. (49.39)
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)
