Audio Books

"Start with radio comedy sitcoms. Comedy taught me to pay attention to stories in audio form. You don’t need to focus when you listen to music, but you will not want to miss the cue on a joke. You can choose stand-up comedy, there are many albums out there, but radio sitcoms are better: they have an original plot, different characters and, therefore, different voices. The change in intonation, the adequate background noises, and the funny twists will make it easier to stay tuned. Cabin Pressure, Bleak Expectations, Wooden Overcoats and Reluctant Persuaders are just a few of my favourite comedy sitcoms. Some of these are even available to download for free, and some still have ongoing series. Be aware, though: you’ll be laughing like a maniac, so it’s wise to avoid public spaces. Go on to book dramatization. Radio dramas are to audiobooks what movies are to books. You get the content, and the story, but with a quick succession of scenes that cut through the chase and keep the most important bits. Of course, if you are a book lover, you’ll know the book is always better, but if audio dramas can help you get into unabridged audiobooks, anything goes! As it happens with comedy, BBCRadio4 has many good dramatizations. From Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express to Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens, there’s a lot to choose from."