Wouldn't it be wonderful if Bill Clinton read to you from his memoirs in his sexy Southern drawl, or Joanna Lumley dropped by to deliver Pride and Prejudicein her fabulous accent? Audio books may never replace their paper counterparts but they do have advantages – try driving and turning pages at the same time.
Happily, an increasing number of books of all genres are being released unabridged in this format either as CDs or downloads for MP3 players. Virtual libraries take up little space and gather no dust and Stephen Fry for one swears that he will walk for miles whilst listening to a book on his iPod. The spoken word is perfect for book clubs, too, as there’s so much more to discuss – plot, style, the reader, music or other dramatic effects.
Mary Burnham of Dubray Books regularly organises an integrated (fully sighted and visually impaired members) audio book club, and Dubray stocks a very extensive range of audio books on CD in its stores and online at www.dubraybooks.ie. For a real audio bargain, www.thebookpeople.ie are currently offering 10 classic Penguin novels – that's 43 hours worth of unabridged literature – packaged in a handy tin for just €38.99 plus pp. Those interested in books in MP3 format should visit www.audiobooks.comto peruse their extensive selection.