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Ben Aaronovitch is sci-fi and fantasy author. He's best known for his Rivers of London series, which follows a young police officer recruited by a special branch of the Metropolitan Police dealing with magic and the supernatural. Holly Newson spoke to Ben about writing for Doctor Who, the importance of libraries, and whether he’s honest when giving his opinion on his friend’s books...
December 21, 2016
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It’s an all too rare occurrence that I find myself sacrificing sleep to keep the characters in my ears. The Goldfinch was such a book and, despite what I considered an all-too-soap-box-y ending, I thought it was wonderful. Two things happen when I enjoy a book to that extent. One, I insist everyone around me get a copy. (If too much resistance is shown, copies are procured as gifts). Two, I’m ravenous to pursue the author’s other works. To devour their back catalogue, to feel all shaken and entranced once again.
November 28, 2016
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The more you find out about the history of disability and the associated language used, the more eye-opening it becomes. It wasn't so long ago that 'special' was widely used - a patronising euphemism now best avoided - and we are still left with the remains of so many other words that cast disabilities and impairments in a negative light.
November 22, 2016
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It's Hug a Bear Day! If you've read the blog before, you might have caught that I'm a huge Winnie-the-Pooh fan. Well, I'll confess to you now, that whilst Winnie-the-Pooh might be my favourite literary bear, I love a lot of bears. By which I mean fictional bears, and cuddly bears, and fictional bears that you'd really like to cuddle.
November 7, 2016
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One hurdle that can be tricky for any writer to clear is identifying their target audience. Sometimes, figuring out exactly who’d like to read their book and the best way they can engage them is harder than it sounds. But imagine if you were writing for an audience who aren’t even born yet.
October 17, 2016
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This week marks a year since we began Listening Books Blog! We've loved every minute of it, and hope you have too! We've written about topics ranging from the history of audiobooks to the joys of volunteering. We've had interviews with Eragon author Christopher Paolini, and travel author Bill Bryson to name but two. And we've put together lots of recommendations for audiobooks of all sorts.
September 28, 2016
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Arrrrr! Ahoy me-hearties! Ye scallywags 'av plundered ye'selves some crackin' booty 'ere, eh?! .... Phew! Talking like a pirate is hard work! But yes, Talk Like a Pirate Day really is a thing. So it looks like I need to get in training!
September 19, 2016
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Roald Dahl Day is celebrated every year on his birthday, 13th September, and events go on throughout the month. However, this year is a very special one - Dahl's 100th birthday! Dahl penned 39 books and many have become firm favourites around the world. His books have also been adapted into much-loved films, such as The Witches and Matilda. The most recent release - the BFG - reminds us that Dahl's influence and magic is ever-present! His style and imagination capture the hearts of many, the Listening Books team included. So here are our favourites from Dahl's expansive catalogue.
September 13, 2016
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National Read a Book Day happens every year. This doesn't mean that it's the only day that's great for reading of course, but it's a brilliant reminder to pick up a book or audiobook if you haven't read for a while, or to choose your next title to read! It can be hard to decide what to read next, so recommendations are super helpful to point you in the right direction...
September 6, 2016
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As autumn approaches, so do a whole host of new films. Some of the best of these are undoubtedly the book-to-film adaptations! With this in mind, here are the books to add to your to-be-read list asap! (And reading includes listening to audiobooks too, of course!)
August 31, 2016
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