The Listening Books Podcast

'My reading experience with poetry is that I'm in the presence of some...body and we're in that kind of potentially ... it might be that slightly late night kitchen table moment where you've sort of got through all the news and the stuff and you actually enter into where you really are, and what's going on, and what you really need to talk about.' Poet Fiona Bennett and Actor Michael Schaeffer tal...

The kayak gives this incredible perspective on the world, where you are really embedded in the worlds of the species, you're surrounded by other animals, they don't respond to you in the way that they respond to humans on foot because obviously they are so much more skilled in and on the water than you are. Writer and historian David Gange talks to Jessica about his book The Frayed Atlantic Edge:...

It does play huge roles in describing the character and circumstances, but really it's there because I love food! Author Claire Fuller talks with Jess about her latest novel, Unsettled Ground , shortlisted for the 2021 Women's Prize for Fiction, and her third novel, the simmering, suspenseful Bitter Orange . Claire reflects on the roles music and food play in her story-telling, and she describes h...

My other conviction here, is that when you're writing difficult things, you should make them as rich and pleasurable as possible for the reader, that there need to be compensations... Author Francis Spufford talks about what it's been like to launch his new novel, Light Perpetual , during a pandemic, the many talents and accents required of audiobook narrator Imogen Church, the fondness he holds f...

I was telling a story, and as an actor, as an artist, that's the central love.  Actor and audiobook narrator Kobna Holdbrook-Smith talks about what it was like to voice Rivers of London as his very first audiobook, what he had to unlearn to do voice work, how Frank Sinatra inspired his mic technique, and even his first experience of snow . He also offers a heap of recommendations for your reading...

'I wanted it to look like how it feels like, and how it feels to be Irish sometimes is that you are in a murder mystery.' Caroline O'Donoghue, host of Sentimental Garbage and author of Promising Young Women, Scenes of a Graphic Nature and the forthcoming YA novel All Our Hidden Gifts, tells Jess about playing with different genres, how some endings are too unbelievable to work, the inherent witchi...

Coming to a feed near you Thursday, 18 March 2021.

May your books be the best kind of company. The second episode of our 2020 two-part special, and our festive holiday gift to you. Amy, Abbie, and Jess talk about how their reading habits changed during the pandemic and which books and audiobooks saved the day. We also hear from authors Jenny Eclair, Bali Rai, and Sally Gardner about their comfort reads. Tayari Jones, Yangsze Choo, Georgette Heyer,...

'Skip to the famous parts!' Writer and comedian Adam Buxton misses David Bowie, and he misses his dad. Here he talks with Amy about his new book Ramble Book: how it started, why it changed, how humourist David Sedaris influenced his process, and what might be next. With him, we ramble through pop culture, comedy, audiobooks, the 80s and 90s, boarding school, and more.

'As an Irish person I have no such inhibitions.' For the last episode of the series, Jess talks to Gillie Howarth, who chairs the Listening Books Board of Trustees, about how it all began, and how it's grown along the way. We also hear from Listening Books ambassadors Sally Gardner, Bali Rai, Kit de Waal, and Jenny Eclair. Finally, Nik de Garis, on his last day as audio producer, recalls proud ach...

'I know not of the squeaky wheel.' Wail Qasim makes his debut appearance on the podcast, joining Amy Flinders and Jessica Stone for a chat in celebration of Listening Books' 60th birthday, focusing on books popular with Listening Books members before turning to some of Wail's and Amy's favourites.

'I wasn't that sorry.' The ever-so-charming author of the Charles Paris, Mrs Pargeter, Fethering and Blotto & Twinks series of crime novels joins Jessica in the studio to talk about the experience of narrating his own work, how to spot a crime writer's misdirections, and even what it was like to work with Douglas Adams on the pilot episode of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Listening Books is an...

'And suddenly it starts to make sense.' Andrew Bell and Sarah Matthews join Jessica to round up some books they feel are even better as audiobooks than in their traditional printed format. From author-read autobiographies to full cast performances, they talk about which books and why they'd rather listen to.

'Being read to is a basic human need.' Jess meets the person behind the microphone to find out more about what it takes to be a narrator. Voice artist Bronwen Price talks about what it is like to record stories in the studio, what helps her give her best performance and what her dream books to read would be. Listening Books is an audiobook charity for anyone who struggles to read or hold a book du...

'I don't want to be distracted by the voice.' Jess is joined by Listening Books staff members Nik and Claire to talk about the art of audiobook narration. What are the qualities that set the best narrators apart, and what quirks let a good book down? Nik and Claire recommend some favourite narrators before being put through their paces in Jess's dastardly quiz. Listening Books is an audiobook char...

'You cannot have her owl.' Writer, classicist, broadcaster and comedian Natalie Haynes brings her wit and humour to the studio to share her love of the classics and discuss her latest book . Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2020, A Thousand Ships is a reimagining of the fall of Troy, this time as told by the women (and goddesses) swept up and knocked down by the war. Listening Books i...

Once upon a time in a recording studio far away, three women sat round to talk of fairies and bears! In this first episode of season two, Jessica Stone talks to Louise Barling and Abigail Jaggers from Listening Books about some of their favourite reimaginings of myths and fairy tales. Listening Books is an audiobook charity for anyone who struggles to read or hold a book due to illness, disability...

A treat to bring in the new year, an extra slice of conversation between Mark Evans and Jessica Stone, talking all about Mark's voracious reading habits. Listening Books is an audiobook charity for anyone who struggles to read or hold a book due to illness, disability, learning difficulty or a mental health issue. To find out more about what we do, go to www.listening-books.org.uk

'Come on, Charles, get a grip.' Comedian, writer and avid reader Mark Evans sat down in the Listening Books studios with Jessica Stone to talk about his BBC Radio 4 smash hit comedy, Bleak Expectations and his relationship with the works of Charles Dickens. Listening Books is an audiobook charity for anyone who struggles to read or hold a book due to illness, disability, learning difficulty or a m...

'What is the Grinch? A green cat?' Sit next to the fire, pour some warm milk, grab a gingerbread man and settle in with Jessica Stone as she chats with Listening Books staff members Abbie (the Christmas elf) and Amy (the Christmas grinch) about about the best books to read this season and what literary adventures they'll be taking over the holidays.  Listening Books is an audiobook charity for any...

'It's all just for a Guardian mug.' What happens when judges overturn a popular vote? The Guardian's Sam Jordison, organiser of the long-running Not the Booker Prize, chats with Jessica about the nature of literary awards, and the sometimes tense conversations that arise about what's fair and what's worthy. Listening Books is an audiobook charity for anyone who struggles to read or hold a book due...

'I had to just put the book down to have a good cry.' Jessica Stone passes the tissues to our panel of Listening Books staff, Louise Barling and Jenny-Ann Lewis, as they discuss the books, both fiction and non-fiction, that have brought on the waterworks.   Listening Books is an audiobook charity for anyone who struggles to read or hold a book due to illness, disability, learning difficulty or a m...

'No one is more goth than Mary Shelley.' To celebrate 200 years of Frankenstein , or The Modern Prometheus , Abigail Jaggers tells Jessica all about the bizarre life of the writer Mary Shelley, as they take a deep dive together into the story that has been so influential, you might feel like you've read it even if you haven't. Listening Books is an audiobook charity for anyone who struggles to rea...

'Are you crazy? Don't go in the Basement!' What makes a horror story a horror? Who's the real monster? In this first episode, host Jessica Stone delves into the dingy depths of horror books with Claire Bell and Nik de Garis as they talk about some of their favourite spooky reads and puzzle out Jess's Horrible Horror Anagrams.   Listening Books is an audiobook charity for anyone who struggles to re...

Get ready for a brand new podcast from the UK charity Listening Books looking at books with an audio slant. This series will look at the highs and lows of horror, why Mary Shelley was a goth, the upcoming book award season as well as why Charles Dickens would definitely have recorded his own audiobooks. Listening Books is a UK Charity that provides audiobooks for anyone who struggles to read or ho...