Read On - The Audiobook Show from RNIB
500 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 days ago - ★★★★ - 6 ratingsA 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 [email protected] or find Robert on Twitter @Talking_Books
(https://twitter.com/Talking_Books) Other great podcast channels from RNIB Connect Radio
Connect (https://audioboom.com/channel/weeklyconnect) - Our main channel with news, features and articles on sight loss.
Conversations (https://audioboom.com/channel/conversations) - Blind and partially sighted people speaking about a wide range of topics.
Tech Talk (https://audioboom.com/channel/techtalkpodcast) - Technology for blind and partially sighted people.
Sport (https://audioboom.com/channel/sport) - See sport differently.
The Happy Hour (https://audioboom.com/channels/5022411) - Mental health, mindfulness, and overall wellbeing.
Tracks of My Life (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634228-tracks-of-my-life) - Take a journey through our guest's life.
Support (https://audioboom.com/channel/rnib-support) - Other podcasts from RNIB.
TV Guide (https://audioboom.com/channel/tv-guide) - Daily audio TV listings
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Episodes
368: Leeanne O'Donnell - Sparks of Bright Matter
April 19, 2024 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn today's show we talk to Leeanne O'Donnell about spirit and matter, love and lust, and reality and magic, all in her book Sparks of Bright Matter. We also look forward to the Boswell Book Festival with Gordon Turnbull and find new books in the RNIB Library.
367: Chioma Okereke - Water Baby & Percival Everett on The Trees: A Novel
April 12, 2024 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBRead On this week features Chioma Okereke with her coming of age audio book Water Baby set in the floating slum of Makoko in Lagos. We hear about The Trees: A Novel by Percival Everett and find new books entering the RNIB Library.
366: Louise Hare - Harlem After Midnight
April 05, 2024 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn today's show we're re-joined by Louise Hare as she tells us about the sequel to Miss Aldridge Regrets, Harlem After Midnight. Plus we delve into the archive to talk to Sara Collins about The Confessions of Frannie Langton, and find some brand new audiobooks that are also available from RNIB Talking Books.
365: Neil Lancaster - The Devil You Know
March 29, 2024 12:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBThis week Robert Kirkwood talks to former military policeman and former Met Detective, Neil Lancaster about the latest DS Max Craigie Book, The Devil You Know and how his career influenced his writing. Plus we find some brand new books out now and entering the Talking Books library.
364: Music and Literature
March 22, 2024 12:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn today’s show we listen to some books about music and musicians. We chat to Beth and Ben of The Bookshop Band, talk to the author of Outlaw Blues, a 500 page biography of Bob Dylan and then get some book recommendations from former Never Mind the Buzzcocks team captain, Phill Jupitus. Plus we find some brand new gems in the Talking Books library.
363: Nero Book Awards 2024
March 15, 2024 12:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn today's show we feature all four category winners in the first ever Nero Book Awards, First up we listen to a clip from the Non-Fiction winning book Strong Female Character by Fern Brady We have a long chat with Michael Magee about his Debut Fiction winning book, Close to Home We listen to a clip from The Swifts by Beth Lincoln, the Children’s Fiction winner Then, from the Booker Prize shows, we chat to the Fiction winner Paul Murray about The Bee Sting Then (after a swift last mi...
362: World Book Day 2024
March 08, 2024 00:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn today's show we celebrate World Book Day with Michael Morpurgo, Julia Donaldson, Betsy Griffin and find out about the free £1 from RNIB.
361: Becky Holmes - Keanu Reeves is Not In Love With You
March 01, 2024 12:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn today's show we dive into the murky world of romance fraud with Becky Holmes and her book Keanu Reeves is Not In Love With You which she narrated herself. Plus we find some brand new books in the Talking Books library.
360: Alex Leam - The First Man to Time Travel
February 23, 2024 12:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBThe First Man to Time Travel is the debut sci-fi comedy novel from Alex Leam. He tells Robert Kirkwood about the book, his inspirations and reading the audio version. Plus, staying in the sci-fi theme, we listen back to how Jeff Wayne turned War of the Worlds into a best selling album. All that plus some brand new books in the RNIB Library.
359: Alistair Lee - Australia's only blind voice over artist
February 16, 2024 12:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn today's show Alistair Lee, Australia’s only blind Voice Over Artist, talks to Amelia Hilton about his career so far. We also listen back to Keith Brymer Jones from The Great Pottery Throw Down talk about his book, Boy in A China Shop and find some new books in the RNIB Library. The picture is of King, Alistair Lee's guide dog.
358: Lynda Marron - Last Chance in Paris
February 09, 2024 12:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBThis week Lynda Marron chats to Robert Kirkwood about her book Last Chance in Paris, a funny, moving, above all life-affirming story of a make-or-break trip to Paris by an Irish couple following a tragedy. Plus we find some brand new audiobooks donated to the RNIB library.
357: Book Festival Special
February 02, 2024 12:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn today's show we re-visit some Boswell Book Festival favourites and chat to Frank Skinner, Denise Mina, Nigel Havers, Giles and Mary from Gogglebox and Winston Churchill's granddaughter, Emma Soames. Plus we find some brand new books in the RNIB Talking Books library.
357: Boswell Book Festival Special
February 02, 2024 12:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn today's show we re-visit some Boswell Book Festival favourites and chat to Frank Skinner, Denise Mina, Nigel Havers, Giles and Mary from Gogglebox and Winston Churchill's granddaughter, Emma Soames. Plus we find some brand new books in the RNIB Talking Books library.
356: Mari Hannah - The Longest Goodbye
January 26, 2024 12:45 - 57 minutes - 53 MBThis week Mari Hannah joins Robert Kirkwood to talk about her brand new Kate Daniels thriller, The Longest Goodbye, a book she didn't want to write. Also among some new books entering the Talking Books library we find one written and read by Cliff Richard and one that goes behind the scene of the Disney plus show, Welcome to Wrexham.
355: Hester Musson - The Beholders
January 19, 2024 12:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBThis week Robert Kirkwood is joined by Hester Musson to discuss her gothic, historical debut thriller about power and corruption, The Beholders. Plus, as always, we find some new gems in the RNIB library.
354: Books of 2023 - Part 2
January 12, 2024 12:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBRead 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
353: Books of 2023 - Part 1
January 05, 2024 00:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBWe 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.
352: Christmas Special
December 22, 2023 12:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBOn 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.
351: Rachel Greenlaw - One Christmas Morning
December 15, 2023 12:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBAnother 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.
350: Peter Swanson - The Christmas Guest
December 08, 2023 12:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn 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.
349: Science Special
December 01, 2023 12:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn 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 Fire. Plus we find some new science books in the RNIB Library.
Paul Lynch wins the Booker 2023
November 26, 2023 22:09 - 5 minutes - 4.63 MBWinner of the Booker 2023, Paul Lynch. For the full interview head to episode 345.
348: Booker Prize Winners Special
November 24, 2023 12:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn 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.
347: Jonathan Escoffery - Booker Prize 2023
November 17, 2023 12:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn 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.
346: Paul Murray - Booker Prize 2023
November 10, 2023 12:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn 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.
345: Paul Lynch & Sarah Bernstein - Booker Prize 2023
November 03, 2023 12:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn 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.
344: Rachel Hore - The Hidden Years
October 27, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn 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.
343: Nigel Planer, Kate Mosse and Rory Cellan-Jones - Wigtown Book Festival 2023 Part 3
October 20, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBThree 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 Talking Books Library.
342: Maggie O'Farrell, Kathryn Harkup and Jo Caulfield - Wigtown Book Festival 2023 Part 2
October 13, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn 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 of which is narrated by Meryl Streep!
341: Louise Doughty, Lynsey May and Ruth Scurr - Wigtown Book Festival 2023 Part 1
October 06, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBThis 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.
340: 20 Years of RNIB Connect Radio with Read On - Part 2
September 29, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBAs 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. And former manager of the Talking Book Studios, Ian Turner, talks about all the famous narrators w...
339: M.A. Kuzniar - Upon A Frosted Star and Midnight in Everwood
September 22, 2023 11:44 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBThis 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.
338: Ava Glass - Alias Emma: The Chase and The Traitor
September 15, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBOut 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.
337: 20 Years of RNIB Connect Radio with Read On
September 08, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBAs 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 Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time) and Bill Bryson (A Short History of Nearly Everythin...
336: Charlotte Levin - If I Let You Go
September 01, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBThis 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 Robert for her new, full blown, audiobook addiction Plus we find four new gems in the Talking Books l...
335: See Sport Differently
August 25, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBA 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.
334: Extreme Travel
August 18, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn 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 thought, hands over a cash deposit, as documented in 'Driving Over Lemons' Plus we find four new gems i...
333: Books Behind Bars
August 11, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 53.2 MBIn 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.
332: Maggie Craig - The Glasgow and Clydebank Sagas
August 04, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn 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.
331: Summer Reads
July 28, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBOn 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.
330: Life Unseen: A Story of Blindness with Selina Mills - Part 2
July 21, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 53 MBToday 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.
329: Life Unseen: A Story of Blindness with Selina Mills - Part 1
July 14, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn 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.
328: Art is Everywhere with Joe Haddow
July 07, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBJoe 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.
327: Narrator Special and the Summer Reading Challenge
June 30, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn 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 entering the RNIB library with Lynne Livingston.
326: Elodie Harper on The Wolf Den
June 23, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBToday 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.
325: Louise Finch, Katya Balen and Sita Brahmachari
June 16, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBToday 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.
324: Jessie Burton and Patrice Lawrence
June 09, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBThis 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 Lawrence. Plus with Lynne Livingston we find some new gems in the RNIB Talking Book Library.
HiVis Fortnight - Bonus Episode
June 06, 2023 11:43 - 16 minutes - 14.7 MBTwo interviews about HiVis fortnight and accessibility in local libraries. Robert Kirkwood talks to Lara Marshall of RNIB and Hywel Davies chats to Mark McCree from Reading Sight
323: Manon Steffan Ros and Ruta Sepetys
June 02, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn 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.
322: Michael Morpurgo, Esme Young, Val McDermid & Andrew Cotter - Boswell Book Festival 2023 Part 2
May 26, 2023 11:45 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBIn 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 dog. Plus, with Lynne Livingston, we look for some non-fiction books in the Talking Books library.