Bookclub

James Naughtie and a group of readers talk to award winning poet, novelist and essayist Kei Miller about his Forward Prize Winning poetry collection The Cartographer Tries to Map a Way to Zion.The collection is set on Jamaica and structured through conversations between the map maker, trying to organise and lay down history with a deep conviction of his own rational knowledge, and the rastaman, trying to explain a more spiritual way of knowing. Kei talks to James and the audience about his own multiple identities which are played out in the collection, and reveals which of these characters most represents himself... (and which of them wins the argument!).Presenter: James Naughtie Producer: Allegra McIlroyApril’s Bookclub choice: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

James Naughtie and a group of readers talk to acclaimed Irish crime writer Tana French about her novel The Wych Elm, which was named a New York Times Notable Book of 2018, and a Best Book of 2018 by NPR, The New York Times Book Review, Amazon, The Boston Globe, LitHub, Vulture, Slate, Elle, Vox, and Electric Literature.The Wych Elm is the first stand-alone novel from the author of the Dublin Murder series – and Tana French has been celebrated by writers including Stephen King, Gillian Flynn and John Boyne.Twentysomething Toby has always thought of himself as lucky, and he’s been mostly untouched by the darker side of life, until a traumatic attack leaves him permanently changed both physically and emotionally. After returning to the family home which has always been a haven to him, he finds himself peeling back the layers of hidden secrets and trying to understand both his family history, and his own role in it. To join in future Bookclub programmes email us bookclub@bbc.co.uk Presenter : James Naughtie Producer : Allegra McIlroy Image copyright: Jessica RyanMarch's Bookclub Choice : The Cartographer Tries to Map a Way to Zion by Kei Miller (2014)

Kazuo Ishiguro, Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, discusses his novel Never Let Me Go with James Naughtie and a group of readers. They explore themes of life's fragility, the disturbing metaphor of cloned organ donors, the choice of narrator, the significance of the title song, and the characters' acceptance and creativity in the face of their fate.

David Vann discusses his novel Legend of a Suicide with James Naughtie and this month's group of readers.Legend of a Suicide is an intimate and profound account of a family tragedy, told in six linked stories that deal with the complicated misunderstandings between a son and his father, and describes the love, guilt and the painful understanding that begins to come with adolescence. When it was published twelve years ago this autobiographical work of fiction was lauded as a groundbreaker; based on the events in David’s own life, and the death of his father when he was just 13, Legend of a Suicide is a tough but beautiful read. And in the novella at the heart of the book - the longest of the six sections – the reader is unlikely to forget what it's like to spend time in the loneliness of Sukkwan Island in Alaska. To take part in future Bookclubs, email bookclub@bbc.co.ukJanuary 2021's Bookclub Choice : Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (2005)Presenter : James Naughtie Interviewed Guest : David Vann Producer : Dymphna Flynn Studio Manager : Donald MacDonald

Tayari Jones discusses An American Marriage, which won the Women's Prize for Fiction 2019. The novel tells the story of Roy and Celestial, a newly wed and successful African-American couple in Atlanta whose marriage is tested when the husband is imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit.The book tackles the shadow cast by the judicial system over many African-American lives. Tayari tells Bookclub how the novel was inspired by an exchange she overheard between a man and a woman at a shopping mall. "The woman said - Roy, you wouldn't have waited on me for seven years. And he said, This wouldn't have happened to you in the first place."Presented by James Naughtie and including questions from this month's group of readers. To take part in future Bookclubs, email bookclub@bbc.co.ukDecember's Bookclub Choice : Legend of a Suicide by David Vann (2009)Presenter : James Naughtie Interviewed Guest : Tayari Jones Producer : Dymphna Flynn Studio Manager : Emma Harth

Joseph O'Connor talks about his novel of Irish emigration at the time of the Famine, Star of the Sea with James Naughtie and readers.In the winter of 1847, the Star of the Sea sets sails from Ireland for New York. Among the refugees are a maidservant, a bankrupt aristocrat, an aspiring novelist and a maker of revolutionary ballads. As we learn each of their stories, we also learn how each is connected more deeply than they know. The novel has its roots in Connemara, with the characters being connected to the land and the sea. At the heart of the story is the threatening figure of Pius Mulvey – the balladeer and adventurer who turns bad as the story unfolds. As one reader asks, is Pius Mulvey Jack the Lad, or is he Jack the Ripper? Mulvey stalks the decks of the ship like some kind of embodiment of the tragedy that’s overtaken the old country.Joseph O’Connor explains how he created the character of Pius, his ambivalent relationship with Dickens who has a cameo role in the book, and how he has a connection to Connemara from childhood holidays; plus his hopes that the novel will keep the story of the Famine alive for the next generation of Irish people. To take part in our Bookclub recording with Tana French on the Wych Elm email bookclub@bbc.co.ukNovember's Bookclub Choice : An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (2018)Presenter : James Naughtie Interviewed Guest : Joseph O'Connor Producer : Dymphna Flynn Studio Manager : Tim Heffer

Oyinkan Braithwaite talks about her novel My Sister, The Serial Killer, a story full of deadpan wit and dark humour about two sisters in Lagos.Korede is bitter and jealous of her beautiful sister Ayoola, who is the favourite child. A kind, handsome doctor at the hospital where Korede works is the bright spot in her life and she dreams of the day when he will realize they're perfect for each other. But after Ayoola's third boyfriend in a row dies, and the doctor asks Korede for her sister's phone number, she knows that things can't stay the same.My Sister, the Serial Killer was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2019 and longlisted for the Booker Prize 2019.Oyinkan Braithwaite talks to presenter James Naughtie and a group of readers from her home in Lagos, NigeriaTo take part in future Bookclubs, email bookclub@bbc.co.ukOctober's Bookclub Choice : Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Connor (2003)Presenter : James Naughtie Interviewed Guest : Oyinkan Braithwaite Producer : Dymphna Flynn

James Naughtie and Louise Welsh discussed Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

August's edition is a Classic Bookclub - Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped - and is part of BBC Radio 4's ongoing support for students during the Covid-19 crisis. In the absence of Stevenson, our guide to the book is author Louise Welsh, who has written an opera inspired by him. Kidnapped is one Stevenson’s best loved titles. It’s an historical adventure novel set in Scotland after the Jacobite rising of 1745 and tells the adventures of the recently orphaned sixteen year old David Balfour, as he journeys through the dangerous Scottish Highlands in an attempt to regain his rightful inheritance. James Naughtie says : "As a young boy Robert Louis Stevenson was my guide to adventure. Kidnapped was always at hand and, like Treasure Island, it introduced me to great story-telling. A boy alone in a country torn apart by war, betrayed by a sad but wicked uncle, and a coming-of-age through adversity. Reading it again, I can still feel the thrill of the first time. That's what great books do". Author Louise Welsh has said “I think if you were to stop any Scottish writer and ask them to list their top three writers that made them want to write they would mention Stevenson. He’s always been number one for me.” Bookclub on Kidnapped is recorded as always with an audience of readers, including members of the RLS Club, local school children and university students, at the Hawes Inn, Queensferry, where Stevenson is thought to have started the novel in 1866. The programme was first broadcast in November 2016. An unabridged reading of Kidnapped is available on BBC Sounds. Presenter James Naughtie Interviewed guest : Louise Welsh Producer : Dymphna FlynnSeptember's Bookclub Choice : My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite (2019)

Scott Turow talks about his first thriller, Presumed Innocent, with James Naughtie and a group of readers. The novel was first published in Britain in 1987 and Scott's books have since sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. The novel was seen as groundbreaking as it spawned a whole generation of legal thrillers. Presumed Innocent is the story of lawyer Rusty Sabich who's investigating the brutal murder of a beautiful and ambitious female colleague, Carolyn Polhemus. In the first twist of many in the novel, Rusty, who is married, was once Carolyn's lover, a fact he tries to conceal from his boss, the Prosecuting Attorney. In a further twist Rusty finds himself on trial for the murder, and the evidence against him mounts. Rusty is defended by Sandy Stern, who goes on to appear in Scott Turow's subsequent books, including his new novel, The Last Trial.To join in a future Bookclub discussion email us at bookclub@bbc.co.ukAugust's Bookclub Choice : Kidnapped by RL StevensonPresenter: James Naughtie Invited Guest: Scott Turow Producer : Dymphna Flynn