Episodes
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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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Missing episodes?
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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] 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] 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] 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] 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] to take part.
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James Naughtie is joined by Denise Mina to talk about her book The Long Drop. This intriguing true-crime story is set in 1950s Glasgow when notorious serial killer Peter Manuel spread fear throughout the city. The Long Drop alternates between Manuel's trial and a extraordinary night he spent with Glaswegian businessman William Watt, whose own family Peter Manuel was suspected of killing. Despite this, the two men form an unlikely alliance and tour the bars and dives of Glasgow together.
Recorded at The Portobello Bookshop in Edinburgh.
Upcoming recordings at BBC Broadcasting House in London:
21 September at 1300 - Bernardine Evaristo on Mr Loverman
12 October at 1200 noon - Katherine Heiny on Standard Deviation.
Email [email protected] to take part
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Mick Herron answers readers' questions about his novel, Slow Horses, the first in his hugely popular Slough House series. In it we meet the 'Slow Horses’ for the first time; failed spies who instead of being pensioned off, find themselves working in Slough House, near the Barbican in London. Here, they carry out menial administrative tasks of little or no importance, led by their offensive, vulgar boss Jackson Lamb. In this novel, the Slow Horses find themselves unexpectedly at the centre of the action.
Our next recordings:
Thursday 17th August: Denise Mina on her novel The Long Drop. 7pm at The Portobello Bookshop, Portobello, Edinburgh. (Free tickets are available via the Bookshop's website)
At BBC Broadcasting House, London:
Thursday 21 September at 1300 - Bernardine Evaristo on Mr Loverman
Thursday 12 October at 1200 noon - Katherine Heiny on Standard Deviation.
Email [email protected] to take part
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To mark our 25th anniversary, Julian Barnes returns to Bookclub. He’s answering readers' questions about his Booker-shortlisted novel Arthur and George. It's based on real events and tells the story of Arthur Conan Doyle’s campaign to overturn the conviction of a young solicitor, George Edalji,
Upcoming recording:
Thursday 13 July 1830 at BBC Broadcasting House in London - Mick Herron on Slow Horses.
Thursday 17 August 1900 at The Portobello Bookshop in Edinburgh - Jenni Fagan on Luckenbooth
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Mary Lawson joins James Naughtie and a group of readers to answer questions about her novel, Crow Lake. An international bestseller, it tells the story of four siblings, orphaned by a road accident who have to find a new way to live as a family. The story is narrated by Kate, looking back at that dramatic rupture in her childhood. As she tells her story, Kate comes to understand not only how it affected her, but also her siblings - big brothers Luke and Matt, and baby sister Bo. Meanwhile, on a neighbouring farm, the Pye family faced their own crisis....
Upcoming recordings
13 June 1830 BBC Broadcasting House in London - Julian Barnes on Arthur and George
13 July 1830 BBC Broadcasting House in London - Mick Herron on Slow Horses
email [email protected]
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James Naughtie and readers are joined by novelist Sarah Winman, answering questions about her novel Tin Man.It's a moving and intimate portrait of three characters, Michael, Ellis and Annie. They variously fall in love, and fall out of touch, but are always deeply connected. Tin Man is a short and powerful novel about love, loss and kindness.
Our next Bookclub recordings are with
Mary Lawson, discussing her novel Crow Lake, at 1300 on 24 May at BBC Broadcasting House in London.
Julian Barnes discussing Arthur and George at 1830 on Tuesday 13 June at BBC Broadcasting House, London.
email [email protected] to take part
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Tan Twan Eng talks to James Naughtie and a group of readers about The Garden of Evening Mists. A lyrical novel set largely in 1950s Malay (now Malaysia), it tells the story of Yun Ling, imprisoned by Japanese soldiers during the Second World War, and Aritomo, a master gardener who once worked for the Emperor of Japan. It's a complex and moving story about forgetting, forgiveness and mercy.
Our next Bookclub recordings:(email [email protected] to join us)
Wednesday 19th April at 1300 at BBC Broadcasting House in London. Sarah Winman will be answering questions about her novel Tin Man.
Wednesday 24 May at 1300 at BBC Broadcasting House in London Mary Lawson on Crow Lake
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