Listening Books

Marks and Spencer have launched a range of easy dressing clothes for children with disabilities!

Are you still reeling from the trailer for the new Fantastic Beasts film? Go back to where it all started with the audiobook of Fantastic Beasts read by Eddie Redmayne, available to download or stream from our library: https://listening-books.overdrive.com/med ia/3224819
[Image is the Fantastic Beasts audiobook]

How can we stay sane on a planet that makes us mad? Matt Haig's wonderful new book Notes on a Nervous Planet is a raw and meaningful look at how to survive the anxiety of the modern world.
The audiobook is available from our library now: https://listening-books.overdrive.com/med ia/4296849…
[Image is the Notes on a Nervous Planet audiobook]

In today's always-on world, for many of us it seems impossible to relax, take time out or mute the encircling 'noise'. Calm is Fearne Cotton's mission to find the simple things that can inch us away from stress and over to the good stuff. Including expert advice, conversations with wise friends from all walks of life, easy ideas to try, activities to complete - and the little things that have made a difference to her own, sometimes-bumpy life - this book is a friendly reminder that Calm is a place that exists in us all, we just have to find our way back to it.
Borrow the audiobook from our library: https://listening-books.overdrive.com/med ia/3827296
[Image is the Calm audiobook]

'I've been listening to audiobooks for years, and I can honestly say the narration on this changed what I expect from a narrator! Michael Sheen reads this first installment in a new trilogy set in the same world as the His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman - and he's better than a full cast of actors all by himself. He manages to ramp up the tension in important moments, and embodies the eerie sound of a hyena daemon's laugh so well I was terrified. The story is magical, but i...t should only be experienced as an audiobook!'
Our Friday Favourite this week is The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman, read by Michael Sheen, and recommended by Abbie.
Download or stream the audiobook from our library: https://listening-books.overdrive.com/med ia/4187362
[Image is The Book of Dust audiobook]
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On Saturday, the Very Hungry Caterpillar eats so many things that he gets a stomach ache. Relive this beloved childhood story by borrowing the audiobook from our library: https://listening-books.overdrive.com/med ia/1355248
[Image is The Very Hungry Caterpillar audiobook]

Did you know that the horoscope was invented for Princess Margaret? If you've been watching Rebel Royal on BBC Two and want to find out more about the controversial Princess, then borrow Ma'am Darling from our library! From interviews to diaries to essays this is a biography you won't forget: https://listening-books.overdrive.com/med ia/3992003
[Image is the audiobook of Ma'am Darling: 99 Glimpses of Princess Margaret by Craig Brown]

Every evening, just before 7 o’clock, people all over Britain tune in to Radio 4 to hear the latest episode of the British institution The Archers. Some might wonder whether it really matters if disability is accurately represented in this fictional rural idyll somewhere south of Birmingham. But it does.

'Even though the year 1984 passed us by over 30 years ago, this harrowing novel by George Orwell could not be more relevant today. This dystopian story follows the brow-beaten George Smith, a lowly employee of the Ministry of Truth which is a governmental department under the watchful eye of Big Brother. While this novel was written in the 1950’s with a sharp focus on the newly developing communist countries at the time, a lot of similar comparisons can be made to political r...egimes today. Philip Glenister, aka DCI Gene Hunt from Life on Mars, brings the story to life and embodies the anguish perfectly. I would highly recommend checking out this excellently dark tale. Or should I say warning?'
Our Friday Favourite this week is Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, recommended by Nik. Borrow the audiobook from our library here: https://listening-books.overdrive.com/med ia/304641
[Image is the Nineteen Eighty-Four audiobook]
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Today is Roald Dahl Day, marking 102 years since Roald Dahl was born! Did you know you can borrow loads of Roald Dahl audiobooks from our library? What's your favourite?
[Images are Roald Dahl audiobooks including The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Twits, and The Witches]

Do you know someone with a print impairment living in Dudley, Stourbridge or Halesowen who would benefit from a free membership to Listening Books?
If you or someone you know would find it difficult to cover our annual membership fees of between £20 and £45 per year, then you could sign up for a free membership. Our audiobook library has over 7,500 audiobooks from authors such as J. K. Rowling, Philip Pullman, Lee Child, Marian Keyes, and many more. Find out more here: bit.ly/2kiOpQ7
[Image is a woman wearing headphones looking happy]

September & October are going to be full of wizards, magic, and the warring gods and goddesses of the River Thames because Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch is our audiobook choice for The Listening Books Club!
Join our Facebook group to listen along and discuss the audiobook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/243439039 535497
[Image is the Rivers of London audiobook with white text that reads Audiobook Group September/October]

Read our guest blog for Scope to find out how audiobooks can help you enjoy stories if a disability makes reading or holding books difficult!

Our Friday Favourite this week is recommended by Louise: The Beach by Alex Garland, read by Alfie Allen.
'First published in 1996 and now a classic the Beach is a book set in Paradise on deserted island in Thailand. Our main character manages to find the perfect, secret island populated with young people from all over the world, all working and living together. However Paradise isn’t all as it seems, and how far will the inhabitants go to ‘save’ paradise.'
Download or stream... the audiobook from our library: https://listening-books.overdrive.com/med ia/2843605
[Image is the audiobook of The Beach]
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We are SUPER excited because our next Ask the Author video is going to feature author of the Lockwood & Co series Jonathan Stroud! Comment below with your questions and we'll choose our favourites to appear in the video!
[Image is a photo of Jonathan Stroud with the hashtag #AskJonathanStroud]

Research shows that listening to audiobooks is a brilliant way to improve your child’s reading skills!

Boy Child Peter, Girl Child Jane and Daddy have exciting adventures with Mummy. Daddy likes gadgets. Peter and Jane like starting fires, trying to kill each other and driving Mummy to drink.
If the kids going back to school is making you think about wine, then borrow the audiobook of Why Mummy Drinks from our library on MP3 CD number 14474, or to download/stream here: https://listening-books.overdrive.com/med ia/3753400
[Image is the audiobook of Why Mummy Drinks, the diary of an exhausted mum, by Gill Sims]

We've chosen our next audiobook to listen to in the Listening Books Club! September is the perfect time to start listening to Rivers of London, which features ghosts, vampires, wizards, and the warring gods and goddesses of the river Thames. If you want to join our Facebook group to listen along and join in the talk, you can do so by clicking the link below:

Whether you're looking forward to going back to school or absolutely dreading it, we've got all the audiobooks you could need for the new year: from Horrible Histories to full cast plays!

Yes I have Double vision sometime I when for the CD mp3 this suits me fine I am so please thankyou listening books

Wonderful wonderful service!! Not the easiest computer system to use, but the helpfulness and patience of the staff more than makes up for that.

This is an am

azing organisation I lieten evrryday couldn't live without it x

This is a wonderul site, those who know me will already be aware that since I had my stroke I have not been able to read a book in the normal way because i can't remember anything by the end of the first page, but if I listen to an audio book it's so different and I find that I do hear it and remember the story for a while anyway. As a person who used to read several paperbacks a week before my illness, it's great to be able to listen to stories that I might have read from a book if things had been different. Thank you Listening Books. This service may be useful to you too so have a look on their site and contact them if you think you might be interested!

Listening Books is a life saver. It is fabulous to be able to download audio books straight to my ipod! I love it!

I'm partially sighted and have other medical diagnonsenses/labels... listening books has helped me so much -I do not have words to adequately describe the impact you've had on my life! Thank you.

I have only recently joined Listening books, and what a fantastic experience this has been for me! I have listened to several books to date, and have found the sound quality excellent, and the readers well up to the job of doing the books justice.



At first, I had some difficulty working out how to download books to my iphone, but got great help and support from the team, and now can do the transfer easily. This means I can head out to my recliner under the trees and listen in peace. Brilliant.



Thank you!

I have only just joined listening books, but what a marvel. Currently sat with a cup of tea, slice of buttery toast, Tens machine working away as I enjoy listening to Yeomi Park, In order to Live.

I am so happy to have found listening books, as a dyslexic with 3 kids who all seem to have some dyslexic tendencies i have bought a lot of audio book over the years, which I always felt was wasteful. Borrowing listening book suits me much better. I am very happy there is charity offers offering such a valuable opportunity and helping people access a wide range of brilliant books.

Great service. An account was made quickly for me after requesting to join by email. Lots of choice of audio books. Thank you

Fantastic. I love listening books. I have dyslexia and only got my membership last week and I have listened to 2 books already.

Wide variety of books which are well read. This service has helped improve my quality of life and I have become more educated through them :)

just vound site sounds good have sent for more details