Our endless search for ways you can get your hands on free books, continues.
This week we had a trawl through Spotify – the web/app-based music library.
While their audiobook selection isn’t exhaustive, there is A LOT on there – kids’ books, adult non-fiction, crime thrillers, romances, teen titles…
Our pick of Spotify audiobooks
Adult books
Ibram X. Kendi: Stamped from the Beginning
Ibram’s How to be an AntiRacist has become required for reading for anyone with an active interest in systemic change. His earlier book Stamped from Beginning is currently on Spotify for free.
F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby
This is one of hundreds of classic fiction titles available, but has the distinction of being read by actor Michael Shannon, who you’ll recognise from Boardwalk Empire and The Current War.
Have a root around and you’ll find Agatha Christie, Jane Austen, George Orwell, Kurt Vonnegut and lots more.
Crime and Thriller fiction
The Crime and Thriller Fiction podcast playlist takes a bit trawling, but we came up with Scottish author Denzil Meyrick, some Victorian crime fiction and Neil White’s Dan Grant trilogy.
Teen Books
Three brilliant teen series, in their entirety, that adults will love too.
The Hunger Games (complete series) by Suzanne Collins
The Raven Boys (complete series) by Maggie Stiefvater
Mortal Engines by Phillip Reeve
Children’s fiction
Two titles guaranteed to have your youngsters howling. Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants and Rachel Renée Russell’s Dork Diaries.
How to find audiobooks on Spotify
Spotify doesn’t have every author or book. The classics are always there and modern titles come and go – so don’t be disappointed if you look for author and can’t find them.
Spotify is easy enough to navigate if you’re looking for music, but audiobooks are a little bit trickier.
This Bookriot article provides a fairly comprehensive How To:
If you want to just browse what’s available the best thing to do is search for audiobooks and find and follow the audiobook profile. Take a scroll through the profile’s public playlists to see what’s on offer. It’s also worth listening their full-length audiobook guide to find out how to get started.
Let us know if you come across any more in the comments below or on social media.
N.B. All titles present at time of writing – these are subject to Spotify updates.
Falkirk Libraries have the pleasure of leading an audiobook group at Forth Valley Sensory Centre. The individuals who attend the group each experience some degree of sight loss, so audiobooks are a hugely important source of information and entertainment.
While we don’t always share the same opinion of a story, we all agree on one very crucial thing: The narrator plays a big role in your enjoyment of an audiobook.
So, for HiVIS fortnight, we’ve pulled together a small selection of audiobooks with great narration. All of the books listed can be found in Falkirk Libraries’ RB Digital audiobook service.
Audiobooks with a single (sometimes famous) reader
The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Yearby Sue Townsend, read by Caroline Quentin Sue ‘Diary of Adrian Mole’ Townsend’s books are always emotional and funny. How do you make them even better? Add Caroline Quentin!
Tiny Sunbirds Far Away by Christie Watson, read by Adjoa Andoh Adjoa Andoh animates the funny, tragic and moving tale of Blessing, and her brother Ezikiel, who are forced to leave behind their comfortable, air-conditioned life in Lagos to live with their grandparents in the Niger Delta.
The Detainee by Peter Liney, read by Jeff Harding Reading group member, John, is a big fan of Jeff Harding, who reads most of the Lee Child and John Connolly novels. Here, he brings to life an elderly mafia enforcer who tries to save his fellow pensioners from a dystopian prison island.
Elizabeth is Missing read by Anna Bentick Anna Bentick does a lovely job bringing Maud’s struggle with dementia – and the whereabouts of her friend Elizabeth – to life.
Why READ a celeb biography when you can hear about their life in their own words?
Gillian Anderson reads We, which isn’t an autobiography, but a ‘Manifesto for Women Everywhere’. Cowritten with Jennifer Nadel.
Beastie Boys’Beastie Boys Book doesn’t just feature AD-Rock and Mike D, but a full cast that includes Steve Buscemi, Elvis Costello, Chuck D, Snoop Dogg, Will Ferrell, Bette Midler, Amy Poehler, Ben Stiller and many more.
Blondie’s Debbie Harry invites us to Face It. She’s had an incredible life and you’ll find it hard to tear yourself away.
Businesswoman Gina Miller successfully challenged the UK Government for triggering of Article 50 without parliamentary approval. She tells her story in Rise.
First LadyMichelle Obama‘s memoir Becoming has been enormously successful – and with good reason!
Multiple narrators
Audiobooks that use multiple narrators often really bring a story to life. Here’s some of our favourites
Love from Paddington by Michael Bond, read by Jim Broadbent Is there a lovelier audiobook than a Paddington story that features Jim Broadbent’s grandfatherly tones?
The Big Mog Collectionby Judith Kerr Charming stories of our favourite storybook cat, read by different people, including Andrew Sachs.
Julian Clary’s Bolds series/David Walliams’ books Julian Clary and David Walliams both read their own stories, to obvious great comic effect.
All of the above titles are available from our RB Digital audiobook service. The easiest way to access is by downloading the app from your app store. You’ll find ebooks, audiobooks and popular magazines all in the one place.
HiVIS Fortnight champions accessible library services, alternative formats, and service providers that deliver reading to those for whom standard print is not an option. The campaign is promoted by Share the Vision. You can find out more on their Reading Sight website.
Sometimes we want to bury ourselves deep in a book. If so, head over to our free ebook , eaudiobook and emagazine service to hunt for your next read. Other times we want others to tempt us towards something new and different. These videos are all tantalising glimpses of your next possible read. Settle down and be tempted …
A Shakespeare sonnet read each day by Patrick Stewart has been one of the joys of the past few weeks
Shakespearean sonnets beautifully read by Patrick Stewart
Beautiful scenery and some lovely reading of Marram : Memories of sea and spider silk by the author, Leonie Charlton
Marram by Leonie Charlton
Author Rachel Ward reading from The cost of living – one of our recommended ebooks on RB Digital
Jarvis Cocker’s calming tones are perfect for bedtime. Track his Bedtime Stories on YouTube and IGTV.
Neil Gaiman reads beautifully – enjoy one of his stories from Norse Mythology here
During this difficult time we wanted to make it as easy as possible for you to access our free online books, audiobooks and magazines, without the need to visit the library to sign up.
For the time being, we’ve introduced a web form that gives you a temporary, online-only membership for 4 months.
Can I apply for online membership?
If you are not already a member and you live, work or regularly visit the Falkirk area.
If you are are already a member, but have lost your library card and do not know your membership number.
When your form is complete a member of our team will email you within one working day.
In the email we’ll tell you:
Your library card number
The expiration date of your membership
How to quickly sign up for our RB Digital service, which offers free downloads of eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines
Want to extend your online membership?
If you wish to keep your access to libraries online services in the future, please visit a library before your temporary online membership expires. When you present one form of ID you’ll be registered as a full library member. ID can be a driving license, bill or official letter. Keep an eye on the catalogue, Falkirk Community Trust website and social media for libraries reopening information.
Already a member and have your library card? If you’re already a member and you know your library card number you do not need to apply for online membership. You can go ahead and sign up for our RB Digital service and start downloading books, audiobooks and magazines.
