The Listening Books Podcast

Nov 06 2024 49 ep. 39 mins 99

The Listening Books Podcast artwork

For every kind of reader, but especially for fans of audiobooks. Featuring conversations with the authors and narrators of your favourite books, as well as reading round-ups and the odd lighthearted literary game. Listening Books is a UK charity that provides audiobooks for those who struggle to read or hold a book due to an illness, disability, learning difficulty or mental health issue. Find out more at www.listening-books.org.uk. Follow @ListeningBooks

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Author Leeanne O'Donnell

Nov 06 2024 43 mins

Leeanne O’Donnell is the author of Sparks of Bright Matter, a novel set in Georgian London and West Cork that follows the pursuits of scientist and alchemist, Peter Woulfe. In her thoughtful conversation with host Jessica Stone, she talks about what made Peter a subject of fascination to her, how her own near-sightedness inspired a beloved character’s way of navigating the worl

Author Louise Hare

Oct 03 2024 30 mins

Louise Hare is the London-based author of This Lovely City and the Canary Club Mysteries. In this conversation with host Jessica Stone, she talks about the second in that series, Harlem After Midnight—how the musical styles of ragtime and jazz support the story, how she creates a safe space for her main character, and how the historical setting resonates with current times. Boo

Author Becca Caddy

Sep 05 2024 35 mins

Becca Caddy is a writer and journalist who likes to explore the human side of technology, and her book Screen Time offers the information and guidance to help us take back a bit more control over our digital lives. In this conversation with host Jessica Stone, Becca talks about why our language around technology is so important and how we can be more deliberate in our use of the te

Author Sierra Godfrey

Aug 01 2024 28 mins

Sierra Godfrey is the well-travelled author of A Very Typical Family and The Second Chance Hotel. In this joyful conversation with Jessica Stone, she talks about her first novel, her love for anything written or recommended by Marian Keyes, the nature of friendship, and even her meticulous system for tracking all the books she reads. Books mentioned: A Very Typical Family, Sierr

Reading Roundup: Oldies and Newbies

Jul 02 2024 47 mins

Amy, Claire and Jessica each bring one ‘old’ book and one ‘new’ one to the table before Amy and Claire square off in Jess’s ridiculously challenging literary game. Books mentioned: Weirdo, Sara Pascoe, narrated by the author And Then There Were None, Agatha Christie, narrated by Dan Stevens The Canary Club Series, Louise Hare, narrated by Leonie Elliot and Georgina Camp

Reading Roundup: Books that Centre Celebrations

Dec 20 2023 39 mins

A special festive episode discussing books that feature celebrations. Amy and Edward return for a final a face-off as Jess attempts to foil them with her literary quiz. Books mentioned: Brideshead Revisited, by Evelyn Waugh The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, by Carson McCullers The Party, by Elizabeth Day Bridget Jones’s Diary, by Helen Fielding Pride and Prejudice,

Narrator Emily Woo Zeller

Nov 16 2023 38 mins

Emily Woo Zeller is an American voice actress and audiobook narrator whose work has earned heaps of awards, including AudioFile’s prestigious Golden Voice Award. You may have heard her reading fantasy books like R.F. Kuang’s Poppy War series, romance novels like Helen Hoang’s The Bride Test, or perhaps a spy thriller like Chloe Gong’s Foul Lady Fortune. Today she tells us w

Narrator Stephanie Cannon

Nov 09 2023 38 mins

Stephanie Cannon is an American voice actor, circus performer, and audiobook narrator living in England. In this conversation with host Jessica Stone, she tells us what that’s like, how walking on stilts complements reading in a box, which kinds of books she loves to narrate, and conversely which ones she'll take a pass on. We also discuss Kate Dylan’s cyberpunk dystopian novel

Narrator Jane McDowell

Nov 02 2023 31 mins

Jane McDowell is a talented actress and narrator with many credits to her name, including the Dr Ruth Galloway mystery series by Elly Griffiths. In this conversation with host Jessica Stone, Jane tells us what it was like to record the last book of the series The Locked Room during a Covid lockdown, how animals help her create character voices, and what book was so moving that she

Narrator Polly Lee

Oct 26 2023 35 mins

Polly Lee is an award winning actress and narrator of over 200 fiction and non-fiction books. She has also narrated over 200 romance novels under the name Ashford McNab/MacNab. Raised in the UK, she has lived in the US now for 25 years working equally in both her British and American dialects. Today she tells us about some of the books that have stayed with her, including Soman C