books: Audiobooks

Listening to Blair Brown's cool, calm and collected reading of Michael Crichton's latest nailbiting technothriller Airframe (Random House, 4hrs, pounds 11.99) made a dawn drive from Oxford to Newcastle pass in a flash. The way back was spent equally enjoyably with John Shrapnel's vivid evocation of the eccentric but intensely attractive characters of Arthur Quiller Couch's True Tilda (Hodder, 2hrs, pounds 7.99).

"But where do we get these tapes?" you write. Any good bookshop now keeps audiobooks and should be able to order for you. The Talking Bookshop at 11 Wigmore Street, London W1, is a mecca for audio converts; Harrods has listening booths. Libraries are a cheap way of hearing the full length ones. Finally, the Talking Book Club (0171 731 6262) has a hire service which includes an excellent and constantly updated catalogue.