Why I Love Audio Books

I am a ferocious reader. In my other life as an actor I have been known to read a book a day on set. But as I get more busy one of the things I hate the most is that I do not have time to read. This is why I love buying an audio book. I recently bought Rob Lowe’s Stories I Only Tell My Friends and Lowe narrated the story himself. This brings an entire new dimension to the experience of books and especially autobiographies. It is one thing to read Lowe’s book, but to hear him tell his own story is pretty cool.

You can ‘read’ while working, doing your emails, cleaning, walking. Audio books may not be new, but they have really taken off in recent years, and I think it is because we are getting busier all the time. I am also someone who multitasks all of the time, so audio books are perfect for me. I even listen to audio books when I have free time now.

I believe that when someone is well-read it comes across in how they think and speak. Nothing educates people more than books. People who have problems with their eyes and people with dyslexia can also enjoy audio books.

Do you love audio books? What is your favourite audio book?

Audiobooks can be bought easily online on audiogo.com

William and Kate Wow in Los Angeles

Prince William’s wishes for Beckhams

Prince William has wished David and Victoria Beckham “luck” with their new baby.

The soccer star was without his fashion designer wife- who is due to give birth to the couple’s fourth child this week – at an intimate reception held for the prince and wife Duchess Catherine at British Consul-General Barbara Hay’s Los Angeles residence on Friday, but the royal couple told him not to worry about her absence.

David – who along with Victoria was a guest at William and Catherine’s wedding in April – told them: “Victoria really wanted to come but she is just so tired at the moment. She sent you both lots of love.”

William replied: “Don’t be silly. Please send her all out love and tell her good luck with it all.”

The royal couple have already met with several celebrities since arriving in Los Angeles on Friday for their brief tour.

Yesterday, Billy Zane, Rob Lowe, Joe Jonas, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Zoe Saldana were in attendance when William and Catherine arrived by helicopter to the

Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, where the prince admitted he is “not a good loser” ahead of showcasing his skills on the polo field.

He said in a brief speech: “Catherine and I have had a busy few days so the prospect of being able to let loose this afternoon is wonderful for me.

“That depends on the result out there today – I’m not a good loser.”

Guests at the $4,000-a-ticket event watched the prince score four goals as his team won 5-2, before tucking into lunch cooked by celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis.

Last night, the pair walked the red carpet at the BAFTA Brits to Watch event, to which Catherine wore a lilac Alexander McQueen gown and earrings borrowed from William’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.

On arrival at the Belasco theatre, the couple met a small group of well-wishers before being introduced to the 14 table hosts at the event.

Meanwhile, in the ballroom, Duncan Kenworthy, vice chairman of British Academy of Film and Television Arts, reassured the star-studded crowd – which included Jennifer Lopez, Barbra Streisand, Jack Black, and Tom Hanks – on their interactions with the royals.

He said: “They want to meet all of you. They will try and chat to all of you this evening. When you meet them, you don’t have to bow and curtsy. You can call them whatever you feel, ‘Your Royal Highness,’ ‘Sir,’ ‘Ma’am,’ ‘William’ and ‘Kate’ – just as the mood takes you.”

Speaking on the red carpet ahead of the evening, Nicole Kidman said: “I think they are lovely, they just make you smile.”

This Month's Magazines; Kate Middleton and Getting in Shape Lead.

This is the first of Frost magazine’s new monthly magazine round-up. Here at Frost we are addicted to magazines and our guess is that you like them too, so, here goes….

Vanity Fair has the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the cover. The world has gone crazy for Kate Middleton and there is 16 pages on the new couple, including the interesting fact that Kate has never been to America before and is ‘beyond excited’.

Horrible fact of the month comes from Christopher Hitchen’s column, which is on Pakistan: in Pakistan not only is rape not illegal, it’s a punishment. Mark Shand tells Nick Haslam about the Elephant Family, Stieg Larsson’s girlfriend tells of their life together and there is good articles on Justin Timberlake, Silvio Berlusconi and the Falcons.

Marie Claire (who are in my bad books, as they do not send the subscribers the free gifts that come with the magazine. This month it’s a choice of eyeliner or eye-shadow, last month a Body Shop moisturiser, not nice way to treat those who are most loyal) Jennifer Lawrence is on the cover, and has a very good interview inside where she says that she tells director she won’t lose more weight and was initially scared of fame.

Emily Eavis, daughter of Michael, talks about growing up as part of the world’s greatest music festival, there is lots of fashion and a summer’s sandals piece that I enjoyed, there is a low down on the Russian invasion of Chelsea; lead by Roman Abramovich and Dasha Zhukova, Writer Natasha Green writes about choosing between her husband and her lover and 5 friends, who all went to university and did a performing arts degree, meet up to discuss where they are 10 years later. Marie Claire also have an exclusive interview with Aung San Suu Kyi. Other good article are dating advice you don’t need from your friends, a good piece on Jean Paul Gaultier and a brilliant article on the life of Princess Diana, very apt.

It’s Elle’s body issue, Elle always give there subscribers the free gift, as do RED and Glamour, Rosie Huntington-Whitley is on the cover and interviewed inside, and there is a free vest top my Kate Middleton fav Reiss.

Celia Walden ponders over why we fawn over the famous, the impossibly stylish Ines De La Fressange is in Elle edits, my personal style crush tells us about her philosophy on life, House of Holland are this month’s Style Spy, make up artist Lisa Eldridge gives a peak inside her closet and Debbie Harry tells is what books changed her life. Rob Lowe is interviewed and there are a lot of great articles on how to get in shape and be happy with how you look. Of course, there is also lots of great fashion. Lorraine Candy is temporarily stepping down from the Elle editorship to have her fourth baby.

Tatler has Romola Garai on the cover, she is interviewed inside and talks about her “ordinary body” and her desire for people to find her sexy. Kate Reardon has been the new editor for a few months now and is doing a good job, though I couldn’t find an editor’s letter.

Royal Wedding photographer Hugo Burnand talks about photographing the biggest wedding in decades, there are other articles on the top 10 poshest ghosts, Clive Anderson writes about losing his cool, there is lots of gossip, A very good guide to the Murdoch dynasty, an article on how the rich buy life (a very good read), some property porn as Belvoir Castle is featured by it’s owners the Duke and Duchess of Rutland.

There is also an article on (the last taboo!) woman’s facial hair and how to get rid of it, Alice Temperley also spills on all of her beauty secrets. If you buy it form the news-stand you get a free pair of sunglasses, but Tatler doesn’t give free gifts to it’s subscribers.

Vogue has Vanessa Paradis on the cover, she talks about staying on the move and being comfortable with your body, Stella Tennant models (can you believe she is in her 40’s!)

I really like the article by Carol Woolton on the lost world of legendary balls, including the jewellery that Elizabeth Taylor wore to the 1971 Rothschild Proust Ball, lots on the Royal wedding and who wore what, editor Alexandra Shulman was one of the guests and gives a good account. The rise of folk (as in music) gets a good spread and supermodel Arizona Muse keeps a diary for Vogue.

I also love the inspirational women who feature in Vogue’s Wonder Women piece, scientists and theatre directors alike. There is also an editorial on fashion dynasties, if you love glamour the way I do you will love reading about the Guinnesses, Dellals, Agnellis/Brandolinis and the Jaggers.

Donna Karen also does a wonderful interview and writer Vicky Ward talks about her divorce; “the equivalent of undergoing heart surgery without anesthetic.” There is also a brilliant free beauty supplement with lots of celebrities and models giving their beauty and health routines, tips and hints.

Glamour has a free Benefit beauty product (I got the Benetint) Karl Lagerfield on fashion do’s, celebrity couples you forgot about, how to find a man anywhere, the rise of gold and fame digging men, why is friendship so hard?, how the Glamour staff got their job, a very good, and slightly depressing article on female war reporters; read about the same time I saw Channel 4’s Killing Fields of Sri Lanka, you think women are equal and safe….

There is interviews with the Glamour women of the year awards, including the brilliant Adele, who is on the cover. There is lots of brilliant fashion and beauty, a very good article on why we should all see Bridesmaids by Zoe Williams, there is a number of articles on how to fake tan well and I really enjoyed the piece on Get a Blockbuster body, what Blake Lively, Jennifer Lawrence and Rosie Huntington-Whitley did to get in shape for their films. There is also a good article on the secret to good health in 100 words or less.

So, until next month!