Liz's Story
Liz Bartlett is a published author and expert on lace making. She enjoyed a full-sighted life which included extensive travelling and lecturing on lace making until she had a stroke in 1998 which started a chain of events that eventually left her in a wheelchair and blind in both eyes. The first stroke was followed by a second which caused blindness in her left eye and an unlucky fall down the stairs further affected her right eye. Her progressively worsening sight soon deprived Liz of one of her greatest loves – reading books. Here she tells us of the challenges she faced when she lost her sight and how Calibre Audio helped her overcome the devastating blow of no longer being able to read:
“I was lucky to be born into a family with a strong reading culture. My parents both read widely and had many friends who were authors, so reading was always part of my world.
“Throughout my life and its many challenges I have found that books, both fiction and non-fiction, have the ability to lift you out of situations and they have been an important part of being able to cope. From informing myself about the mental and physical disabilities my son was facing, to research for my professional writing as well as reading for relaxation and pleasure, books have always been vital.
“Losing your sight is devastating. Things that you took for granted before suddenly become difficult, if not impossible, and when you become different, other people don’t know how to treat you so that is difficult too.
“Joining Calibre Audio helped me resume normality. I had to learn how to use USB players for my audiobooks as I still find it difficult to go online. But by being given access to information, entertainment and enjoyment that you simply can’t get in other ways, it made me wake up and realise that I’m still here and that life continues. I found that you can bridge the sighted and unsighted worlds with a single step providing you can read. Just by opening my ears and listening, I could still be part of everything I always loved.
“I typically listen to about two audiobooks a week for research purposes and at least another two for pleasure. I have two USB players, one by my bed which I use for my fiction books and another which I use for non-fiction books for work or sometimes more fiction too. I ease into every day with about 10 minutes of whatever fiction I am reading and then move to my non-fiction reading for work. Throughout the rest of the day, I frequently dip back into my books and then listen again before I go to sleep.
“I particularly enjoy crime fiction, especially historical crime. I have given Calibre a list of my interests and preferred authors and they send me books they think I will enjoy. I’m very pleased to say that they are never far off the mark and I am continually amazed at the wide variety of book choices I receive. I really look forward to the books coming through the door.
“Sometimes I phone in to ask the Calibre Membership Services team for help, particularly if I am researching something for work. I have to say that I’m really impressed with how friendly, efficient and knowledgeable they are. Other services just don’t offer the same level of enthusiasm and support. At Calibre there is always someone available to take your call and they know their jobs and what they’re talking about. They always have good ideas and advice and are a real help in navigating the library. The conversations are friendly and they always make my day.
“I’m also impressed with the books recorded by Calibre volunteers. Although commercial narrators have a consistent pace and style, I much prefer listening to a good reader who is enjoying the book along with you. It’s quite obvious to me that a lot of Calibre volunteers are really engaged with, and enjoying, the book as they’re narrating it.
“Another thing that delights me about Calibre is how inclusive it is. My daughter is dyslexic and my son is also visually impaired, so as a family we benefit greatly from the service.
“I genuinely don’t know what we would do without Calibre audiobooks – I would miss them dreadfully if they weren’t available. It’s no exaggeration to say that I couldn’t live or manage without audiobooks. They have a huge impact on my life.”