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Bookclub

Latest episodes

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May 7, 2023 • 28min

Sarah Winman: Tin Man

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 bookclub@bbc.co.uk to take part
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Apr 2, 2023 • 28min

Tan Twan Eng: The Garden of Evening Mists

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 bookclub@bbc.co.uk 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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Mar 5, 2023 • 28min

Nadifa Mohamed: The Fortune Men

Nadifa Mohamed joins James Naughtie and readers to talk about her award-winning novel The Fortune Men. Set in Cardiff in the 1950s, the novel is based on the real-life trial of Mahmood Mattan, a Somali seaman accused of murder. It's a powerful, moving read and a dazzling portrait of a proud, bewildered young man and his life in Cardiff's Tiger Bay. Upcoming recordings: 15 March at 1830 at BBC Broadcasting House, London: Tan Twan Eng will be answering questions about his novel The Garden of Evening Mists. 19 April at 1300 at BBC Broadcasting House, London: Sarah Winman on her novel Tin Man Email bookclub@bbc.co.uk to come along.
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Feb 5, 2023 • 28min

Cal Flyn: Islands of Abandonment

James Naughtie and a group of readers talk to Cal Flyn about her acclaimed book, Islands of Abandonment, an exploration of places which have been reclaimed by nature. She talks about her travels to Cyprus, the Orkney Islands, First World War battlefields in France, and beyond, chronicling the fightback that plants have staged once humans have left. She reveals why finding hope in even the most desolate places is important to her, and why it's ok to leave lawns unmown. Our next recordings are both in-person events at BBC Broadcasting House in London. 16 February 2023 at 18.30 Nadifa Mohamed will be answering questions about The Fortune Men. 15 March 2023 at 1830 Tan Twan Eng on The Garden of Evening MistsTo come along and take part, email bookclub@bbc.co.uk
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Jan 1, 2023 • 28min

Ross King: Brunelleschi's Dome

Historian Ross King answers listener questions about his book Brunelleschi's Dome. An incredible story of one man's determination to build an apparently impossible structure, it's a tale of ingenuity, artistic rivalries, and single-minded obsession. Although building had started on Florence's Santa Maria del Fiore in the late thirteenth century, it wasn't until 1418 that local goldsmith Filippo Brunelleschi came up with an audacious way of constructing the magnificent dome, which still dominates the Florence skyline today. But as Brunelleschi's Dome reveals, the architect faced huge obstacles and opposition along the way. Our next Bookclub recordings: 18/01/23: Cal Flyn will be talking about her book, Islands of Abandonment. 1300 at BBC Broadcasting House, London.16/02/23: Nadifa Mohamed on The Fortune Men. 1830 at BBC Broadcasting House, LondonEmail bookclub@bbc.co.uk to send in a question, or come along.
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Dec 4, 2022 • 28min

AJ Pearce: Dear Mrs Bird

James Naughtie is joined by writer A J Pearce and a group of listeners, as she answers their questions about her bestselling novel Dear Mrs Bird. Set in London in the 1940s, it’s the story of Emmy who has ambitions to be an intrepid war reporter, but instead finds herself working as a secretary on the agony aunt pages of an old-fashioned women’s magazine. Her main duty is opening and sorting the post but Emmy just can't resist sharing her opinions... Dear Mrs Bird is a funny, heart-warming novel which does not shy away from the true horrors of war.Our next Bookclub recordings: Ross King, on 8th December. He'll be taking us to Italy with his book Brunelleschi's Dome. To take part, in person or online, email bookclub@bbc.co.uk1300 on 18 January at BBC Broadcasting House: Cal Flyn on Islands of Abandonment. email bookclub@bbc.co.uk to come along
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Nov 6, 2022 • 28min

Juan Gabriel Vasquez: The Sound of Things Falling

Juan Gabriel Vasquez answers audience questions about The Sound of Things Falling. Set in Colombia, the novel examines the personal and private impact of the drug wars that ravaged the country during the 1970s, 80s and 90s. It's the story of a strange friendship between two men, Antonio and Ricardo, told through Antonio's eyes. He sets out to investigate his friend's mysterious life, after Ricardo is murdered. The Sound of Things Falling is a powerful read about memory and storytelling, and about the lasting impact of living in a country ruled by violence and criminality.To take part in Bookclub email bookclub@bbc.co.uk Next guests: 24/11/22 A J Pearce answering your questions about her debut Dear Mrs Bird. 08/12/22 Ross King takes us to Italy. He'll be talking about his book Brunelleschi's Dome: The Story of the Great Cathedral in Florence
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Oct 2, 2022 • 28min

Curtis Sittenfeld: American Wife

Curtis Sittenfeld answers listener questions about American Wife, a novel which follows Alice Lindgren's path from school librarian to First Lady, and is based on the life of former First Lady Laura Bush. Our next recording is at Broadcasting House in London on 13th October 2022. Juan Gabriel Vasquez will talking about his novel, The Sound Of Things Falling. To take part and ask a question, email bookclub@bbc.co.uk
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Sep 26, 2022 • 27min

Hilary Mantel - Bring Up the Bodies

In a special programme first broadcast in 2013, Hilary Mantel discusses Bring Up the Bodies, her second Man Booker Prize-winning novel with James Naughtie and his Bookclub audience.England, 1535. A one-time mercenary, master-politician, lawyer and doting father, Thomas Cromwell has risen from commoner to become King Henry VIII's chief adviser. He learnt everything he knew from his mentor Cardinal Wolsey, whose place he has taken.Anne Boleyn is now Queen, her path to Henry's side cleared by Cromwell. But Henry remains without a male heir, and the conflict with the Catholic Church has left England dangerously isolated as France and the Holy Roman Empire manoeuvre for position.Mantel charts how the King begins to fall in love with the seemingly plain Jane Seymour at her family home of Wolf Hall; how Cromwell must negotiate an increasingly dangerous court as he charms, bullies and manipulates nobility, commoners and foreign powers alike to satisfy Henry, and advance his own ambitions.Hilary Mantel was the first author to win two Man Booker Prizes with consecutive novels. She discusses Bring Up the Bodies with Jim and her readers at the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival in Devon - and gives tantalising insights into the final part of the trilogy, The Mirror and the Light.Producer : Dymphna Flynn
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Sep 4, 2022 • 28min

Kathleen Jamie: Selected Poems

Bookclub travels to Edinburgh where Scotland's Makar Kathleen Jamie answers readers questions about her Selected Poems, and her writing life.Many poems here celebrate the natural world; Kathleen Jamie writes about animals and plants with a forensic and empathetic eye, often focussing on unloved and unsung creatures like daisies, spiders and frogs. In this collection there are also poems about the struggles of motherhood, and memories of her Scottish childhood - her friends, her family, her school days. This programme was recorded in front of an audience at Greenside Parish Church in Edinburgh .The next Bookclub recordings are with Curtis Sittenfeld (14/09/22) answering questions about American Wife in a virtual recording, and Juan Gabriel Vasquez (13/10/22) on The Sound of Things Falling , at an in-person event. Contact bookclub@bbc.co.uk to take part in either recording.

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