Read On
Issue 20 - Spring 2014
Welcome to another book-packed edition of Read On.
This time we have interviews with TV presenter-turned-author Richard Madeley explaining why he found it nerve-wracking writing books rather than picking them for the Richard and Judy book Club. We also hear from Michael Bond, the author of childhood favourite Paddington Bear books as well as the most borrowed author from the talking book library service - can you guess who that is?
If that's not grabbed your interest we hear from one of our newest narrators, Brigid Lohrey, and Pat Beech, Manager of the National Library Service, shares the Books of her life.
Alongside this we have lots of book reviews and suggestions for you to try.
A number of the people involved in the production of this magazine will moving on or into different roles. I'd like to thank them for their enthusiasm in putting together Read On and hope the new team have as much fun and enjoyment as we have had.
You can listen to all of our interviews in full and more at rnib.org.uk/readon or, if you have a DAISY or MP3 CD player, ask to switch to the DAISY version instead. Just call our Helpline on 0303 123 9999.
Deborah Ryan
Editor
News
Service news
From 1 April all library services will be provided from our Peterborough site. The Stockport site has now closed. Please continue to use our Helpline number 0303 123 9999 for all library related enquiries.
RNIB is committed to improving our library services so that our customers have access to reading in the way that they want as well as expanding the number of titles and choices available.
Easter opening
Please note RNIB's Helpline will be closed on the bank holidays, Good Friday 18 April, and Easter Monday 21 April. We'll reopen on Tuesday 22 April.
RNIB NI on the move
RNIB Northern Ireland offices have moved to Victoria House, Gloucester Street, Belfast BT1 4LS.
Read for RNIB Day is going on a Bear Hunt!
Read for RNIB Day has teamed up with publisher Walker Books to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the much loved children's classic "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" (available in giant print).
For a quarter of a century this fabulous story has taken children on an exciting journey through forests, lakes and bogs in their search for the elusive bear.
To mark the book's anniversary, we'll be taking thousands of children in the U K on the world's biggest bear hunt. This "real life" bear hunt will take the form of a curriculum approved reading lesson which will be fully accessible to children who are blind and partially sighted children so that they can go on the adventure with their friends and classmates too.
The bear hunt will be led by the book's author Michael Rosen. We would like Read On readers to ask their local school or nursery to take part, so that as many children as possible can join in at venues around the country or through a live web stream of the main event on Tuesday 15 July.
Children, and their own teddy bears, are asked to raise a minimum sponsorship of £1 to take part, and all the money raised will go to Read for RNIB Day to support RNIB's vital reading services.
Visit jointhebearhunt.com/rnib to find out more about how to get involved.
Changes to RNIB's Talking Book Service
Current subscribers of the Talking Book Services will already know
that RNIB is no longer providing a DAISY player on loan as part of the Talking Book Service. We appreciate that this is a significant change for talking book readers and it may cause concern.
We'd like to reassure existing customers who already have a loan player, that RNIB will continue to repair or replace it until their annual subscription comes up for renewal. We will write to you before your renewal date to remind you that the player is yours to keep.
When you renew your subscription (at the new lower price of £50), you will keep your current loan player for free; it will become your property. Once that happens, you will need to decide what action to take if the player goes wrong or you need to replace it.
We recognise that DAISY CD players are expensive, however talking book DAISY CDs can also be played on MP3 CD players. You may already have one at home or they can be bought from high street shops like Argos. RNIB also sells MP3 players that include a pack for battery or mains operation.
Portable M P3 CD player
Listen to your DAISY books at home or on the move with this lightweight Philips MP3-CD player. It plays both standard and MP3 CDs including DAISY books without the navigational structure. The player is circular and slightly larger in size than a CD so it's easy to hold or slot in to a bag. It's made from matt black plastic with 11 tactile control buttons and operates with two AAA batteries or mains power. Priced £38.00. Order code DH356.
One customer said:
"I was interested when I heard about the launch of your new Philips CD player. I didn't want to invest in a full DAISY player but wanted something that I could play my talking books on and just skip through the tracks, as opposed to be able to use all navigation levels. The small size of the player meant I could take it out with me, and I was delighted to have something I could take on holiday and lose myself in my books and music whilst lying next to the pool!"
Sovereign USB memory stick player
Listen to your music, audio books or local talking newspapers anywhere with this lightweight and compact portable MP3 player, straight from your USB memory stick. This player has superb sound quality and the four large yellow control buttons offer good colour contrast for quick and easy use. Includes built-in speakers and rechargeable batteries and can also be mains operated. Priced £27.00. Order code D H333.
Ruby portable video magnifier
If you use a video magnifier for reading print, we're offering a huge £104 off the Ruby portable video magnifier (HC55). Choose from 5 to 10 times magnification and different colour combinations to suit your reading needs. Great for taking with you when shopping or for reading bus timetables. Simply take a picture at arm's length and then bring the screen closer to read. Save up to 15 images at any one time. Uses four AAA rechargeable batteries as well as a mains charger. Price £295.00 (was £399.00).
Latest DAISY book box sets
The James Bond collection volume 2
Bond is back! 007 must pit his strength and wits against the bad guys to save the world and protect Queen and country. Priced £39.95. There are seven books on seven CDs that last 44 hours, 30 minutes. Order code 804918. Includes:
For your eyes only;
Thunderball;
The spy who loved me;
On her majesty's secret service;
You only live twice;
The man with the golden gun;
Octopussy.
Brother Cadfael mysteries volume 3
Books 9 to 12 in the Cadfael series. Further mystery and intrigue set in 12th century Shrewsbury as Cadfael is called upon as a medical examiner, detective, doctor, and diplomat. Priced £19.95. There are four books on four CDs that last 30 hours, 32 minutes. Order code 805023. Includes:
Dead man's ransom;
The pilgrim of hate;
An excellent mystery;
The raven in the foregate.
To order any of our products or for more information call RNIB's Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or browse our online shop at rnib.org.uk/shop
Prices and information are correct at time of publishing and each price shown is the price a blind or partially sighted customer will pay.
World Book Night
World Book Night will take place on 23 April 2014. World Book Night is about giving books and encouraging those who have lost the love of reading - or are yet to gain it - to pick up a book and read. Although RNIB will not be taking part this year we do have several of the chosen titles available from the Library. If it's not available from us, why not try your local public library? This year there a number of titles suitable for younger readers as well as some quick read titles to encourage less confident readers - great for practising your braille skills.
The chosen titles include:
The boy in the striped pyjamas by John Boyne.
Nine-year-old Bruno knows nothing of the Final Solution and the Holocaust. All he knows is that he has been moved from a comfortable home in Berlin to a house in a desolate area where there is nothing to do and no-one to play with. Until he meets Shmuel, a boy who lives a strange parallel existence on the other side of the adjoining wire fence and who, like the other people there, wears a uniform of striped pyjamas (braille, giant print, TB 15241 (Welsh translation available soon).
After the funeral by Agatha Christie.
At the reading of Richard's will, Cora was clearly heard to say: "It's been hushed up very nicely, hasn't it! But he was murdered, wasn't he?" Then Cora is savagely murdered. The family solicitor turns to Hercule Poirot to unravel the mystery (TB 17170).
Confessions of a GP: a year of life, death and earwax by Benjamin
Daniels.
A woman is troubled by pornographic dreams about Tom Jones. An 80-year-old man who can't remember why he's come to see the doctor. A witty insight into the life of a family doctor (available soon as a talking book).
Hello mum by Bernardine Evaristo.
Quick read series. A teenage boy is stabbed and left bleeding on the street. The boy's mother wonders how this could have happened to her son. She is full of questions, but when the answers lie so close to home, are they really what she wants to hear? (braille uncontracted and uncontracted single sided, double-line spaced, giant print).
Getting rid of Matthew by Jane Fallon.
What do you do when your secret lover finally decides to leave his wife and move into your flat - just when you've been thinking that you don't want him anymore? Getting rid of Matthew isn't as easy as it seems (TB 19593).
Theodore Boone by John Grisham.
Thirteen years old, Theo Boone dreams of being a great trial lawyer.
But Theo finds himself in court much sooner than he expected. He is suddenly dragged into the middle of a sensational murder trial (braille, giant print, TB 17796).
The perfect murder by Peter James.
Quick read series. Victor Smiley and his wife Joan have been married for nearly twenty years. Victor loathes Joan, Joan is bored by Victor. Victor decides there is only one way to get Joan out of his life forever, but he's about to get a nasty surprise (braille, giant print, TB 17459).
Tales of the city by Armistead Maupin.
A naive young secretary forsakes Cleveland for San Francisco, tumbling headlong into a brave new world of laundromat Lotharios, cut throat debutantes, and Jockey Shorts dance contests (braille, TB 14068).
Today everything changes by Andy McNab.
Quick read series. Abandoned as a baby, Andy McNab's start in life was tough. The Army education system changed the course of his life forever (available soon as UEB braille uncontracted and uncontracted single sided, double-line spaced; available now as giant print or braille for sale).
The recruit by Robert Muchamore.
A terrorist doesn't let strangers into her flat because they might be undercover police, but her children bring their mates home. She doesn't know that a kid has bugged her house. The kid works for CHERUB and CHERUB kids slip under adult radar and get information that sends criminals to jail (braille, giant print, TB 15003).
Whatever it takes by Adele Parks.
Eloise Hamilton is a Londoner born and bred, so it is a momentous day when she reluctantly agrees to uproot to Dartmouth, leaving behind her perfect world so her husband can finally live in his (braille, giant print).
Black Hills by Nora Roberts
This atmospheric novel is set against the wild Dakota hills. Cooper and Lil are compelling with the tension of their will-they-won't-they relationship ratcheting up as the hunt begins. You can't help but be gripped by every twist and turn (not available from the library).
The boy with the topknot by Sathnam Sanghera.
A funny account of growing up in an immigrant Sikh household in Wolverhampton in the 70s and 80s but Sathnam discovers a family secret about his father's and sister's mental health (not available from the library).
Author profile
Richard Madeley
Richard Madeley is best known as a television presenter with his wife Judy Finnegan. Their TV work launched the Richard and Judy Book Club, reviewing and recommending books by new writers and they've both recently become authors themselves. Richard spoke to Insight Radio's Robert Kirkwood about his first novel: Some day I'll find you, which was published last year.
What did you think of the audio version of your book?
I actually voiced the last book I wrote myself - a book called Fathers and sons about four generations of my family going back to the turn of the century and when we got to the more recent aspects of the book which involve dialogue, I suddenly had to impersonate my own mother and put on a falsetto Canadian accent. So it's a relief to have somebody else do all the voices in this book and it's great to be honest. It's the first time I've ever heard my fictional words read out by somebody and I find it hugely rewarding and satisfying.
What can we expect from the book?
The central character is Diana, a beautiful graduate from Girton College in Cambridge and she is seduced by a psychopathic spitfire pilot just before the war. The first part of the book is a wartime love story set mostly in 1938. Then during the war, the pilot is shot down and killed over France just after his wedding to Diana. We jump to 1951 and Diana, who has had a child by her now dead husband, has moved to the south of France with her second husband, a wealthy investment banker. The prologue opens with her sitting in a pavement cafe in Nice, reflecting on her life when she sees a taxi and hears the voice of her dead husband as it disappears around the corner. She is absolutely convinced it is him and resolves to find him. And that's how the story starts.