Rnib Talking Books

Every Saturday during the run of the show, audio describer Neville Watchurst is in a booth at SKY, writing and recording the audio description for the brand new episodes of Game of Thrones.  How does he convey the action, how does he avoid giving spoilers, and how does he fit it all in? Robert Kirkwood finds out. Every published book in George R. R. Martin's epic saga 'A Song of Ice and Fire' is available in Braille, giant print and audio from RNIB Library.

Nicola Cornick blends romance and social history in her new time-slip mystery ‘The Woman In the Lake’. (Starts at 1.02) Bernard Cornwell appears on-stage to talk about Shakespeare’s past, and his novel ‘Fools and Mortals’. (Starts at 18.45) John Carlin recalls how rugby played a pivotal part in the birth of The Rainbow Nation. (Starts at 29.45) And a return to Nicola Cornick for the books of her life. (Starts at 49.07)

Red Szell and Robert Kirkwood go through the Read On and Talking Books archive for some great interviews. Narrators Kate Okello and Penelope Freeman tell Red about some favourites. (Starts at 1.00) Will Self talks to Robert Kirkwood about his Booker shortlisted book Umbrella (Starts at 8.22) Giles Abbot, the UK's only blind narrator, tells Red how he got started in the industry (Starts at 23.38) Robert Kirkwood interviews comedienne and narrator Juliette Burton live on stage at the Edinburgh International Book Festival (Starts at 35.00) And finally Red Szell talks to psychoanalyst Stephen Grosz about his book 'The Examined Life' (Starts at 42.22)

In this week's show, Stella Duffy takes us to New Zealand during World War 2, in her continuation of Ngaio Marsh’s unfinished novel ‘Money In The Morgue’. (Starts at 1.05) J O Morgan discusses turning his Costa Award-winning poem ‘Assurances’ into an RNIB Talking Book. (Starts at 23.40) Debut author Beth O’Leary introduces us to ‘The Flatshare’, a love story with a twist. (Starts at 38.50) And a return to Stella Duffy for the books of her life. (Starts at 50.00)

Marcus du Sautoy discusses whether artificial intelligence might soon think and write like we do. (Starts at 1.00) Sidney Harbour reminisces on 50 years of repairing Talking Book machines. (Starts at 26.30) Rosie O’Dowd tells us about life as an audiobook producer. (Starts at 40.20) And a return to Marcus du Sautoy for the books of his life. (Starts at 50.00 )

This week we’re laughing in the face of adversity. Judy Leigh takes us on the run with three generations of women in ‘The Age of Misadventure’. (Starts at 1.17) Marcus Berkmann suggests confronting your mid-life crisis in ‘A Shed of One’s Own’. (Starts at 19.10) Former Marine Simon Mahony has a field guide to combat negative attitudes to sight loss. (Starts at 29.47) Then a return to Judy Leigh for the books of her life. (Starts at 46.10)

Louise Jameson talks about her time in the TARDIS playing Leela, and her reincarnation as a narrator. (Starts at 1.26) Blind actor Ellie Wallwork discusses her recent role in Doctor Who and her love of reading. (Starts at 19.18) We 'Set Phasers to Stun' as Marcus Berkmann takes us through the history of Star Trek. (Starts at 31.35) We chat to audiobook narrator and the voice of Ash Ketchum in Pokemon, Veronica Taylor. (Starts at 43.30) And a return to Louise Jameson for the books of her life. (Starts at 48.00)

This week, Author Fionnuala Kearney explores relationships and marriage in ‘The Book of Love’. (Starts at 1.12) We journey to Spain with writer and farmer Chris Stewart. (Starts at 18.00) 20 years since the film version was released, Esther Freud revisits her childhood memoir ‘Hideous Kinky’. (Starts at 35.45) And a return to Fionnuala Kearney for the books of her life. (Starts at 49.00)

Political journalist Ece Temelkuran confronts rising populism in ‘How to Lose a Country: The 7 Steps from Democracy to Dictatorship’. (Starts at 1.20) Bank of England advisor Jonathan Haskel introduces us to the dark matter of investment in ‘Capitalism without Capital’. (Starts at 20.22) Trina Beckett uncovers the fascinating lives of ‘The Wives of The Generals’ in her biography ‘Deadlier Than the Male’. (Starts at 45.10)

Today we're opening our satchels for some great contemporary children’s books. Onjali Q Raúf introduces us to ‘The Boy at the Back of the Class’. (Starts at 1.08) Anthony McGowan takes us onto The Moors in a snowstorm in his new novel ‘Lark’. (Starts at 20.55) We go behind the scenes to discover how RNIB is celebrating World Book Day. (Starts at 34.55) Then return to Onjali Q Raúf for the books of her life. (Starts at 49.30)

A thrilling episode this week as C. J. Tudor reveals her new novel, 'The Taking of Annie Thorne' (Starts at 1.20) Ian Skewis tells Robert Kirkwood about the brooding background to 'A Murder of Crows' (Starts at 25.50) Ex cop and now novelist Kate London tells Red Szell about 'Gallowstree Lane' (Starts at 39.15) And finally a return to C.J. Tudor for the books of her life. (Starts at 46.05)

World Book Day on 7 March 2019 is all about celebrating the magic of books and reading.  RNIB is proud to support World Book Day's mission to give every child and young person a book of their own, by making 14 new titles available in audio and braille. Lynne Livingston from RNIB Library tells us more. [Find out more here](https://www.rnib.org.uk/our-services/reading-choices/world-book-day-2019)

At Read On and RNIB Talking Books we were saddened to hear of the death of British author Andrea Levy at the age of 62. In 2010 the Long Song was nominated for the Booker Prize, and at the time she joined Robert Kirkwood down to line to talk about the book.  

On this week’s Read On we’ve got some brand new books to share Joanna Toye considers romance, retail and air raids in her novel ‘A Store at War’.  Comedian Limmy gets surprisingly down-to-earth and very funny in his autobiography. (Starts at 17.40) Crime novelist Sophie Hannah considers holding a grudge. (Starts at 38.10) And, with a nod to Valentine’s Day, Red reviews Sally Rooney’s millennial love story - ’Normal People'. (Starts at 43.20)

Jason Roberts talks to Red Szell about his biography of the blind traveller James Holman (Starts at 1.00) Jasper Winn on his sea kayak adventure documented in his book 'Paddle, A Long Way Around Ireland'  (Starts at 28.00) John Keay chats to Robert Kirkwood about his books China, and Eccentric Travellers.  (Starts at 38.00) Chris McMillan talks about China Vision and the importance of literacy (starts at 43.00)

In a packed Read On this week: Winner of the Costa Book of the year, Bart Van Es. (Starts at 1.45) Juliet Stevenson shares her passion for narrating Talking Books, and reveals the one that got away. (Starts at 12.00) Janice Galloway extolls the virtues of short stories. (Starts at 27.20) NB Dixon explores a medieval revolt through a hidden gem in the Library. (Starts at 37.55) Angus McDonald introduces us to a tale of love and blindness in The First World War. (Starts at 43.00) Then a return to Juliet Stevenson for The Books of Her Life. (Starts at 46.30)

After recording the audio version of his autobiography at the RNIB Talking Book studios in Glasgow, Brian Limond, better known as Limmy, chats to Robert Kirkwood about mental health, Yoker, book tours and Twitch ... and he turns the weans against us.

This week we’ve got a trio of Costa Prize winners Costa Book of the Year winner Bart van Es introduces us to his biography of ‘The Cut-out Girl’. (Starts at 2.00) Hilary McKay reveals which real-life character inspired her children’s book ‘The Skylark’s War’. (Starts at 22.30) And poet J O Morgan considers the 4-minute warning in his cold-war epic ‘Assurances’. (Starts at 39.00)

Lucy Foley takes us to the wilds of Scotland in her brand new thriller ‘The Hunting Party’. (Starts at 1.20) Guy Kennaway discusses assisted dying in his forthcoming memoir ‘Time to Go’. (Starts at 19.20) And we say farewell to June Whitfield and look back at her contribution to the RNIB Library. (Starts at 40.30)

This week we’re kicking off the New Year with a look ahead to the Costa Book Awards…. Stuart Turton mixes murder, mayhem and sci-fi in his dazzling debut: ‘The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle’. (starts at 1 min 20 secs) Professor Richard Wiseman examines why we like to scare ourselves with spine-chilling stories. (starts at 21 mins) And Candy Gourlay takes the long view of colonialism and gender politics in her gripping adventure story: ‘Bone Talk’. (starts at 32 mins in) Please note, in order to keep this podcast feed as navigable as possible, especially with screen readers, we've decided not to post individual features, just the whole show. Let us know if you have any objections or strong feelings about this at readonair@rnib.org.uk or find me on Twitter @Talking_Books  Thanks.