Winter 2014 Read On Issue 21 RNIB National Library Service magazine for readers
Sarah Waters on her new novel
Books of my life with Gary O’Donoghue RNIB Overdrive New digital download service Read On 21
Read On is published by RNIB. First words Hello. RNIB Overdrive is here! ©RNIB November Our new digital download 2014 service is now available so RNIB charity nos. you can borrow and download 226227, SC039316 talking books onto your and 1109 smartphone or tablet and enjoy them on the Read On is available move. Find out more in News on page 4. in print, DAISY audio This issue features an interview with bestselling CD, braille and email. author Sarah Waters, who tells us about her Email latest novel The Paying Guests, set in 1920’s [email protected] London. Author of popular teen fiction, Natasha Desborough, reveals how she Visit unexpectedly came to be a writer. And narrator rnib.org.uk/reading Chris Courtenay tells us all about what he To join enjoys reading. Call RNIB on BBC correspondent Gary O’Donoghue is our 0303 123 9999 guest for Books of my life this time. His love of Email reading goes back to his childhood when he was first introduced to talking books. [email protected] If you fancy trying your hand at writing, look at Photos: our Members’ creative writing competition on Jasminko Ibrakovic, page 18. The theme this year is crime. Gajus, Africa Studio, ostill, fototip, A reminder that you can listen to all of our Khakimullin interviews in full at rnib.org.uk/readon Aleksandr, This will be the last issue of Read On I edit and Joycedragan and I’d like to thank the great team I worked with to atikinka. All get each issue out. I’d also like to thank so many shutterstock.com of you for getting in touch to let us know what you enjoyed, or in some cases, didn’t! I can honestly say it’s been one of the best parts of my job and I will miss it. Deb Ryan ISSN 1758-0188 Reader Services Manager
2 Contents
4 News 17 Last writes 4 RNIB Overdrive 17 Maya Angelou 5 New online shop 17 Gabriel García Márquez 5 Talking books – now on USB 17 Daniel Keyes stick 18 Books of 6 The Monogram Murders my life: 6 DAISY books for sale Gary 7 Tax Advice Service O’Donoghue 7 Unified English Braille 8 Creative writing competition 21 Reader review 10 Author profile: The Crucible by Arthur Miller Sarah Waters 23 How we read 26 Children’s author profile: Natasha 13 Have you tried… Desborough New technology 14 Narrator profile: 28 Children’s book Chris recommendations Courtenay Diary of a...? 29 Behind the scenes: 16 Literary news Ellie 16 On the silver screen Southwood 16 Five go mad at the cinema... 16 Adrian Mole musical 17 Booker longlist
3 News News
RNIB Overdrive titles whenever you want – all at your own pace. RNIB Overdrive is our new digital download library. A simple, RNIB Overdrive is part of RNIB personal and portable service, it Listening Libraries, which is also lets you borrow, download and the home of our popular RNIB listen to talking books, talking Talking Book Service for people magazines and podcasts on your who prefer to listen to books on computer, smartphone or tablet. DAISY CD.
With RNIB Overdrive, you can RNIB Overdrive and RNIB Talking choose from 12,000 titles from our Books cost £50 per year, a talking books library. And from contribution toward the overall November 2014 there will be more costs which are heavily subsidised than 22,000 titles available. Borrow by RNIB. With our special limited up to six books at a time by introductory offer to RNIB downloading and then returning Overdrive, you can get 15 months them digitally, and enjoy unlimited for the price of 12 – that’s just borrowing over the course of a £3.33 a month. year. You can search by title, author and genre, manage your own wish For more information, visit our list, and return books and get new website at rnib.org.uk/overdrive
4 New online shop Have you visited RNIB’s new online shop? You’ll find all our useful products in one place, all at great prices. Visit rnib.org.uk/shop.
Why not sign up for our e-newsletter while you’re there to be the first to find out what’s new?
Talking books – media software, or through a USB now on USB stick player – a much cheaper option than a DAISY player at less than RNIB’s Talking Book Service has £30. You can move forwards and been giving blind and partially backwards through the book, and sighted readers access to the UK’s bookmark several USB sticks at largest collection of high quality, any one time so you’ll always keep unabridged audio books for nearly track of what you’re reading. 80 years. Now, with books available on USB stick and DAISY CD, as well as through RNIB Overdrive – our new digital library service – you can choose the format that best suits your needs and preferences.
A USB stick is a data storage device which gives you flexibility in how you choose to listen to your audio books. A talking book on USB stick can be played through a computer using your existing
5 The Monogram Murders sighted booklovers to enjoy at the same time as sighted readers, as This autumn, HarperCollins Agatha Christie’s The Murder of published a new novel featuring Roger Ackroyd was one of the first one of the world’s most beloved talking books to be recorded in literary detectives, Hercule Poirot. 1935 – nearly 80 years ago! The Monogram Murders, by bestselling author Sophie Hannah, The Monogram Murders is now is the first Poirot mystery ever available to borrow from RNIB penned by an author other than National Library Service and RNIB the famous sleuth’s creator, Agatha Listening Libraries as TB 21474, Christie. in giant print and in braille. For more information, call our Helpline This new Poirot novel reflects a on 0303 123 9999 or email growing trend for contemporary [email protected] authors to re-write or re-imagine classic books, from bestselling authors such as Joanna Trollope and Val McDermid re-writing Jane Austen’s novels for HarperCollins’ The Austen Project, to Anthony Horowitz impressing fans of Sherlock Holmes with his new Holmes story, The House of Silk.
It was particularly fitting that this new Poirot mystery was made available for blind and partially
DAISY books for sale Mills and Boon or the wonderful world of Roald Dahl, we have RNIB has a wonderful selection of something to appeal to all ages. DAISY books for sale, which can be enjoyed long after the tinsel has To find out more about our range of been packed away. DAISY titles, contact our Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit our Whether it’s the extraordinary online shop at rnib.org.uk/shop crime-solving genius Sherlock Holmes, the classic romance of
6 Unified English Braille titles that we already have in the library in Standard English Braille As many readers will know, the will be available to borrow for many organisation responsible for braille years to come. standards in this country, the UK Association for Accessible Formats Interestingly, in 2012 the USA also (UKAAF), voted to adopt a revised voted to adopt UEB, which now braille code known as Unified means that, for the first time ever, English Braille or UEB in October all the countries in the English- 2011. Since that time RNIB and speaking world are committed to other members of UKAAF have using the same braille code. This been working hard to ensure that opens up many exciting avenues of the transition is as smooth as co-operation, increasing the possible. amount and variety of braille available to readers across the Teachers and transcribers have world. been on one day update courses. Reference material has been amended and braille reading schemes and courses have been updated. Children now receive all their magazines in UEB and all new children’s books and adult learner titles are being produced in UEB.
We won’t start to produce UEB titles for the adult library until next year and of course the 22,000
Tax Advice Service to, such as the Blind Person’s Allowance which is a simple way RNIB has a free and confidential to reduce your tax bill. Tax Advice Service designed to help blind and partially sighted Call our Tax Advice Service on people with tax related issues. The 0845 330 4897. We’ll call you team gives advice on tax back so you won’t have to pay allowances, welfare benefits and for the cost of the call. You can concessions to make sure you’re also email us at [email protected] or claiming everything you’re entitled visit rnib.org.uk/tax
7 Creative writing competition
It’s crime time! All entrants to the competition will receive a recording of their work as Last year we had an overwhelming a thank you for entering. This will response to the Members’ creative be recorded by a volunteer and writing competition, which had the sent to you after the competition theme A Day in the Life. We were results are announced in April very impressed by the diversity of 2015. subjects and the standard of the writing. This year we are inviting This year’s judging panel will you to get your creative juices include previous competition flowing and your criminal winners and bestselling crime tendencies stirring! Channel your writer Chris Simms. inner Lee Child or Karin Slaughter and give us a tale of grisly murders, detectives and post mortems. Or maybe you can imagine getting away with the perfect crime? If the legal system is your bag, then a brief court room drama could win the judges over. This is your chance to let your imagination run wild in just 1,000 words.
The winner and two runners-up will have their entries recorded by professional talking book narrators. Extracts from the top three entries will also be published in Vision magazine and a special programme with the full entries will be broadcast on RNIB’s Insight Radio, now available on FreeView.
8 Try a telephone writing The judges said that this unusual workshop entry “captured the historical voice really well, that it had a beautiful sense of time and location and it fully placed the reader into the hardships of 19th century life”.
You can listen to last year’s winning entries on the writing competition podcast at rnib.org.uk/visionmagazine
To help you with the creative Guidelines for entering the process, we’ll be offering telephone writing competition crime writing workshops in • You must be a current RNIB November and December. Member to enter the competition. Two groups will be run by crime The deadline for entries is writer MJ McGrath, who wrote The • Thursday 15 January by 5pm Bone Seeker and White Heat and and entries can be up to a will provide helpful tips. Details of maximum of 1,000 words. the sessions will be confirmed in late October. To register your • Entries must be typed and interest in a writing workshop, preferably sent by email to please contact Soulla Pourgourides [email protected] or on 0845 330 3723 or email sent on audio CD, tape, [email protected] printed A4 paper or in braille to: RNIB Members’ Writing Be inspired by last year’s competition, Talk and Support, 105 Judd Street, London winners WC1H 9NE. Douglas Walker is the winner of • Entries must clearly state the this year’s competition. Douglas entrant’s name, address and who is 70, won with: “A day in the telephone number. life of William Purvis, 1752-1832”. • For full terms and conditions In his story, Douglas imagined what contact Talk and Support on it must have been like to be blind 0845 330 3723 or email at the start of the 19th century in [email protected] his home town of Newcastle.
9 Author profile: Sarah Waters Sarah Waters’ first novel Tipping the velvet was published in 1998 and set in Victorian London. It won several awards and was adapted for television. She went on to write several more bestselling novels. Lenny Goodings, a publisher at Virago spoke to Sarah about her latest novel The Paying Guests.
Set the scene for your latest book consequences that has for them. The Paying Guests. It’s set in 1922, mostly in a house It’s a rollercoaster of a book; the in suburban South London in tension and the pace is superb. Camberwell. 1922 was a Did that give you huge pleasure? fascinating time in British history. Poor Francis and Lilian have really It was still very much the tail end of quite a tough time of it. Basically the First World War, there was still they start getting frightened half a lot of grief and disillusionment way through the novel and they around. remain frightened for the rest of the book. Suspense is a great The main characters are Frances narrative engine but I also felt Wray, a young spinster and her terribly for my characters and their widowed mother, a sort of upper dilemmas, so for me it was a very middle-class family. Like a lot of emotional book as well. families of their class they’ve lost money and they’ve been obliged to I want a reader to be able to enter take in lodgers, the paying guests, my books, like entering a world, of the title, Leonard and Lilian and going on a journey that I’ve Barber. They move in on the first carefully constructed for them. I page and the novel is about the really want my reader to feel in safe entangling of the two households hands when they start one of my and the rather dramatic novels, I hope they do.
10 Your characters come alive, they need to have a few flaws. In The must feel real to you but do they Paying Guests my characters end ever surprise you? up in a very real moral predicament Once I’ve settled on what I want and have to make choices and they the story to be, where I want it to don’t always make the right ones. It go, how I want the characters to was important to me that they end up, that tends to be rather weren’t saints, that they were like fixed but what changes immensely all of us: sort of muddling through. is how my characters feel about the plots I put them in. I think Do you have a favourite bringing a character to life is character? getting to know them and how I’m very fond of Frances, who’s they would or wouldn’t behave in a really the heroine of the novel. The certain situation and how they story is told from her perspective. I might feel about each other. felt very close to her. She’s an interesting character; she’s quite It took me a long time to write this spiky and brittle. novel, about four and half years, which is about a good year longer I She’s had an interesting past but think than it should have taken. I she’s decided to stay with her had to do a lot of figuring out of mother and deal with the failing Francis and Lilian and their household. She’s a very noble and relationship and their motivations quite brave character in lots of and I couldn’t get the tone right. I ways. It’s really a novel about how think partly because I was resisting we can be brave in difficult it being a love story but when I circumstances. realised their relationship is at the heart of this novel I felt much more behind them and could commit to The Paying it being a love story. From then on Guests will be it was a more straightforward available from writing process. the Library soon in all And what about them being formats. unlikable? Well, everybody’s a bit unlikable, aren’t they? We all do unlikable things. I think in order for your characters to feel convincing they
11 Books available from the The Little Stranger Library by Sarah Waters: In a dusty post-war summer in rural Affinity Warwickshire, a Set in and around doctor is called to a the women’s prison patient at Hundreds at Milbank in the Hall. Little does Dr 1870s, Margaret Faraday know how Prior has decided to closely, and how pursue some “good terrifyingly, their story is about to work” with the lady become entwined with his criminals of one of (braille, giant print, TB 16895). London’s most notorious gaols. The Night Watch She feels herself drawn to the imprisoned spiritualist Selina This is the story of Dawes and finds herself dabbling four Londoners – in a twilight world of séances, three women and a shadows, unruly spirits and young man with a unseemly passions past. Their lives (TB 16928). and their secrets connect in Fingersmith sometimes Set in a den of startling ways (braille, giant print, thieves in 1860’s TB 14772). London, this novel Tipping the Velvet focuses on Susan, a pickpocket, who In the bawdy music is persuaded by halls of the her cohorts to pose late-19th century, as a lady’s maid Nan is captivated and infiltrate the household of by Kitty Butler, a Maud, a young heiress in male impersonator. possession of a large inheritance Heading for the (braille, giant print, TB 12892). bright lights of London they form a double act while privately, a love affair begins (braille, TB 14976).
12 Have you tried? New technology Technology is moving at a fast pace and it’s sometimes hard to keep up. These books investigate a changing world.
64 things you need to know now easy-to-understand tutorials on for then by Ben Hammersley dozens of computer topics Explaining the effects of changes (braille, TB 15931). in the modern world, and the latest ideas in technology, culture, Backroom boys: the secret return business and politics, this book of the British boffin by Francis demystifies the Internet, decodes Spufford cyberspace and guides you Backroom Boys follows the through the innovations of the technologists whose work kept revolution we are all living through Concorde flying, created the (braille, TB 404880). computer game, conquered the mobile-phone business, and who Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson are now sending the Beagle 2 Drawn from three years of probe to burrow in the sands of exclusive interviews with Apple Mars (TB 19748). co-founder Jobs as well as extensive interviews with Jobs’ Also available to buy: family members, this book is the Getting started with the iPhone definitive portrait of the greatest and iOS5 for blind users: second technical innovator of his edition by Anna Dresner and Dean generation (TB 19285). Martineau. Computing for seniors in easy 2012. Price: £16.00. steps: for the over 50s by Sue Order No: TC21371B. Price Social networking and you: This book enables baby boomers Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn and seniors to enjoy all the for Blind Users by Anna Dresner. benefits of using a personal computer. It presents compact, 2010. Price: £8.99. Order No: TC21342.
13 Narrator profile: Chris Courtenay Talking book narrator Chris Courtenay studied Anglo Saxon Norse and Celtic at Cambridge and worked in publishing before deciding that acting was his real calling. He’s narrated a range of RNIB talking books from children’s books to science fiction and history books. Kim Normanton talked to him.
How did you first get involved What I’ve enjoyed the most, with narrating? although read the least, is the I’d wanted to do voiceover work for literary stuff. It’s then more of a quite a long time. I can’t remember performance than a factual whether someone told me or I’d reading. Obviously I read it before read somewhere that RNIB use so I’ve prepared it and I know what readers and I sent off an I’m about to unfold for the listeners application. I got an email saying so I want my voice to lead them would I audition for them and about though that story. a month later I got my first book – a children’s book, which slightly Do you have a particular book surprised me. It was Fizzlebert that felt right to narrate? Stump: The boy who ran away I liked the Japanese book The from the circus (and joined the Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the library) and it was great because it Sea. It was so well written and the had lots of crazy characters with translation was so good. There’s silly voices – I loved doing that. quite a harrowing incident when a Is there any genre you enjoy group of boys do something very reading for talking books? cruel and you can imagine how I think factual stuff gives me a good somebody might feel on hearing challenge to read some foreign this. You’re performing that for names. It’s rather nice for someone them, and unfolding something with my background to occasionally dramatic and very sad and read a passage in Old English. emotional.
14 What have you particularly is also to do with words. I like the enjoyed reading? fact that when you are recording, it I really enjoyed The Broken Road is just you and the producer and an by Patrick Leigh Fermor. He is imagined reader, so it feels very reputably the best travel writer tight and focused. Britain’s ever produced and in my ignorance I’d never heard of him. What are you reading at the He’s an extraordinary guy who, just moment? before the Second World War, Jane Austen’s Persuasion – it’s one walked all though Germany and of those classic books and it’s Eastern Europe and into Greece. superb. The writing is so good, the He’s a very engaging character care with which she crafts a because nothing is boring to him, sentence, the subtle implications everybody is interesting. of what she describes. It would be superb if I got the chance to read a He gets into more than his fair classic like that. share of adventures because he likes a drink and he’s very gregarious but the wonderful thing Books read by Chris is that it’s a snapshot of a culture available from the Library: that’s gone, particularly once he gets to Eastern Europe. He’s seeing Blood and beauty by Sarah communities that were on the Dunant (TB 20829, braille, giant brink of extinction because the print) Nazis were coming. Some of the The Broken Road: from the Iron Romany communities he met, were Gates to Mount Athos by Patrick soon to be plunged into German Leigh Fermor (TB 20901) and then Stalinist occupation. He Vanished kingdoms: the history captures that last moment when of half-forgotten Europe by there was a vibrant truly multi- Norman Davies (TB 20345) ethnic European culture back in the days before we all wore jeans. When the eagle hunts by Simon It’s a wonderful read. Scarrow (TB 21048, giant print Cato; 3. Sequel to: The Eagle’s Are there other types of Conquest) performance that you really enjoy The sailor who fell from grace such as stage or film? with the sea by Yukio Mishima I think my favourite is voiceover, (TB 20236). because it is a performance but it
15 Literary news
On the silver screen launched. Of course there’ll also be lashings of ginger beer… The third Hunger Games film, Mockinjay, Part 1, opens in Adrian Mole musical cinemas on 20 November 2014. Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Author Sue Hutcherson reprise their roles as Townsend, best Katniss Everdeen and Peeta known for her Mellark – but you won’t get closure Adrian Mole on these two for another year: Part books, died in 2 isn’t scheduled for release until April aged 68. November 2015. In the 1980s Adrian Mole’s Thomas Vinterberg’s Far From the diaries sold Madding Crowd, starring Juno more copies Temple, Carey Mulligan, Michael than any other Sheen and Tom Sturridge is work of fiction in that decade. A scheduled to hit the big screen in loyal supporter of RNIB, Sue May 2015. One Day author David Townsend suffered ill health Nicholls is the man behind the including diabetes for several years screenplay. and was registered blind as a result of diabetic retinopathy in 2001. Five go mad at the cinema... Next year Sue Townsend’s home town of Leicester will host the Enid Blyton’s Famous Five are set premiere of The Secret Diary for a big screen adventure as film of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 – production company Working Title The Musical. Sue advised and has acquired the theatrical rights encouraged the team behind the to all the Famous Five titles. Julian, musical for nearly three years and Dick, Anne, George and Timmy the was reportedly very enthusiastic dog are set to take on more about a new generation being smugglers, thieves and evil introduced to her book. It’s hoped scientists as a live action franchise that the show will be a success based on Blyton’s books is and transfer to London’s West End.
16 Booker longlist prisoners of war forced to work on the infamous “Death Railway” RNIB has been working with between Thailand and Burma in publishers to ensure that the the Second World War. Flanagan is Man Booker Prize shortlist is the third Australian writer to win in available in braille, giant print and the prize’s 46 years. audio. Richard Flanagan has won this year’s Man Booker Prize with Visit rnib.org.uk/manbooker or The Narrow Road to the Deep call the Reader Services team on North, which tells the story of the 01733 37 53 33.
Last writes Maya Angelou authors of the 20th century, died in African- April, aged 87. He popularised the American literary style known as magic author and realism, which uses magical poet Maya elements and events in otherwise Angelou died ordinary and realistic situations in May, aged and his best-known works are One 86. She wrote hundred years of solitude (braille seven and TB 4957) and Love in the time autobiographies, three books of of cholera (braille and TB 13505). essays and several books of poetry, but is best known for the Daniel Keyes first of her autobiographies, Daniel Keyes, author of the I know why the caged bird sings science-fiction story Flowers for (TB 5720). Algernon, died aged 86, in June. Flowers for Algernon (available Gabriel García Márquez soon in giant print) won the Colombian Hugo award for best short story in writer Gabriel 1960 and picked up the Nebula García award for best novel in 1967 after Márquez, Keyes expanded the story to book considered one length. It was also successfully of the most adapted for cinema, TV, radio and significant stage.
17 Books of my life: Gary O’Donoghue Gary O’Donoghue has worked as a journalist at the BBC for over twenty years. He currently works as the Chief Political Correspondent for BBC Radio 4 and is just about to go to Washington to be their Washington Correspondent. Kim Normanton spoke to him about the books of his life.
Was it difficult to narrow your with measles in the summer when I choices down to just five books? was about nine listening to Wind in It was agonising, excluding all sorts the Willows. I loved it, I entered of delicious authors who I’ve read that world and felt like everything for many, many years and who else had disappeared from around have brought me a lot of pleasure me and I think I read that talking over the years. book about seven times back to back. Was there a key time in your life when books became particularly And who was reading it in significant? those days? I think the moment I lost my sight I think it might have been Andrew when I was eight years old was the Sachs. The joy of the talking book moment that the world of books library, and it continues to this day, became absolutely crucial to me. is that really top quality actors read My world changed, it became, these books so they are beautifully perhaps, a bit more of an internal read. I’d been reading books at world. Shortly after I lost my sight, school, really quite childish stuff, one of the first things that was and all of a sudden I was done for me was to get me a introduced to a much broader talking book machine, with the old world of literature and the talking big cassette type talking books. book machine was a constant companion to me during my years One of my very first memories of growing up. the joy of reading was lying in bed
18 I know you also read braille, do of society in those days. A love you still listen to talking books? story with all that repression built I have to read braille as part of my in was just absolutely fascinating job but I don’t read nearly as much to me. as I used to. I still use the talking book service and I’m a big fan of I think probably the third one I’d the Audible online service. I read a mention is a French surrealist poet lot of books on the Kindle app on we had to do in the first year at my iPhone. Of course the joy of the University, Paul Éluard. I remember Kindle is that new books are thinking the set text, Capitale de la available immediately. I grew up, Douleur, is just one volume of like a lot of blind people, being braille. What a result – that can’t be immensely frustrated that when very hard can it! anything new came out that other people were talking about you I remember looking at the first line couldn’t get it. You certainly of the first poem which read “La couldn’t get it in braille for ages terre est bleu, comme une orange” and ages and there were never which translates as “The earth is audio books as we were told that blue, like an orange” and I the publishers thought that audio remember thinking I don’t books were too niche, they’ve understand a word of it! I’m not a certainly changed their mind on great poetry reader nowadays but I that one! think that the thing about poetry is the significance of language, it What is your next book? wasn’t necessarily about the ideas. The French Lieutenant’s Woman Lots of poet’s ideas are pretty by John Fowles stands out for me. I benign – for example, pretty girl read that in braille over a over there, nice looking stream. But Christmas period and I think I it’s the way they’re expressed that’s pretty much read it non-stop. It was important. It’s all about the sound one of the first times I’d got a real of the language and the cadences sense of the kind of tensions that and the rhythms and the existed in Victorian England metaphors and that’s one of things between classes and the structure that poetry gave me. It made me
19 read in a less literal way, it made the end, but there’s a delight at me appreciate writing much more. knowing you’ve absorbed something beautiful in the world. Would you say that the next book The End of the Affair is a super, is from your radio stage of life? super book and I’d recommend No. I struggled with my last two. I anyone to read it. read a lot of political books nowadays but I think possibly the greatest political book I’ve ever If you’d like to read Gary’s read is the Robert Carro biography choice of books, these are of Lyndon Johnson, The Years of available from the Library: Lyndon Johnson. It still isn’t finished, it’s on volume four, but it is The Wind in the magisterial. It’s all encompassing Willows by – biography is too small a word to Kenneth Grahame describe it. It’s a beautifully written is available in giant piece of political history and print, braille and as conjures up the United States in TB 18897. such a marvellous way.
And what about your final book, you’ve got to narrow it down to the last one now? The French It’s so tricky because I’m excluding Lieutenant’s people who I love like Ian McEwan Woman by John and Sarah Waters, whose new title Fowles is available is just coming out, which I’m really in braille and as looking forward to. I’m going to TB 1455. choose a Graham Greene, The End of the Affair. I read it quite a long time ago, and pretty much in one sitting on a transatlantic flight. It’s The End of the set in the war and it’s about a Affair by Graham doomed love affair. I felt like I’d Greene is available been thumped in the stomach after as TB 14055, in reading this book. When you read a giant print and great book you feel empty and braille. fulfilled at the same time, don’t you? There’s a terrible tragedy at
20 Reader review The Crucible by Arthur Miller Diane Mountford talked to Kim Normanton about a recent theatre visit to an audio described performance.
“I lost most of my sight gradually The Crucible is a favourite play of and was fortunate to quickly learn mine. I’ve seen it several times, as about RNIB and have gained a lot a stage play, a TV drama and a film. of pleasure from the Talking Book But this one held extra appeal Service that they offer. I’m also because the leading actor is lucky to have the support of Blind Richard Armitage, he of the recent Veterans UK. Hobbit films, Spooks, and many more TV dramas. I never book to see a show of We assembled in the foyer and any sort without were taken down onto the stage. first checking There we were given a brief out what description about the set design, provision is the costumes and the way the made for people scenes would change. I had also like me. So I was been sent a CD outlining these very excited to details and the characters learn that the relationships with each other. Then Old Vic theatre in London offered we were free to wander about, feel an audio-described performance of the props and chat to some of the Arthur Miller’s cast. This was very valuable and The Crucible and had also certainly helped me follow the incorporated a pre-performance proceedings better in my mind. Touch Tour. An intense and emotional play about the Salem The play itself quickly sprang to life Witch Trials, The Crucible is the with the collection of young and story of John Proctor whose affair malicious girls first denying and with a spurned servant girl causes then implying witchcraft. It was her to cry Witchcraft which leads to easy to follow events because of hysteria and fear amongst the the comprehensive audio townsfolk. description and, having already
21 been made aware of the layout of the different scenes, I could Audio description is a verbal visualise proceedings. John commentary that tells visually Proctor is a deep, taciturn and impaired theatre-goers what is singular man and Richard Armitage happening on the stage during played him with total conviction. the parts of the performance The scenes between him and his where there is no dialogue for wife, when they first argue and at example during fight scenes. the end when he goes to his fate, The description does not impact deeply on the audience. interfere with the performance The underlying message of but fills in the gaps, describing integrity in the face of prejudice is facial expressions, costume, an ongoing situation reflected in scenery and action sequences many modern and worldwide so that anyone with a sight situations. The subsequent problem can follow the plot fully standing ovation and much and independently. Contact cheering were well deserved. For your local theatre for more me personally, not being able to information. ‘see’ much of the play did not Look out for other audio reduce the pleasure of being an described productions and observer of that dark and satanic accompanying touch tours. moment in history. The Crucible production was It was a rewarding experience to put on by Vocaleyes. You can have so much additional visit their website to find out information. I departed the theatre about other audio described having observed the play in a new performances at dimension, tingling with emotion www.vocaleyes.co.uk Some from the dramatic conclusion and theatres offer a free ticket for exhilarated from the close contact an accompanying guide. with stage and performers.”
The Crucible by Arthur Miller (braille, giant print, TB 403860) Timebends: a life by Arthur Miller (braille) Arthur Miller by Christopher Bigsby (TB 18125)
22 How we read Steve and Mandy Darling from Devon are both registered blind and have two children. Mandy works as a medical secretary at their local hospital and Steve has been a councillor for over 20 years and is currently leader of the Liberal Democrats for Torbay Council. He also works part time for his local Liberal Democrat MP. Read On spoke to Steve and Mandy about how they read and about the challenges of reading with their sighted sons as they were growing up.
Both Steve and Mandy are avid Mandy likes a bit of escapism with readers of talking books. Steve a historical romance which helps particularly likes historic novels her switch off. It gives her a break where he feels he is learning a little from some of the more serious bit of history even though it may be stuff she’s had to read for her Open fiction, such as Bernard Cornwell University course and she can’t and his Sharpe series. He also likes speak highly enough of the support to read non-fiction and has started she’s had from the Talking Book reading Max Hastings’ books. Service in supporting her to find Steve found Armageddon: the the books she needed. battle for Germany, 1944-45, about the end of the Second World Both agree that books are much War, absolutely fascinating. more accessible these days. He also recommended The Korean Mandy told us that although there War, also by Max Hastings. is generally much more access to books through iPads or Kindles she doesn’t feel it gives you the same experience as the skill a narrator brings to a talking book. She said, “You feel what you’re listening to because you have a real voice putting real emotion into it and you’re part of it; nothing beats that.”
23 We asked them They also talked about the what books challenges of teaching their sons meant to them. to read. Mandy told us, “I used Aside from ClearVision books which was escapism Steve wonderful. They are a library of thinks books can standard print children’s books be an affirmation with a clear braille overlay. It’s a of what you think fantastic service. Both of them now is important. “To love to read, which I think is quite listen again to unusual for boys.” To kill a mocking bird is a good reaffirming of your We couldn’t personal principles or even a leave Steve and Stephen King book like The green Mandy without mile – which is so much better asking what than the film.” they were currently Mandy also felt that RNIB’s Library reading. Steve is far more up to date now with the said he had just books that are available. She said, finished A ship “I work in an office and when my must die by colleagues are discussing books I Douglas can join in; I’m part of the Reeman and discussion, or I can say I’ve read a Mandy was book and then they’ll read it, so it’s reading brought me into the mainstream, Dragonfly in which I think is very important.” Amber by Diana Gabaldon which As parents Steve and Mandy were she was finding worried that they might not be able really to support their sons with learning enthralling. to read or doing their homework. But what they discovered was that Turning to how they’d like to be because they were asking the able to read in future, Mandy told children to read things to them at us about her greatest wish: “What an earlier age than other parents would be wonderful would be to might, their sons engaged much have a system where – a bit like earlier in reading and handling with talking newspapers – you money. could download your books.
24 Sometimes you’re reading your book and you think I could do with Mandy’s wish to be able to something a bit light-hearted download talking books on her tonight and you could go and computer is now available download something from your through RNIB’s new Overdrive computer rather than having to service. For more information send one book back and wait for visit rnib.org.uk/overdrive or another to come. That would be email [email protected] perfect.” ClearVision is a UK postal lending library of mainstream children’s books with braille overlays. All of the books have braille (or Moon), print and pictures, making them suitable for blind and sighted children and adults to share. Visit www.clearvisionproject.org or call 020 8789 9575.
Books mentioned by Steve and Mandy include: Enemy of god; a novel of Arthur The green mile by Steven King (The Warlord Chronicles: 2) (braille, TB 18350) by Bernard Cornwell (braille, giant print, TB 11376) A ship must die by Douglas Reeman (TB 19438) Cross stitch (Outlander: 1) by Diana Gabaldon (braille, Max Hastings books: TB 15354) The Korean War (TB 19413)
Dragonfly in Amber Armageddon: the battle for (Outlander: 2) by Diana Germany, 1944-45 (TB 19412) Gabaldon (braille, TB 16241) Catastrophe Europe goes to War To kill a mocking bird by Harper 1914 (braille, giant print, available Lee (braille, giant print, TB 2289) soon in talking book)
25 Children’s author profile: Natasha Desborough Natasha Desborough is a writer of teen fiction and has recently published Weirdos versus Bumskulls, a sequel to her first teen book Weirdos versus Quimboids. She never intended to be a writer – in fact she was happily established as a radio presenter for BBC 6 music. Natasha came into the talking book studios to talk to Kim Normanton.
How did it all start? list of my own and by the end I had It all began from a listener from my a character for my first book, radio show. One day I was doing Weirdos vs Quimboids. my weekend breakfast show and it was about 5am. A listener rang up How long did it take you to start and said that she’d woken up in the to think this is working? night having had a crazy dream I probably wrote the first draft of about a kid’s TV presenter called Weirdos vs Quimboids in about Mr Tumble. It gave me a brilliant three months, but my agent then idea for a book and I went away spent a year making me knock it and wrote the Parental Advisory into shape. It was so frustrating, Manual, a spoof parenting book. because obviously I thought it was perfect as it was. After a year it was The second book I wrote because in pretty good shape and within my literary agent said, “You know four weeks I’d got a book deal. I what, you’re funny so would you was just over the moon. like to try writing a fictional book?” and I said I’d give it a go. Again, I You’ve now written the sequel, didn’t know what I was going to Weirdos vs Bumskulls. What is write so I took my favourite book of that about? all time, Sue Townsend’s The It’s about three best friends who Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, which are labelled as weirdos and it’s begins with a New Year’s resolution their uphill struggle to try and get list and decided to begin writing a some kind of credibility at school.
26 It’s an embarrassing, hilarious it’s fabulous. The actress who plays journey to be socially accepted. Blossom is just wonderful. I believe Weirdos vs Bumskulls will be And do you find that teenagers recorded very soon. who think they are a bit un-cool get in touch with you? We usually ask authors if they This is where Twitter is just could give us a few tips on how to wonderful. So many people get in get writing? touch with me and say that they I’m the worst person to ask about love the books and relate to the how to get writing because I am so characters. I reckon that even the haphazard. I write stories in my coolest teenagers think they’re a head as I’m walking the dog, as I’m little bit un-cool because you can mowing the lawn. That’s where the only be cool if you’re completely stories are formed and then I just true to yourself. I don’t think many type it up so I don’t really need to people have the guts to be true to be organised I just splurge it out. themselves, and those who are, are But I would say pick up a pen, sit the ones that are considered down and write and also don’t weirdos and get bullied. listen to anybody’s advice. So what I just said about picking up a pen Aside from Adrian Mole is there just ignore that, just ignore all any character in children’s fiction advice, do your own thing. who you relate to? Another book I return to over and over again is The Outsiders by SE Hinton. The other day I mentioned her in a tweet and she Books mentioned by replied and that is more exciting to Natasha: me than getting a book published. She wrote that book when she was Weirdos vs Quimboids 16, which blows my mind! (giant print and TB 21020) Read On is for people with sight The secret diary of Adrian Mole loss, do you have any aged 13¾ by Sue Townsend connection? (braille; giant print and I do, my husband works in the TB 4751) Talking Book studios and records audio books for RNIB. The Outsiders by SE Hinton (braille, giant print, available Weirdos vs Quimboids has been soon as a talking book) recorded and I’ve listened to it and
27 Children’s book recommendations
with no windows. No doors. No way out (braille, TB 20884).
Looking for a chuckle? Here are a few books to keep you smiling.
Diary of a killer cat by Anne Fine. Poor Ellie is horrified when Tuffy Diary of a …? drags a dead bird into the house. The antics of Tuffy and his family You may be familiar with Diary of a are told by the killer cat himself Wimpy Kid, Mia’s adventures in (braille, giant print). the Princess Diaries or Georgia Nicholson’s confessions. Here are The brilliant world of Tom Gates some other diaries to have a by Liz Pichon. All Tom Gates wants sneaky peek at. to do is get tickets to see his favourite band when they come to My name is Mina by David town. All of his plans seem to get Almond. Mina writes of growing up him into major trouble! (braille, and not fitting in through her giant print, TB 20386). stories, thoughts, and dreams (braille, giant print, TB 18063). The secret diary of Adrian Mole aged 13¾ by Sue Townsend. I was Jane Austen’s best friend by Dogged by misfortunes, from spots Cora Harrison is a look at first love to cracks in his parents’ marriage, in olden days. When Jenny Cooper Adrian’s life is brightened by his goes to stay with her cousin Jane passion for a 14 year-old feminist Austen, Jenny falls in love. Who (braille, giant print, TB 4751). better than Jane to help her win the heart of this eligible man? Diary of a wimpy vampire by Tim (TB 19101). Collins. Nigel became a vampire at the awkward age of fifteen, and If you’d like something gripping now must spend eternity coping and dark try The bunker diary by with acne, a breaking voice, and Kevin Brooks which won the ineptitude with girls (giant print). Carnegie Medal this year. A kidnapped boy is kept in a room
28 Behind the scenes Ellie Southwood Kim Normanton talked to Ellie Southwood about the role of an RNIB Trustee. Ellie is 32 and lives in London. She studied philosophy, politics and economics and has just completed a Master’s degree about leaders in the charity sector. She’s also recently been elected as a local counsellor for the Labour Party in North West London. Ellie has been an RNIB Trustee for four years and in 2012 she took on the role of Vice Chair of RNIB.
What does being a RNIB Trustee we make are collective so it’s still involve? really important that I understand The Trustee Board is the ultimate what’s being decided. If we don’t decision making board for the RNIB have the financial sustainability group. We recently signed off the and we don’t keep our growth and 2014-2019 strategy which income stable then we can’t do any includes the business and financial of the things that we want to do. planning. We have formal meetings with all the Trustees and Directors How do you become an RNIB to debate issues. Trustee - presumably you all come from different backgrounds Is there a lot to do with budgets, and walks of life? do you need to have a good head Yes, we’re a really diverse bunch for figures? and the good news is we’re There is a lot to do with budgets; becoming more diverse. Our that was one of the things that I current chair Kevin Carey has done was conscious of when I joined the a huge amount over the last few Board, because I don’t have a years to get a better gender background in finance. On the balance on the board and people Trustee Board we have an from different backgrounds who, Honorary Treasurer with primary perhaps historically, haven’t been responsibility for budgets and involved with RNIB. I came to the finance, however all decisions that Trustee Board via an open
29 recruitment process. I saw an always the top issue that people advert, wrote an application, a bit are concerned about. Over the like you would for any job, and then past couple of years we’ve really was interviewed. That’s one way, taken a look at what RNIB and the other way is to be elected via Action does in terms of the UK Member Forum. employment services. We worked out that there were probably What made you decide to apply? 25,000 people out there who we I was at a point in my career when I weren’t reaching, who were not in was recruiting people to be on work, so our big challenge is going charity boards and it occurred to to be making sure that we can me that I was recommending who reach many more people. should go onto boards and not on a board myself. So partly it was We’re doing a lot more work at the about getting experience of being pre-employment stage, such as a trustee. confidence building and skills development. Our Members and I was born with no sight so I’ve blind and partially sighted people been using RNIB products and tell us this is what makes the services forever. I have to be difference and that’s what we’re honest and say that some of my now going to focus on. I really feel perceptions of RNIB weren’t all that that I’ve helped to shape how it will positive. It felt very male, very over look in the future. 65, very traditional and so when I saw the advert I eventually came to You’re also a governor of the RNIB the conclusion that if people like Sunshine House School. You’re me don’t apply for the Board it will giving up a lot of your time and probably always be dominated by it’s all voluntary – what makes the over 65 white male. you do it? It’s partly because I really want to Would you say that there’s any contribute and make a difference. I issue that you’ve been able to can see the difference it makes, so influence about which you’ve felt we know what impact we’re having a sense of accomplishment? and that makes it feel incredibly One of the things that I’m really, rewarding. I’ve learnt a huge really passionate about is equal amount as well. opportunities and access to employment. Whenever I go to Member Forums it is pretty much
30 Do you have time to read? has dementia and her attempt to I’m afraid reading is a non- solve the mystery of her sister who negotiable, I have to make time for disappeared when they were it because I absolutely love teenagers. It’s beautifully written reading, I always have. I remember and really captures the voice and, I when I was small I would get bags think, the experience of an older and bags of braille books – I don’t person living with dementia. know what the postman thought. Now I tend to read audio so I’m a I’ve also just finished The secret talking book user and I get though history by Donna Tartt which I’ve them pretty rapidly. I’m also a been meaning to read for years. It’s member of Audible so I tend to quite long so I waited until I had a read on my iPhone now. holiday so I could really get engrossed in it and that was What are you reading at the fantastic as well. moment? I’ve just finished Elizabeth is The secret history is available in missing. It’s about a woman who braille and TB 13874.
Living with sight loss? Membership is a great way to get information and support Join today for free
Joining is easy, all you need to do is: • Call 0303 1234 555 • Email [email protected] • Visit rnib.org.uk/membership
31 RNIB Overdrive If you’re looking for a present that lasts all year round, buy a gift subscription to RNIB Overdrive, our new digital download service.
RNIB Overdrive lets you borrow, download and listen to talking books, talking magazines and podcasts on your computer, smartphone or tablet.
Visit rnib.org.uk/overdrive for more information.
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