Read On - The Audiobook Show from RNIB episodes
Showing episodes 301 to 310 of 600
Rewriting Crime Special with Sophie Hannah and Lynn Shepherd
This week we’ll be using our little grey cells to investigate some new developments in classic crime... Sophie Hannah tells us why Hercule Poirot is working with a new partner, and her publisher talks about how the collaboration came about. Lynn Shepherd discusses adding crime scenes to stories inspired by Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. And Red finds the book in The Library that made him want to be a crime writer.
Val Wood, Amanda Robson and Penny Melville-Brown
Val Wood discusses her new historical romance ‘The Lonely Wife’ and her long-standing role supporting those with sight loss in her local area of Hull and Yorkshire’s East Riding. Amanda Robson leads us into the dark psychological world of her new domestic thriller ‘My Darling’. Loyal listener, Penny Melville-Brown takes us on a European tour of her favourite crime fiction. And we have a tribute to the recently departed actor and narrator Geoffrey Palmer.
A 2020 Booker Prize Special
Ahead of next week’s announcement of who has won The 2020 Booker Prize, Read On this week features interviews with all six of the short listed authors as they discuss the background to their novels and the material they explore. Ranging from a re-examination of the role played by African women during Mussolini’s 1935 invasion of Ethiopia to a dystopian near future in which a group of people live as hunter gatherers in the last wilderness on Earth, the six novels in contention for the World’s most prestigious literary prize reveal some surprising facts about their books and show a common concern with examining how people behave under pressure. And we finish up hearing from one of last year’s joint winners, Bernardine Evaristo, who shares the Books of Her Life.
Maaza Mengiste, MJ Ford and Brandon Taylor
Booker shortlisted author Maaza Mengiste takes us back to 1935 and introduces us to the African women who fought Mussolini's invasion of Ethiopia in 'The Shadow King'. MJ Ford introduces us to his dark new crime thriller 'Watch Over You'. And Brandon Taylor reveals how his Booker shortlisted debut 'Real Life' had to be saved from the trash!
Polly Crosby, Douglas Stuart and Avni Doshi
Polly Crosby leads us into the haunting world of her debut novel ‘The Illustrated Child’. Douglas Stuart reveals how a childhood afflicted by poverty and addiction in 1980s' Glasgow informed his Booker shortlisted novel ‘Shuggie Bain’. Avni Doshi discusses the themes behind her debut ‘Burnt Sugar’, reveals how it has changed her view on audiobooks and her delight at also being shortlisted for this year’s Booker. And we return to Polly Crosby for the Books of her Life.
Caroline Corcoran, Tsitsi Dangarembga and Bernadine Evaristo
Caroline Corcoran introduces us to her disturbing new psychological thriller ‘The Baby Group’. Tsitsi Dangarembga discusses her Booker short-listed novel ‘This Mournable Body’, and reflects on post-colonial life in Zimbabwe. We hear from the joint-winner of last year's Booker Prize, Bernadine Evaristo. And we return to share the Books of Caroline Corcoran’s Life.
Gill Paul, Diane Cook and The New Wilderness
Gill Paul re-imagines the love triangle between the world’s richest man, the President’s widow, and one of the greatest soprano of all time in her historical novel ‘The Second Marriage’. Diane Cook walks us through her debut novel The New Wilderness, which has been shortlisted for this years Booker Prize. And we return to Gill Paul to hear the books of her life.
Morten Bonde, Stuart Turton and Notes on Blindness
Morten Bonde discusses his self-help memoir Sentenced to Blindness: Now What? Robert Kirkwood looks at Notes on Blindness, and the source material Touching the Rock by John Hull (Starts at 23.25) And Stu Turton unveils his dazzling new novel 'The Devil and the Dark Water'
Claire Allan, Janice Galloway and Gail Honeyman
Claire Allan discusses her dark new psychological thriller, The Liar's Daughter Janice Galloway joins Robert Kirkwood in the Glasgow studios to record her collection of short stories, Jellyfish (Starts at 21.36) Gail Honeyman tells us all about Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, before the book was released (31.20) And we return to Claire Allan for the books of her life. (46.46)
Clare Marchant, Nicola Cornick, some Talking Book Narrators and the Booker Shortlist
In today's show we hear the shortlist for this year's Booker Prize. Clare Marchant introduces us to her timeslip novel, The Secrets of Saffron Hall. (Starts at 7.30) A gathering of Talking Book narrators tell Robert Kirkwood about their favourite reads. (22.00) We timeslip back to Nicola Cornick's first visit to Read On. (34.11) And we return to Clare Marchant for the books of her life (51.48)