Robert Kirkwood presents a daily talking book show on RNIB's Insight Radio as well as producing and researching lots of other shows. Kim Normanton spoke to him about the books of his life.
Having worked in the world of talking books for some time now was it difficult to whittle down your selection to just five?
It was, there are hundreds of books I've worked on over the years because I started with the charity Listening Books before moving on to work with RNIB.
Tell us about a first book that stands out from your childhood.
From my childhood I'd have to choose 'Silly verse for kids' by Spike Milligan. My dad was a huge fan of Spike Milligan and the Goons and he read me the 'Ning nang nong' so often that I knew it off by heart and that's something I've passed on to my own son now. It was my first introduction to audio books as he got the Goon show albums from the local library and I would always ask for them to be played.
What about your later years as a teenager?
I'm going to stick with Spike Milligan. I read 'Adolf Hitler, my part in his downfall' and other books from a box set by him - some of the content was really quite dark, given that he was a comedian. I got the audio version of that from the library in a huge plastic box full of cassette tapes.
Tell us a bit about the job you do for Insight Radio.
My main job is producing and presenting the Talking Book Show. It means selecting the book, often via a suggestion from a listener. I will then scan the book, not really reading it but scanning it for things that can't be broadcast at three pm. It's a bit of a balancing act.
I've learned a lot from being a talking books engineer. I really enjoyed producing Anthony Holden's book 'Big deal'. He's really known as a royal biographer but took a year off to play poker.
What aspect of your work do you enjoy most?
I like author interviews. I try and get as many on the show as possible. For the past four years the organisation behind the Man Booker prize have had an agreement with RNIB to make the shortlist available in all formats including professionally narrated talking book. We've been lucky enough to interview almost all of the shortlisted authors during those years which has been brilliant.
Do you have a favourite talking book?
I love Bill Bryson books. I'd love to have him on my show. I really enjoy his history books. I particularly enjoyed his book 'At home', which is a historical tour around his own house. He explores why we use salt and pepper, why some windows are bricked up, what we mean by bed and board and answers to questions like that, some of which are very surprising and intriguing.
And finally, what are you reading at the moment?
I've embarked on an epic: I'm reading George RR Martin's 'A song of ice and fire'. I'm determined to read them all. The first book is called 'Game of thrones'. It's a huge book at 800 pages and the audio book lasts over 35 hours - and that's just volume one, there are seven more to go!
Robert's choice of books
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Adolf Hitler my part in his downfall by Spike Milligan is available TB 5376.
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Big Deal by Anthony Holden is available as TB 12991.
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At home by Bill Bryson is available in braille, giant print and TB 17908.
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Game of thrones by George R R Martin is available as TB 19231
You can listen to Robert on RNIB's Insight Radio online at insightradio.co.uk, on Sky Channel 0188 and on 101 FM in the Glasgow area and now on your iPhone.