Books: Spoken Word

Classic Crimes of Passion

read by Derek Jacobi

CSA, 3hrs, pounds 8.99

THIS WEEK's audio choices feature passions past and present, perfect escapist listening for those banished to bed with the 'flu. The Talkies Awards' Reader of the Year Derek Jacobi is probably best known at present for his portrayal of Brother Cadfael (available on audio from Hodder Headline), but he comes magnificently into his own in reading CSA Telltapes' unusual selection of murderous tales with a passionate twist from authors as various as Louisa May Alcott, Algernon Blackwood, Guy de Maupassant and Wilkie Collins.

Come Together

read by Jack Davenport and Natasha Little

Random House, 2hrs pounds 8.99

AUTHORS JOSIE Lloyd and Emlyn Rees hatched a neat idea along Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus lines with this novel in which boy and girl alternate in telling the story of their meeting, each picking up where the other left off. Room for much almost unbearable but horribly true to life misunderstandings, and a good deal of shrewd observation of current sexual mores (or rather amores). This "in your head" angle of approach works very well when read aloud, especially by such talented readers as Jack Davenport and Natasha "Becky Sharp" Little.