Read On RNIB National Library Service magazine for readers
Issue 20 Spring 2014 Passionate about books and reading
Richard Madeley on his first foray into fiction Our most borrowed author who could it be? Books of my life with Pat Beech
1 Read On 20
Read On is published by RNIB. First words © RNIB April 2014 From Deborah Ryan, Editor Reg. charity number 226227
Read On is available in print, DAISY audio CD, braille Deborah Ryan, and email. Editor Welcome to another book-packed edition of Editorial Read On. Deborah Ryan RNIB National Library Service This time we have interviews with TV presenter- Highbank House turned-author Richard Madeley. He explained why Exchange Street he found it nerve-wracking writing books rather Stockport SK3 0ET than picking them for the Richard and Judy Book Club. We also hear from Michael Bond, the author Telephone of the much-loved Paddington Bear books, as well 0161 429 1991 as from the most borrowed author from the talking Email book library service – have a guess who that is. The [email protected] answer is on page 12. Visit If that hasn’t grabbed your interest we hear from rnib.org.uk/reading one of our newest narrators, Brigid Lohrey and Pat Beech, Manager of the National Library Service To join shares the books of her life. Alongside this we have lots of book reviews and suggestions for you to try. Call RNIB on 0303 123 9999 A number of the people involved in the production Email of this magazine will moving on or into different [email protected] roles. I’d like to thank them for their enthusiasm in putting together Read On and hope the new team Photo credits: Lucky have as much fun and enjoyment as we have had. Business/Kim Nguyen/ You can listen to all of our interviews in full and leungchopan/irin-k/ more at rnib.org.uk/readon or, if you have a shutterstock.com DAISY or MP3 CD player, ask to switch to the DAISY version instead. Just call our Helpline on ISSN 1758-0188 0303 123 9999.
2 Contents Contents 2 First words 16 Literary news 16 Neil Gaiman novel wins Book of 4 News the Year 4 Service news 16 Spring shoot for Wolf Hall 4 Easter opening 16 BBC plans six-part War and Peace 4 Make a Noise in Libraries fortnight 16 Tim Vine joins cast of Blandings 5 Read for RNIB Day is going on a Bear Hunt! 17 Last writes 6 Changes to RNIB Talking Book Service 18 Books of my life: Pat Beech 6 Portable MP3-CD player 20 On our bedside table 7 Sovereign USB memory stick player 7 Ruby portable video magnifier 21 Reader reviews 7 Latest DAISY book box sets 8 World Book Night 22 Inside the covers of Cheltenham festival 10 Author profile: Richard Madeley 23 Have you tried... First World War classics
24 Children’s author profile: Michael Bond 12 Author profile: Peter Robinson
26 Six degrees of separation
27 She is not invisible 14 Narrator profile: Brigid Lohrey 28 Children’s book recommendations First World War
30 Behind the scenes: Clive Gardiner
3 News News Make a Noise in Libraries fortnight: 2-15 June 2014 Service news Are you getting hold of all the accessible From 1 April all RNIB library services books, newspapers and magazines you will be provided from our Peterborough could be enjoying? This year’s Make a site. The Stockport site has now closed. Noise in Libraries fortnight (MANIL) is Please continue to use our Helpline an ideal opportunity to find out what’s number 0303 123 9999 for all library available and related enquiries. help us to RNIB is committed highlight the to improving our importance library services so of accessible that our customers reading have access to material. reading in the way Providing a quality information service is that they want as an essential part of a public library’s role. well as expanding Last year, we focused on the signposting the number of role of libraries to reading services for titles and choices blind and partially sighted people and available. we received feedback from readers about their experience at their local library. Easter opening The theme of our 2014 campaign is Please note RNIB’s Helpline will be the First World War to tie with the closed on the bank holidays Good Friday national commemoration of 100 years 18 April and Easter Monday 21 April. since the start of the conflict. Events We’ll reopen on Tuesday 22 April. are being planned across the country to commemorate this significant milestone in world history and many libraries are running special events, open days and drop-in events during MANIL fortnight to highlight the accessible books and historical resources they offer. To find out more, email [email protected], ring 0161 429 1980 or visit rnib.org.uk/manil 4 News
and partially sighted so that they can go Read for RNIB Day is on the adventure with their friends and going on a Bear Hunt! classmates too. Read for RNIB Day has teamed up with The bear hunt will be led by the book’s publisher Walker Books to celebrate the author Michael Rosen. We would like 25th anniversary of the much-loved Read On readers to ask their local school children’s classic We’re Going on a Bear or nursery to take part, so that as many Hunt (available in giant print). children as possible can join in at venues For a quarter of a century this fabulous around the country or through a live web story has taken children on an exciting stream of the main event on Tuesday journey through forests, lakes and bogs 15 July 2014. in their search for the elusive bear. Children, and their own teddy bears, are To mark the book’s anniversary, we’ll be asked to raise a minimum sponsorship of taking thousands of children in the UK £1 to take part, and all the money raised on the world’s biggest bear hunt. This will go to Read for RNIB Day to support ‘real life’ bear hunt will take the form of RNIB’s vital reading services. a curriculum approved reading lesson Visit jointhebearhunt.com/rnib to find which will be fully accessible out more about how to get involved. to children who are blind
Illustration © Helen Oxenbury from We’re Going on a Bear HuntTM by Michael Rosen 5 News Changes to RNIB Portable MP3-CD Talking Book Service player Listen to your DAISY books at home or Current subscribers of the Talking Book on the move with this lightweight Philips Services will already know that RNIB MP3-CD player. It plays both standard is no longer providing a DAISY player and MP3 CDs including DAISY books on loan as part of the subscription. without the navigational structure. The We appreciate that this is a significant player is circular and slightly larger in change for talking book readers and it size than a CD so it’s easy to hold or slot may cause concern. in to a bag. It’s made from matt black plastic with 11 tactile control buttons We’d like to reassure existing customers and operates with two AAA batteries or who already have a loan player, that mains power. Priced £38.00. Order code RNIB will continue to repair or replace it DH356. until your annual subscription comes up One customer said: for renewal. We will write to you before your renewal date to remind you that the “I was interested when I heard about player is yours to keep. the launch of your new Philips CD player. I didn’t want to invest When you renew your subscription (at in a full DAISY player but wanted the new lower price of £50), you will something that I could play my keep your current loan player for free; talking books on and just skip it will become your property. Once that through the tracks, as opposed to happens, you will need to decide what be able to use all navigation levels. action to take if the player goes wrong The small size of the player meant I or you need to replace it. could take it out with me, and I was delighted to have something I could take on holiday and lose myself in Talking book DAISY CDs can also be my books and music whilst lying played on MP3 CD players. You may next to the pool!” already have one at home or they can be bought from high street shops such as Argos. RNIB also sells MP3 players that include a pack for battery or mains operation. If you are not sure if your current player will play MP3 contact our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 for a test CD.
6 News
world and protect Queen and country. Sovereign USB memory Priced £39.95. There are seven books on stick player seven CDs that last 44 hours, 30 minutes. Listen to your music, audio books or local Order code 804918. Includes: talking newspapers anywhere with this For your eyes only lightweight and compact portable MP3 Thunderball player, straight from your USB memory stick. This player has superb sound The spy who loved me quality and the four large yellow control On her majesty’s secret service buttons offer good colour contrast for You only live twice quick and easy use. Includes built-in speakers and rechargeable batteries The man with the golden gun and can also be mains operated. Priced Octopussy. £27.00. Order code DH333. Brother Cadfael mysteries volume 3 Ruby portable video Books 9 to 12 in the Cadfael series. Further mystery and intrigue set in magnifier 12th century Shrewsbury as Cadfael If you use a video magnifier for reading is called upon as a medical examiner, print, we’re offering a huge £104 off the detective, doctor, and diplomat. Priced Ruby portable video magnifier (HC55). £19.95. There are four books on four CDs Choose from 5 to 10 times magnification that last 30 hours, 32 minutes. Order and different colour combinations to suit code 805023. Includes: your reading needs. Great for taking with Dead man’s ransom you when shopping or for reading bus timetables. Simply take a picture at arm’s The pilgrim of hate length and then bring the screen closer An excellent mystery to read. Save up to 15 images at any one time. Uses four AAA rechargeable The raven in the foregate. batteries as well as a mains charger. To order any of our products or for Price £295.00 (was £399.00). more information call RNIB’s Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or browse our Latest DAISY book online shop at rnib.org.uk/shop box sets Prices and information are correct The James Bond collection volume 2 at time of publishing and each price Bond is back! 007 must pit his strength shown is the price a blind or partially and wits against the bad guys to save the sighted customer will pay. 7 World Book Night 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 are 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: 59 seconds: think a little, change a lot by Richard Wiseman. The boy in the striped pyjamas by Fresh approach to change that helps John Boyne people achieve their aims and ambitions Nine-year-old Bruno in minutes, not months. From mood to knows nothing of the memory, persuasion to procrastination Final Solution and the Psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman Holocaust. All he knows describes how these quick and quirky is that he has been moved techniques can be incorporated into from a comfortable home everyday life. (TB 17694). in Berlin to a house in a desolate area where there is nothing to Hello mum by Bernardine Evaristo do and no-one to play with. Until he Quick read series. A teenage boy is meets Shmuel, a boy who lives a strange stabbed and left bleeding on the street. parallel existence on the other side of The boy’s mother wonders how this the adjoining wire fence and who, like could have happened to her son. She is the other people there, wears a uniform full of questions, but when the answers of striped pyjamas (braille, giant print, lie so close to home, are they really what TB 15241, Welsh available soon). she wants to hear? (braille uncontracted and uncontracted single sided, After the funeral by Agatha Christie double-line spaced, giant print). At the reading of Richard’s will, Cora was clearly heard to say: “It’s been Getting rid of Matthew by Jane Fallon hushed up very nicely, hasn’t it! But he What do you do when your secret lover was murdered, wasn’t he?” Then Cora is finally decides to leave his wife and savagely murdered. The family solicitor move into your flat – just when you’ve turns to Hercule Poirot to unravel the been thinking that you don’t want him mystery (TB 17170). anymore? (TB 19593).
8 World Book Night
Theodore Boone by The recruit by Robert Muchamore John Grisham A terrorist doesn’t let Thirteen years old, Theo strangers into her flat Boone dreams of being a because they might be great trial lawyer. But Theo undercover police, but her finds himself in court much children bring their mates sooner than he expected. home. She doesn’t know He is suddenly dragged into the middle that a kid has bugged her house. The kid of a sensational murder trial (braille, works for CHERUB and CHERUB kids slip giant print, TB 17796). under adult radar and get information that sends criminals to jail (braille, giant The perfect murder by Peter James print, TB 15003). Quick read series. Victor Smiley and his wife Joan have been married for nearly Whatever it takes by Adele Parks twenty years. Victor loathes Joan, Joan Eloise Hamilton is a Londoner born and is bored by Victor. Victor decides there bred, so it is a momentous day when is only one way to get Joan out of his she reluctantly agrees to uproot to life forever, but he’s about to get a nasty Dartmouth, leaving behind her perfect surprise (braille, giant print, TB 17459). world so her husband can finally live in his (braille, giant print). Tales of the city by Armistead Maupin A naive young secretary forsakes Black Hills by Nora Roberts Cleveland for San Francisco, tumbling This atmospheric novel is set headlong into a brave new world against the wild Dakota hills. of laundromat Lotharios, cut throat Cooper and Lil are compelling debutantes, and Jockey Shorts dance with the tension of their contests (braille, TB 14068). will-they-won’t-they relationship ratcheting up as the hunt Today everything changes by begins. You can’t help but be gripped by Andy McNab every twist and turn (not available from Quick read series. the Library). Abandoned as a baby, Andy McNab’s start in The boy with the topknot by life was tough. The Army Sathnam Sanghera education system changed A funny account of growing up in the course of his life an immigrant Sikh household in forever (available soon as UEB braille Wolverhampton in the 70s and 80s. But uncontracted and uncontracted single Sathnam discovers a family secret about sided, double-line spaced; available now his father’s and sister’s mental health as giant print or braille for sale). (not available from the Library).
9 Author profile 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. Richard and Judy are RNIB ambassadors and have pledged their support for Read for RNIB. Photo © Bill Waters
What did you think of the audio What can we expect from the book? version of your book? The central character is Diana, a I actually voiced the last book I wrote beautiful graduate from Girton College myself, a book called Fathers and Sons, in Cambridge who is seduced by a about four generations of my family psychopathic spitfire pilot just before going back to the turn of the century. the war. The first part of the book is a When we got to the more recent aspects wartime love story set mostly in 1938. of the book which involve dialogue, I Then during the war, the pilot is shot suddenly had to impersonate my own down and killed over France just after mother and put on a falsetto Canadian his wedding to Diana. We then jump to accent so it’s a relief to have somebody 1951 and Diana, who has had a child else do all the voices in this book. It’s by her now dead husband, has moved the first time I’ve ever heard my fictional to the south of France with her second words read out by somebody and I find it husband, a wealthy investment banker. hugely rewarding and satisfying. The prologue opens with her sitting
10 Author profile in a pavement café in Nice, reflecting knew what they sounded like and could on her life when she sees a taxi and hear them in my head. hears the voice of her dead husband as it disappears around the corner. She And finally, you and Judy are now is absolutely convinced it is him and RNIB ambassadors and you wrote a resolves to find him. And that’s how the lovely open letter to the newspapers story starts. for Read for RNIB Day – why is it so important to you? You’ve gone from promoting and I think reading is an essential component critiquing other people’s books to of a civilised life and if you don’t have writing your own. Was that a nervous access to books you have a stunted time? life. That’s why the work of RNIB When you’re associated with books – as charity is just so important because it Judy and I are – to write your own is a makes books and literature available to big risk because it’s going to get a lot of people who otherwise wouldn’t have attention. What bothered us both was access to it. Reading a good novel can that if they’d flopped then every time we change your life, reading a powerful did publicity for the Richard and Judy autobiography can change your opinion Book Club we’d have to deal with the of someone. So bringing books to people question: yes, well you can pick books who wouldn’t otherwise have access to but you can’t write them, can you? And them is absolutely key to any kind of of course, with Judy’s book Eloise being civilised society. a runaway bestseller, that put even more pressure on me. The night before publication I had a very broken night’s Books by Richard Madeley available sleep! But it was the fastest selling debut from the Library: last year and I am hugely relieved. Some Day I’ll Find You (TB 20758, braille and Was it quite a change writing and giant print) working on your own as opposed to working with a big production team? Fathers and Sons Yes, very much – some writers say (TB 16523, braille and they find the process of writing quite giant print) lonely as they have to shut themselves Richard and Judy: the away. I didn’t find that at all, I found autobiography (braille). my characters were my company and sometimes when I was writing dialogue I
11 Author profile Author profile: Peter Robinson Peter Robinson is one of the leading British crime writers and is the most borrowed author from the RNIB talking books library. He writes a series of books set in North Yorkshire featuring DCI Alan Banks. Peter spends his time between Toronto, Canada and Richmond in Yorkshire. Insight Radio’s Leanne Coyle interviewed him when he was in London.
Photo © Pal Hansen
Tell us a bit about how you started How did you do your research to writing. make your story realistic? As soon I could pick up a pencil and I didn’t do any research for the first few make words I was writing but my first books! I didn’t know any police or any love for many years was poetry. When other writers so I just took it from other I was about 13 or 14 I’d write science novels I’d read, whatever they did I sort fiction novels and short stories – all of did. It’s pretty basic you know: you rubbish – and all lost now I hope. find a body, there are forensics going Then for many years, until my early on in the background – it wasn’t that 30s, I wrote poetry almost exclusively. I difficult to just miss out the procedural was getting into more narrative poetry, bits that I didn’t know and get on with telling stories, so it seemed an almost the story. In fact, I think it helped in a lot natural move to go into storytelling of ways, too much research at that stage through prose and I happened to be would probably have bogged me down reading crime fiction at that time. I in detail. I carried on writing then I got hadn’t read any since I was a teenager to know police officers over the years so enjoying Sherlock Holmes and Agatha it’s at the point now where I can send Christie but I read Raymond Chandler, an email and say, “I want to do this, is Simenon and some other writers and it viable?” I’m still looking to create the thought I like to do what they do so I maximum drama; I want to know at what gave it a try. point things can go wrong, even when
12 Author profile you are following procedure, because years when I started working on the first that’s what makes fiction interesting. DCI Banks book. I think it was out of a sort of home sickness – writing about What do you think it is that makes Yorkshire was a way of keeping in touch your books special or stand out? while I was living a long way away. On a snowy Toronto day I could sit at my I don’t know. I like a slightly old computer and pretend it was a rainy fashioned descriptive style. So I think Yorkshire day. when people read or listen to my books they can enter into a world that’s created for them that has enough connections Your books are the most borrowed with the real world to be believable but RNIB Talking Books. What does it is also another world like Coronation mean to you that your books are Street, or the Archers. It’s a slight step made into an accessible format for away from the real Yorkshire. blind and partially sighted readers? It was important to me right from the I understand you have connections start. I was actually published first by with Canada. Were you born there? Penguin in Canada and the Canadian No, I was born in Leeds and I didn’t go Institute for the Blind put my books to Canada until my mid 20s for graduate into accessible formats right from the studies. I’d only been there three or four first novel.
Some of Peter’s titles available from the Library: Children of the revolution (braille, giant print) Aftermath (braille, TB 19443) Before the poison (braille, giant print) Cold is the grave (braille, TB 19248) In a dry season (braille, TB 19134) Playing with fire (braille, TB 19892) The summer that never was (braille, TB 18073).
13 Narrator profile Narrator profile: Brigid Lohrey Talking book narrator Brigit Lohrey came to Britain from Australia 15 years ago for a three month holiday. She applied for drama school here in the UK on a whim, and never looked back. Kim Normanton talked to her.
How long have been recording for RNIB? Do you think it complements your acting? It’s quite a new thing for me, it’s only been about 12 months. I was doing Everything does. I’ve had to do a some voice work and one of the guys phenomenal range of accents while who works in the RNIB studios was there recording these books and I’ve really and suggested I audition. They needed a enjoyed that. narrator with an Australian background The book I’m recording at the moment who could do the accent so that’s how I Trust me has a large cast of characters got into audio books. and a lot of them are Australian but they are old, young, male and female so each Is it as you expected it to be? one has to have a different Australian I love reading and thought “what a great accent or voice specific to that character. job I just get to read all of the time”. But on my first day I only did a morning Do you work it all out beforehand? session and I was shocked at the amount of concentration required and the sense Obviously I read the book first and of responsibility you feel when you are the characters become quite strong reading for somebody else – I wanted in my head, but until I do it out loud them to love the book as much as I did. I I’m not sure what will come out. I had went home, lay down and slept for about trouble the other day when I was doing three hours! It’s lovely but very hard an Australian accent and then had a work. I’m just finishing my fifth book and character with a Cockney accent then I I’m getting better at it. It’s like a muscle, had to switch back and forth and at one the more you use your brain in this way point I had to stop to remember which the easier it becomes. one I should be!
14 Narrator profile
Have you always been an actor? Do you think you can put too much of No, although I always loved acting. your own emotion into it? As a little girl I was always putting on I’d be fascinated to know what people plays. I originally did a science degree at think. Whether they think “don’t put university and ran laboratories for three your emotion into that, just let me deal years in Tasmania. I then took time off with it”, or whether it helps them to to travel and came to London where I paint a picture. successfully auditioned for drama school and have been acting ever since. What’s the most memorable book Have you been given particular types that you’ve read for the Talking Book of books to read? Service? They generally have an Australian flavour I really enjoyed The ship of brides by to them, either set in Australia or with Jojo Moyes, which was again based on a Australian characters. The book I’m historical theme, about Australian brides reading at the moment, and the one being shipped over to England. She is before, have a historical bent to them. a beautiful writer and paints wonderful Although they are fictional accounts characters – interesting, strong women they are based on historical facts, which coming from all different parts of I find very interesting and very touching Australia. They embark on a huge as well. I keep having to stop recording journey to the other side of the world, for a quick weep because you can hear like I did, and that’s what touched me. I the emotion in my voice. I hope that understood their fear at what was going translates to the reader and that they to happen and building a new life. So far too can pick up on the emotions. that’s been one of my favourites.
Books read by Brigid available from the Library: The ship of brides by Jojo Moyes (TB 20325) One life changing moment by Lucy Clark (TB 20701, braille, giant print) The engagement by Chloe Hooper (TB 20466, braille, giant print) Trust me by Lesley Pearse (available soon in TB) Light between oceans by ML Stedman (available soon in TB).
15 Literary news Literary news BBC plans six-part War and Peace Neil Gaiman novel wins The BBC has teamed up with the Book of the Year production company that made Ripper Street and Parade’s End (available in Neil Gaiman’s fantasy braille, giant print and soon in talking novel The ocean at the book) to produce a six-part adaptation end of the lane (available of Tolstoy’s War and Peace (available in giant print) was named in braille TB 1374). The new drama is the Book of the Year at being scripted by Andrew Davies, whose the end of December. work includes the 1995 adaptation of The bestselling book, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice a modern-day fairy tale about a man (available in braille, giant returning to his childhood home for print and TB 13967) and a funeral, won a public vote from Bleak House (available a shortlist of the winners of all ten in braille, giant print, categories from the year’s Specsavers TB 16865) in 2005, and National Book Awards. shooting is due to start in the summer. Other shortlisted books included David Jason: My life (available soon as a talking book), David Walliams’ Demon dentist and Kate Atkinson’s Life after Tim Vine joins cast of life (braille, giant print available soon in Blandings talking books). Comedian Tim Vine has joined Timothy Spall and Jennifer Saunders for Spring shoot for Wolf Hall the second series of BBC Shooting is due to start One’s Blandings, based on the TV adaptation of on PG Wodehouse’s Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall classic stories. this spring (available in Vine takes on the role of Beach, braille, giant print and TB Blandings’ long-suffering and loyal 16735). It will star Mark butler. The series is airing on BBC One. Rylance and be directed by Various Blandings titles are available Peter Kosminsky. from the Library.
16 Literary news
Last writes Salmon fishing in the Yemen When a project to create a salmon river Paul Torday in the highlands of Yemen catches the Paul Torday, author of Salmon fishing eye of several senior British politicians, in the Yemen, died in mid-December fisheries scientist Dr Alfred Jones is aged 67. The British novelist launched forced to set aside his research and his writing career in his late fifties after instead figure out how to fly ten years working in engineering. His debut thousand salmon to a desert country novel, Salmon fishing in the Yemen, (TB 17564, braille, giant print). became a surprise bestseller in 2007. Torday went on to explore a range Elizabeth Jane Howard of genres in six more novels and two Award-winning novelist Elizabeth Jane eBooks. Howard died on 2 January at her home Here are titles available from the Library: in Suffolk. She won the John Llewellyn Rhys prize in 1951 for her debut novel, The girl on the landing The beautiful visit, but was best A series of incidents lead Michael to known for The Cazalet Chronicles which question his grip on reality (braille, chart the lives of an upper-middle class TB 16923). English family during and after the Second World War. The fifth and final The hopeless life of Charlie Summers book in the series was published in November 2013. On a golfing trip to France, Eck meets Charlie Summers, a fly-by-night Some of the titles by Elizabeth Howard entrepreneur whose latest scheme is to available from the Library: import Japanese dog food into the UK. Soon Charlie lands on Eck’s doorstep The beautiful visit (braille) with his suitcase, intent on staying and The Cazalet Chronicles: relaunching his dog food business in the area (giant print, TB 18395). 1. The light years (braille, TB 9285)
Light shining in the forest 2. Marking time (braille, TB 9335) Norman Stokoe has just been appointed 3. Confusion (braille, TB 10088) Children’s Czar by the new government. However, the Children’s Czar network is 4. Casting off (braille, TB 14125) put on hold and Norman waits for the green light to begin his mission. The 5. All change (available soon in braille green light never comes (TB 20331). and talking book).
17 Books of my life
me – as soon as I was old enough I was Books of my life: going there every day and I discovered Malcolm Saville, The Famous Five and Pat Beech The Secret Seven. This time our guest Which book reminds you of your is Pat Beech MBE. In childhood? 2001 Pat joined the That is difficult because I loved Enid National Library for the Blyton but I’m going to choose Alison Blind where she quickly Uttley’s A traveller in time. It’s the story established herself as of a girl who goes to stay in a country an advocate of equal farmhouse and finds herself able to slip access to books and back in time to the Elizabethan period reading for blind and where she has wonderful adventures. partially sighted people of all ages. My children loved this book and A merger with RNIB resulted in Pat’s I’m just about to introduce it to my appointment as Manager of the newly granddaughter so I hope she will love it created RNIB National Library Service. as well. Kim Normanton talked to her. What period of life does the next Was it difficult to narrow your choices book lead us on to? down to just five books? I wanted to be a librarian so I went It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever off to Aberystwyth to study and then had to do! I’m 65 in March and I’ve been my first job was on the Oswestry reading since I was about five and using mobile library. I used to nip into the a public library since I was eight. I’ve main library in Oswestry ages before it tried to choose titles that happened at a opened and pinch all the new books significant point in my reading journey. for my van because the readers became my personal friends. It was on that You obviously love books but was van that somebody recommended RF there a key moment in your life when Delderfield’sA horseman riding by, a books became significant for you? trilogy set in rural England. It evokes the I think that moment was when I was memories of that very special time on taken to my local public library by a that mobile library van with George Davis neighbour. My parents had never used a as my driver. public library as we lived in a rural part of Shropshire on a farm. I had a lot of What’s your third book? freedom to run around but reading was When I returned to work after having my big passion. When a neighbour took children a colleague recommended a me to the public library that was it for book to me but it was out on loan. So 18 Books of my life the next day I went into Waterstones boy and an older woman. I’ve got to be and I asked the man behind the counter careful not to give away the plot, but whether they had St Agnes’ Stand by it’s also about secrets and if you read Thomas Eidson and he pointed me to it. the book you’ll understand why I’m so When I came back to buy the book he passionate about the power of reading. said “Are you doing anything tonight?” I just want everybody to have the and I thought here am I fifty odd, not opportunity to be able to learn to read particularly svelte or attractive, this is for pleasure and enjoyment. wonderful. So I just managed to squeak “no” and he said “Good, because if you If I had one wish, it would be that every start that book you won’t be able to put publisher has to deposit a digital file it down.” I really thought it was a pick up of their book in Pat’s wardrobe so that line! RNIB can make that book accessible at the same time as the print book so if But he was right. It was completely you’re blind or partially sighted you’ll different from the books I normally read. know you’ll be able to read it. It was a cowboy story, it was romantic, it was about good over evil and it just was a wonderful read. Pat’s choice of books available from the Library: And your fourth book? Just before I retired from Shropshire A traveller in time by Alison Uttley Libraries, Arts Council England gave (braille, giant print, TB 5020) funding for a project to look at different A horseman riding by by RF ways to support readers and how they Delderfield (braille 25v) browse. We had to read as part of that project and what became very clear A horseman riding by series is also is that we all saw different things in available as talking books the same book, and it led to brilliant Long summer day (TB 015130) discussions. From that period I’ll choose Post of honour (TB 015131) Black dog, which is beautifully written The green gauntlet (TB 015160) by Stephen Booth. It’s the first in a series St Agnes’ stand by Thomas Eidson of crime books set in the Peak District (braille, TB19869) and is very atmospheric with wonderful characters. Black dog by Stephen Booth (TB 14399) And your last book? There is a book called The Reader by The Reader by Bernhard Schlink Bernard Schlink which is very interesting. (braille, giant print, TB 11546). Basically it’s a love story about a young 19 On our bedside table On our bedside table Deb Ryan is Reader Services Manager for Jo Franks works in RNIB’s RNIB and the Editor of Products and Publications Read On. She read team. Sense and sensibility by Joanna Trollope “I’m re-reading, and I (braille, giant print, must confess not for the available soon as a talking book). first time, Christopher Brookmyre’s darkly comic thriller Quite ugly one morning “This is the first of new series (braille, TB 13548). This is the novel that contemporising Jane Austen’s introduced me to investigative reporter titles. Yet to come are Northanger Abbey and “Glaswegian disaster magnet” Jack by Val McDermid, Pride and Prejudice Parlabane – perhaps my favourite fictional by Curtis Sittenfeld and others are in the character of all time. It’s not a book for pipeline. I can only say I hope that they the faint-hearted – the language is as ripe are better than this one. as the murder scene smells – described all First let me say I’m no stranger to spin too vividly in the opening scene. It may offs or sequels to various Jane Austen be 15 years old, but the carving up of the titles, usually Pride and Prejudice NHS by the government for private gain admittedly, so I’m not someone who has that it describes is possibly even more no truck with anything but the original relevant today than it was in 1997.” but I found this offering from Joanna Lynne Livingstone works Trollope banal and not even particularly in RNIB’s Reader Services well written. team and read Major The characters are very one dimensional Pettigrew’s last stand and even characters that were supposed by Helen Simonson to be the likeable ones were just (available in braille, giant disagreeable. Even if I have always found print and TB 18147). Marianne to be irritating (being a bit “The retired Major feels his family are more of an Elinor myself) – in this she’s simply waiting for him to die. However just generally dislikeable and Margaret there is plenty of life left in him as he was a sulky whiny teenager. finds love with the Pakistani lady who runs the village shop. This is a touching Needless to say I gave up a third of the book. He is a gentleman out of step with way through and skimmed the rest. I’ll the crassness of the modern world who spend the time saved reading the real regains his spirit, battling ageism and McCoy – or should that be Austen? But intolerance.” you may disagree.”
20 Reader reviews Reader reviews Ruth Bond in Leeds recommends A daughter’s tale by Mary Soames, David Buckley from Winston Churchill’s youngest daughter. Chorley in Lancashire enjoyed Wheels of “A book that I very much enjoyed and terror by Sven Hassel. would like to recommend is one about Winston Churchill written by his daughter “This is the second of Mary Soames. It offers quite a different Sven Hassel’s novels perspective to the political books that during World War II focus on Churchill life, this is really about featuring the war Mary’s life and how it was interwoven between the Russians and the Germans. with his. Legion of the dammed, the first novel, was interesting but Wheels of terror is At the time of Mary’s the far better one. It deals with a side birth, the Churchill’s of the war that we normally don’t see; were in a rented house the German’s view. It is based on the in London, which they author’s own experiences. didn’t particularly like. She was born in It’s a story of a German penal regiment 1922 and very quickly fighting the Russians and how four of became interested in them become very good friends. The Winston Churchill’s allies bomb Cologne and Hamburg and politics. They then moved to Chartwell during the fire storms we read how the House because they wanted somewhere four friends cope with the horrors they bigger and in the country. have to deal with. They then move to the Eastern Front The book tells about society in the and come face to face with the Russian pre-war days and about Mary’s great battle. It is violent, brutal and horribly love for her father. She begins to realistic. We see what they go through accompany him to functions and and the things that they are forced to do they become very close. It covers to survive. Chamberlain’s government and then the war. She tells about her social life and It is a very good read but not for the wartime activities but very often she faint-hearted. If you enjoy this subject is called away to help her father with matter you will want to read this.” preparations for events and functions. Legion of the damned (TB 17621) I really enjoyed this book very much Wheels of terror (TB 19876) indeed.” SS General (TB 20559) A daughter’s tale (TB 20033).
21 Inside the covers
Inside the covers of the Cheltenham Festival
Read On often visits the literary festival in Cheltenham to interview authors. Ruth Carr works behind the scenes as part of the Cheltenham Festival team. Ruth lost her sight abruptly three years ago. Clare Carson met her at work with her guide dog Rachel.
Tell me about your sight loss. Department. I book schools in for their In 2005 I was diagnosed with retinitis workshops and liaise with the teachers. pigmentosa, before that I had no idea How do you find navigating your way that I had anything wrong with my through a really busy office with lots eyesight. I had full 20/20 vision so going on? it was a bit of a shock. I was in my mid-twenties and I thought that I had My guide dog Rachel is my lifeline. I quite a while before my sight went but do struggle without Rachel particularly unfortunately I had the aggressive form because I don’t use a long cane. She of the condition and it did go sooner knows where our little corner of the rather than later. office is, she really enjoys a fuss from my colleagues and my manager and she My sight deteriorated until April of 2010 is well looked after. She’s got a cosy when I woke up one morning with all of bed there and we’re both made very my residual vision gone. At the time I welcome. was working in an insurance company as a clerical assistant and because I’d lost Are you personally keen to see more my sight I couldn’t do the job. It was a books made accessible? huge shock. After a lot of begging at Absolutely. Before I lost my sight I loved the Job Centre I managed to get on a reading. From childhood I can remember course at The Royal National College for always being with my head in a book. the Blind in Hereford. I did a six month Now I use a lot of audio books from the course to learn how to touch type and library. I think it is just hugely important just regain my confidence. I was then for a blind person, for their quality of lucky to get a job with the education life. team at the literature festival. Have you got a favourite book that What does your work involve on a you’ve enjoyed recently? daily basis? I love Harry Potter and I go back to that I help with all the bookings and series all the time. I just love Stephen administration for the Education Fry’s voice, it’s very therapeutic.
22 Have you tried?
front line, the physical and emotional Have you tried... scars of war were evident and First World War classics he suffered the personal loss of acquaintances such as Wilfred Owen This summer marks one hundred years (TB 4808). since the start of the First World War. Each of the following recommended The middle parts of fortune: Somme books was written by a survivor and and Ancre by Frederic Manning accurately depicts the horrors of that The story of a group of men during time. the First World War – fighting, drilling, waiting and womanising – held together Testament of youth by Vera Brittain by a strong feeling of comradeship. This The author served as a nurse unique and harrowing account is now throughout the four years widely recognised as a 20th-century of the First World War. With masterpiece (TB 3288). love, courage and endurance she records the destruction All quiet on the Western front by of her generation (braille, Erich Maria Remarque TB 5098). In 1914 a room full of German schoolboys, fresh-faced and Goodbye to all that by Robert Graves idealistic, are goaded by Robert Graves tells the their schoolmaster to troop extraordinary story of his off to the glorious war. What experiences as a young follows is the moving story of officer in the First World a young “unknown soldier” experiencing War. He describes life in the the horror and disillusionment of life in trenches in vivid, raw detail, the trenches (braille, giant print, how the dehumanizing TB 5771). horrors he witnessed left him shell-shocked. They were to haunt him Winged victory by Victor M Yeates for the rest of his life (giant print, The greatest novel written TB 9515). about the air war of 1914- 1918, based largely on Diaries: 1915-1918 by the author’s experiences. Siegfried Sassoon Combat loneliness, Sassoon wrote his diaries in fatigue, excitement, fear, tiny notebooks, often by the comradeship, women, light of a solitary candle in a nerves, death are covered in one of the dug-out or billet. However, most moving accounts of a Royal Flying even away from the Corps pilot’s life (braille, TB 1317).
23 Children’s author profile Children’s author profile: Michael Bond
Photo © Anthony Barwell Much-loved children’s book character Paddington Bear was dreamt up by Michael Bond after seeing a small bear looking lonely on the shelf of a department store. The first Paddington book was published in 1958 and he went on to appear in more than 20 books. The polite bear from darkest Peru with his duffel coat and old hat, battered suitcase, and love of marmalade sandwiches became an English classic. Paddington is very well meaning – but gets into several scrapes and gives people who are less than kind to him one of his “hard stares”. The author Michael Bond explains how he first came across Paddington and what influenced his creation.
“I went out shopping to get a stocking I actually wrote the first book very filler for my wife and it started to snow quickly. This was 1956 and I used to so I went into Selfridges and I found wear a government surplus duffle coat, myself in the toy department. I came so I thought the bear ought to wear a across a small bear, about six inches tall, duffle coat and I had an old government who’d been sitting all by itself on a shelf surplus hat that I also wore. and I felt rather sorry for it so on the spur of the moment I bought him. Mr and Mrs Brown who found him on the station are really my parents. My We live near Paddington station and mother would certainly have taken him, that seemed a nice important name for my father was a civil servant and he’d the bear. Anyway, it used to sit on the have been worrying about whether they mantelpiece and I had a day off from were breaking any kind of law or not. working, in television at the time, and I had this blank sheet of paper and a I had memories of war time when I was typewriter I looked around at this bear small and living in Reading. Trains used and I wondered what would happen to come down from London carrying to a real bear had it been found on small children. They would have all their Paddington Station and I wrote the first belongings in a suitcase and they had a words of what became the book. label round their neck with their name 24 Children’s author profile and address in case they got lost and Then I thought everybody’s been very I thought Paddington ought to have a nice up till now, it needs somebody label around his neck saying “Please look who’s not quite so nice, so enter the after this bear” with thank you after it, Brown’s next door neighbour Mr Curry. which is most important. Mr Curry is very useful because he’s such an awful man and is always trying I thought that it would be nice if the to get something for nothing so when family he stayed with had two children, a Paddington gets the best of him, you boy and a girl. As a child my best friend’s know he deserves it. family had a housekeeper. In actual fact there were a lot of middle class people who had taken in a member of the I always write to please myself and family who’d probably lost their husband although they are obviously children’s or boyfriend during the war. Mrs Bird, books there’s a lot in there for adults as who was the Brown’s housekeeper, well because I think reading should be a is a member of the family and she’s shared experience. I was lucky enough to quite strict and kind of rules them. At be brought up in a house where books this point I thought Paddington needs were part of the furniture and I never somebody who knows what it’s like to went to bed without a story. Having a be a refugee so I added Mr Gruber the bedtime story is a really wonderful thing antiques shop owner. that will last you for the rest of your life.”
Some Paddington books available to borrow from the Library:
A bear called Paddington (giant print and TB 2250)
Paddington: a day at the seaside and other stories (TB 17851)
Paddington and the Christmas surprise (braille and giant print)
Paddington helps out (uncontracted braille, contracted braille, giant print, TB 13079)
25 Six degrees of separation Six degrees of separation A great actor in a great screen Welch’s son, Bertrand (braille, giant adaptation can lead you to books you print, TB 1492). didn’t know before or simply hadn’t got round to reading yet. Tipping the velvet by Sarah Waters is the racy story of Nan, who is captivated You might know Keeley Hawes best for by male impersonator Kitty Butler and her roles in Spooks or Line of Duty, manages to become her but here are six books dresser. Heading for the that have benefited bright lights of London they from her talents in form a double act while film or television privately, a love affair begins adaptations. (braille, TB 14976).
Wives and daughters was The Cater Street hangman is the first Elizabeth Gaskell’s last novel, story in Anne Perry’s Inspector Pitt and follows the fortunes of Mysteries, introducing us to the husband two families in 19th century and wife team of Thomas and Charlotte rural England (braille, Pitt. Set in the late 19th century, it TB 1149). focuses on the investigation into the murders of several young women in the Charles Dickens’ Our mutual friend streets near the wealthy Ellison family charts the effects on various corners home (TB 13293). of London society of an inheritance bypassing the beautiful but mercenary Thomas Hardy’s Under the greenwood Bella Wilfer and going instead to the tree is probably the gentlest of his working-class Boffins (braille, giant novels, although not without some print, TB 1677). traces of bitterness and melancholy. The story Lucky Jim, by Kingsley Amis concerns the activities is set around 1950 and tells of a parish choir and the the story of a reluctant romantic entanglements lecturer. A moderately of the village’s new school successful future beckons mistress (braille, giant print, as long as Jim can survive a TB 809). madrigal-singing weekend, deliver a lecture on “merrie England” and resist These books are also available for sale Christine, the girlfriend of Professor contact RNIB on 0303 123 9999. 26 She is not invisible
person, but he also asked if I’d like to She is not invisible have sight and I said no.
Three years ago, Why did you say no? 14-year-old Ellie I’ve been like this all of my life and Wallwork, who is because I’m blind I’ve done things and blind, put her name met influential people that I probably forward to shadow wouldn’t have done if I’d been sighted. the Carnegie Award I’m quite scared because I’ve never really nominated titles. been able to see anything and I think the RNIB produced a shock might be too much to handle. short film showing Ellie delightedly unpacking her box of braille Carnegie What did you think of She is not shortlisted books and talking about invisible? how pleased she was to be part of it. It’s completely different to anything I’ve Children’s author Marcus Sedgwick saw read before because it focused on how the film at the Carnegie Awards and a blind girl could get around somewhere decided to include a blind character in she had never been before. Once I his next book. As part of his research started I couldn’t stop reading. It’s not he went to interview Ellie. The resulting just about blindness it’s also about the book She is not invisible is now phenomena of coincidence which I’d published. Kim Normanton talked to Ellie never thought about before. about how it felt to appear in a book. What is it about? What did it feel like to be the Laureth Peak is 16 and blind. Her father inspiration behind a book? is a writer. When he goes missing in New It felt wonderful to read a book that was York, Laureth decides to look for him. written by an author who had his main On impulse she steals her mother’s credit character as a blind person based on card and heads for the States, taking her research with me and other blind people. little brother Benjamin with her. It’s an I felt I was part of something that might intriguing, twisty plot right until the end. help with recognition of disability. What was it like to have an author use How accurately do you think he you as research? captured the life of a teenage girl Scary but exciting. I was really nervous with no vision? and terrified of saying the wrong thing. Very accurately. He interviewed a lot of teenagers and combined all that What sorts of questions did he ask research. It flowed together really well. you? Even though Laureth is blind she doesn’t He asked what life was like as a blind let it get in the way of what she does. 27 Children’s book recommendations
Did you see yourself in the book? own and that might make other blind Yes – I’d say I’m quite independent and people think they can do that as well. she also says she didn’t want to get her sight back. Something about her Do you think She is not invisible reminded me of me and other blind stands a chance of winning the people I know. Carnegie Award? I hope he wins! I think authors might I think it’s going to have more of a be scared of writing about disability so lasting impact on the sighted world I want authors to recognise we are real rather than the blind world. With this and you can write about us. I don’t want book you can see into the mind of a this to be a one-off. blind person. It may make sighted people realise that She is not invisible is blind people are not stupid and don’t available in braille, giant have to rely on other people all of the print and TB 20862. time. Laureth went to New York on her
Children’s book recommendations
abrupt end to heady days of picnics and First World War laughter and soon the young people themselves are caught up in the war. As 2014 marks the centenary of the This emotive book has received many start of the First World War, we’re excellent reader reviews. recommending some great children’s books about that time. Happily, we Michael Morpurgo’s bestselling novel can relive those harrowing wartime War horse (contracted braille, giant experiences today through reading, print and TB 16132) is a must-read if you rather than reality. enjoy animal stories or adventure. Joey is a horse who is sold in wartime to the Remembrance (contracted braille) by army in France and whose Teresa Breslin tells the story of teenagers previous owner, Albert, from two Scottish families with very attempts to find him and different backgrounds during the First bring him home. The World War. The horrors of what is story is told from Joey’s happening overseas herald an perspective. 28 Children’s book recommendations
Private Peaceful Older readers will (contracted braille, giant enjoy The shell house print and TB 14821) by (contracted braille, TB the same author is also 15911) by Linda Newbery set during the First World which features two War, and is recounted by different characters in two Tommo Peaceful as he different times (present looks back on his life from the trenches; day and the First World War), and a a life filled with love and laughter before house that is in ruins with an intriguing the war, until something happened story behind it. This book explores which caused Tommo great emotional teenage issues and describes the war in pain. The story continues until the horror realistic detail. of war truly comes to the fore in a tragic ending. From the brilliant My story series of books War game (contracted braille) by comes The trenches: Billy Michael Foreman tells of the amazing Stevens, the Western football match that took place on Front, 1914-1918 (TB Christmas Day 1914, between wartime 404761), by Jim Eldridge. enemies. The German and British armies It follows Billy, a 15-year-old telegraph bond and become friends for a short operator who enlists in the army with his time as they meet in no man’s land to friends and witnesses some key events play a football game, and humanity on of the First World War. this rare occasion shines through the Where poppies grow: a World War I treachery of war. companion (TB 18471) by Linda Granfield is a series of letters, prayers Part of the Horrible Histories series, and other historical sources, brought Terry Deary gives the Frightful First together to display the massive effect World War (uncontracted braille, that the war had on people. contracted braille, giant print) a humorous twist with plenty of jokes and To borrow any of these titles please bizarre facts. contact RNIB on 0303 123 9999.
29 Behind the scenes Behind the scenes: Clive Gardiner Clare Carson talked to Clive Gardiner, RNIB’s Head of Digital, Multi Media and Reading Services. He recently started working for RNIB.
What did you do before joining things can all be categorised as content RNIB? production. I first worked for Pioneer electronics, This content is then brought to people then for a very large music company in a number of ways that might be called BMG and in recent years for a branded as talking books or the National music streaming service called WE7 Library Service or Load2Learn. In the which was bought by Tesco. Each of future we are looking to increase the those businesses was about how people amount of content and the number of access different kinds of entertainment ways in which we deliver it. My job at content. Whether it’s music, video or RNIB is to make sure that more people films or now, books, it’s about finding have access to more things, more out what people like and giving it to quickly. them in a way that they choose to have it; so my work was all about giving Are our readers still going to get the people choices. friendly voice on the phone when they need help? What does your job involve at RNIB? Our overall aim is to reach even more I look after the parts that make and people and we can only do that if we distribute content. What I mean by continue to provide a personalised content is things that people are already service. There are lots of different types familiar with like talking books, talking of listeners and readers and some need magazines and newspapers, our radio more help than others so we have to station, Insight radio, and then we have look for a solution that allows that many magazines, books and journals flexibility. In the past RNIB has used that we make for braille readers and in volunteers, in the future we’ll be using all sorts of accessible print. All of these more volunteers. By the time the next
30 Behind the scenes
Read On is available there will be an somebody to come round and show organised system in place called the what they can do. RNIB is unequivocally Reader Support Squad. If anybody needs committed to the DAISY CD. help with the player they are using or if they need help with their reading choices Is there any feedback from the digital they’ll be able to get it from them. download trial? Here’s an example that illustrates that Will there be any new and exciting digital is not as strange and unachievable things for readers to enjoy in the as it may seem: I was talking to a future? 93-year-old customer recently. What he We’ve just started work on a digital liked most about it was that he could download trial. We have 150 blind and search through books himself, control partially sighted people testing that for the books that he chooses and see them us at the moment. This includes all ages, immediately downloaded. It was under many aged 70 plus. We’re finding out his control, and not being reliant upon what kind of help we need to offer so the mail service was a really big benefit that we can learn lessons before we offer for him. He went to the RNIB shop and it more widely. bought a Victor Stream player. Now that’s just one example; it’s not a typical It’s very important for people to example, but it’s a very interesting way understand that we’re not asking for people to understand that it’s not as anybody to stop what they’re doing clear cut as saying people of a certain and try new-fangled technology. It’s age or background don’t understand only if the person themselves feels that anything digital. they’re comfortable and that there are some benefits to them using the digital Regardless of RNIB, people are now system. We know that it will suit some surrounded by more and more devices people and it won’t suit others. every day. We’re just trying to see what devices will give people the possibility Can you reassure people they’ll still to receive their reading in that way if it be able to listen to books in DAISY? suits them. But if they want to continue with DAISY CDs then that’s exactly what Absolutely. I can categorically say that we’ll supply. we will continue to make every talking book available as a DAISY CD first. We You can email Clive directly at will offer USBs and MP3s but only if [email protected] or call people want them. If people are curious him on 0207 391 2397. then we’ll arrange an appointment for
31 Buying a DAISY player?
When you buy a DAISY player costing over £150 from RNIB, you can spread payments over 10 months. It’s interest free and there’s no charge.
What’s more, you can enjoy reading your audio books on the latest Humanware players with the reassurance of a two year warranty.
For further details, call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999.
32