Episodes
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Led by presenter James Naughtie, a BBC Bookclub audience in Glasgow speaks to the author Natalie Haynes about her 2019 novel - A Thousand Ships - which retells the ancient Greek myths from a woman's perspective. Penelope, Clytemnestra, Andromache and Cassandra among others, all make appearances, but their stories are given a new voice and a fresh emphasis. This is the Trojan war and its impact as never seen before. The book was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction in 2020.
Producer: Dom HowellEditor: Gillian WheelanThis was a BBC Audio Scotland production.
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This month BBC Radio 4's Bookclub, presented by James Naughtie, speaks to the writer Michel Faber about his debut novel, Under the Skin. Published in the year 2000 by Canongate it went on to be shortlisted for the Whitbread Award that same year. The book follows the female protagonist of Isserley who roves the A9 in the Scottish Highlands looking to pick up hitchhikers (preferably ones with big muscles). In 2013 the book was made into a film, shot in Glasgow, and directed by Jonathan Glazer. It starred Scarlett Johansson as Isserley.
Producer: Dominic HowellEditor: Gillian Wheelan
This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.
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This month, Bookclub, presented by James Naughtie, speaks to the author Christopher Brookmyre, as he takes questions from a live BBC audience about his debut novel, Quite Ugly One Morning. The book is a pacey crime thriller, not so much a 'whodunnit', as a 'whydunnit', and it introduces us to the wily, wise-cracking journalist Jack Parlabane - a character Chris is still writing about some thirty years later. Published in 1996, Quite Ugly One Morning, was a best-seller at the time, and the actor David Tennant read the audiobook.
Producer: Dom HowellEditor: Gillian Wheelan
This was a BBC AUDIO SCOTLAND PRODUCTION.
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This month, BBC Bookclub, presented by James Naughtie, speaks to the writer Sara Collins, as she takes questions from a live audience about her award-winning debut novel, The Confessions of Frannie Langton. Sara was the Costa Book Awards First Novel Winner in 2019. She has also adapted the book for television.
Producer: Dom HowellEditor: Gillian WheelanThis was a BBC Audio Scotland production.
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Presented by James Naughtie, BBC Bookclub speaks to the writer Richard Osman about his crime-fiction novel The Thursday Murder Club, which sold millions of copies, and has been made into a film.
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Award-winning writer Alan Warner takes questions from Radio 4's Bookclub audience about his first-person, pacey novel, Morvern Callar, which was written in 1995 when Warner was in his late twenties. Morvern is a twenty-one year old foster-child whose life takes an irreversible turn when she discovers her boyfriend's dead body. The book was later turned into a critically-acclaimed film, of the same name, in 2002.
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The writer Carys Davies talks to readers about her beautifully-crafted novel, The Mission House, which follows the character of Hilary Byrd, a British librarian in his fifties, who is seeking to find himself again in modern-day southern India.
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Susanna Clarke won the Women's Prize for Fiction with her novel Piranesi. She joins James Naughtie and a group of readers to answer their questions about this intriguing, tantalising novel.
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Bestselling novelist Ken Follett joins James Naughtie and readers to discuss his historical novel A Column of Fire, the third in his hugely successful Kingsbridge series. It’s a tale of spying and intrigue, as Elizabeth I battles to keep her throne in the face of fierce religious division across Europe.
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Ayobami Adebayo talks to James Naughtie and readers about her novel, Stay With Me, a moving story of loss and motherhood. Set against the backdrop of tumultuous political events in Nigeria, it tells the story of Yejide and Akin, whose marriage is childless. The novel, which is narrated by them both, explores the pressure to have a child, the toll it takes on their relationship and the profound emotional burden of desperately wanting to become a parent. Ayobami answers readers questions about the inspiration behind Stay With Me and how she inhabited the minds of her characters.
Presenter: James NaughtieProducer : Nicola Holloway
Next Bookclub recordings - both at 1830 in Broadcasting House, London
14 August - Ken Follett on A Column of Fire25 September - Susanna Clarke on Piranesi
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Marlon James answers readers' questions about his award-winning novel, A Brief History of Seven Killings. The novel, which is narrated by multiple characters, opens in Jamaica in the run-up to the 1976 election. Kingston is riven by violence as competing gangs, some supported by the US government, compete for territory and control of the drugs trade. The novel is based on real events, including a planned assassination attempt on Bob Marley. Marlon James talks to readers about writing multiple characters, his approach to describing violence and how he sees the book now, ten years after publication.
Forthcoming recordings at 1830 at BBC Broadcasting House in London
10 July - Ayobami Adebayo on Stay With Me 14 August - Ken Follett on A Column of Fire 25 September - Susanna Clarke on Piranesi
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Celebrated novelist and short story writer Lucy Caldwell joins James Naughtie and readers to discuss These Days. Set in 1941, it focusses on the lives of two sisters living through the Belfast Blitz.
Lucy talks about the inspiration for her novel, her research and writing it during the pandemic.
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James Naughtie and readers quiz Nicholas Shakespeare about his book, Six Minutes In May: How Churchill Unexpectedly Became Prime Minister. It chronicles the dramatic political and military events of 1940 which led to the momentous Norway Debate and Chamberlain’s resignation.
Upcoming recordings at BBC Broadcasting House in London:
Wednesday 15 May at 1300: Lucy Caldwell on These Days
Thursday 6 June at 1245: Marlon James on A Brief History of Seven Killings
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Clare Chambers talks to James Naughtie and readers about her bestselling novel, Small Pleasures. Set in the London suburbs in the 1950s, it tells the story of Jean Swinney, a journalist who is asked to investigate a letter sent to her paper, from a mother claiming her daughter is the result of a virgin birth. Jean meets the mother, Gretchen; her husband, Howard and daughter Margaret and is drawn into their family life. Her investigations soon expand both her world, and her heart.
Upcoming recordings, at BBC Broadcasting House in London:
Wednesday 24 April at 1800 - Nicholas Shakespeare on Six Minutes In May
Wednesday 15 May at 1300 - Lucy Caldwell on These Days.
Thursday 6 June at 1245 - Marlon James on A Brief History of Seven Killings
Wednesday 10 July at 1830 - Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ on Stay With Me
Email [email protected].uk to take part. Over 18s only.
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Bookclub travels to Northumberland to meet best-selling crime writer Ann Cleeves. She joins James Naughtie and listeners to discuss her novel, Hidden Depths: Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope sets out to solve two murders which are apparently linked, although there are no clues to connect the victims.
Upcoming recordings - 1830 BBC Broadcasting House in London :
26 March - Clare Chambers on Small Pleasures 24 April - Nicholas Shakespeare on 6 Minutes In May
Email [email protected].uk to take part. Over 18s only.
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Graeme Macrae Burnet joins James Naughtie and readers to reveal the secrets behind his award-winning historical novel, His Bloody Project. Set in the Scottish Highlands in 1869, His Bloody Project explores crime, justice and retribution through the confessions of a young man accused of murder, and an account of his trial.
Upcoming recordings at BBC Broadcasting House in London:
Tuesday 26 March 1830 - Clare Chambers discusses her bestselling novel, Small Pleasures.
Wednesday 24 April 1830- Nicholas Shakespeare discusses Six Minutes In May: How Churchill Unexpectedly Became Prime Minister
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Marking 200 years since the birth of Wilkie Collins, crime writer, and Collins admirer, Elly Griffiths discusses one of his best known works -The Moonstone - with James Naughtie and a group of readers.
Upcoming recording
Wednesday 24th January at 1830 at BBC Broadcasting House, London: Graeme Macrae Burnet on His Bloody Project.
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Donal Ryan discusses his book The Spinning Heart with a group of readers, It's a powerful, moving novel told through twenty one individual voices. Set in Ireland in the immediate aftermath of the Celtic Tiger 'boom' years, each character reveals how the sudden and dramatic 'bust' affected their lives. At the centre is Bobby Mahon, once a respected and reliable foreman for a building company who suddenly loses his job when the firm's owner disappears overnight.
Presenter: James NaughtieProducer: Nicola Holloway
Upcoming recordings:
13 December at 1830 at BBC Broadcasting House, London - Elly Griffiths is our guide to The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
24 January 2024 at 1830 at BBC Broadcasting House, London - Graeme Macrae Burnet discusses His Bloody Project
Email [email protected].uk to take part.
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Katherine Heiny answers readers questions about Standard Deviation, her hilarious novel about marriage, parenting and the road not travelled. Audra is married to Graham, who is divorced from Elspeth. While Audra is sociable, loving, outspoken, tactless, kind and funny, Elspeth is contained, reserved, controlled and reticent. Despite loving Audra, Graham begins to wonder if his life should have taken a different path. Katherine Heiny reveals the real-life moments that inspired the book, her love of the funny side of life and why she can never pass up on writing a good joke.
Upcoming recordings at BBC Broadcasting House, London
Wednesday 15 November at 1300 - Donal Ryan on The Spinning Heart
Wednesday 13 December at 1830 - Elly Griffiths is our guide to The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
Email [email protected].uk to take part.
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Bernardine Evaristo joins James Naughtie and readers to discuss Mr Loverman, her 2013 novel about Barrington Walker, a married man with a secret life. Ever since his teens in Antigua, Barry has been in love with Morris and despite both men moving to London, marrying and having children, their love affair has never faltered. Now he’s in his seventies, Barry decides it’s time to tell the truth. It’s a funny, poetic, moving novel about love, family, prejudice and forgiveness.
Upcoming recordings, all at BBC Broadcasting House in London:
Thursday 12 October at midday - Katherine Heiny on Standard Deviation
Wednesday 15 November at 1300 - Donal Ryan on The Spinning Heart
Wednesday 13 December at 1830 - Crime Writer Elly Griffiths is our guide to The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
Email [email protected].uk to take part.
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