London Review Bookshop Podcast

Emily LaBarge’s Dog Days (Peninsula Press) begins with a personal trauma – the account of how she and her family were held hostage during the Christmas holidays of 2009 – building on that experience a dazzling exploration of writing, art and the imagination. Drawing on writers and artists such as Vivian Gornick, Robert Burton, David Lynch and Sylvia Plath, LaBarge picks apart the structures of narrative forms to ask how it might be possible to tell the ‘Good Story,’ and its aftermath, on its own terms. LaBarge was in conversation with writer Olivia Laing.

Wendy Erskine’s two short story collections Sweet Home and Dance Move marked her out as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Irish fiction. Now her first novel The Benefactors (Sceptre) looks set to cement that reputation. ‘In all of its glorious polyphony, The Benefactors brims with humanity’, writes Lucy Caldwell. ‘It’s got snap, it’s got sparkle, it’s got soul. All of Belfast is here, all of life. I adored it.’ Wendy Erskine was in conversation with Sheena Patel, part of the collective 4 BROWN GIRLS WHO WRITE and author of the novel I’m a Fan.

Ali Smith, an award-winning novelist celebrated for her genre-bending works, joins filmmaker Sarah Wood to explore her latest books. They discuss the transformative effect of Edvard Munch's art on Smith's writing, especially how themes of mortality permeate her works. Wood and Smith delve into how art facilitates conversation and reflection, while contemplating the impact of technology on memory and experience. Additionally, Smith reveals plans for a Munch-inspired fiction and an upcoming exhibition, intertwining literary creation with visual art.

In Flower (Fitzcarraldo), his first work of non-fiction, Copenhagen-based artist Ed Atkins propels us into a world of junk food, invented memories and confessional anti-confessionalism. ‘Sometimes it brought me to tears and I’m not even sure why,’ writes Luke Kennard, ‘It’s the stuff most of us leave out, or wouldn’t even know how to articulate. By which I mean this book has made so much other writing feel like propaganda. It’s heroic. I’m not sure I’ll ever recover from it.’ Atkins read from his work and was joined in conversation by poet and novelist Holly Pester. Find more events at the Bookshop: https://lrb.me/eventspod From the LRB: Subscribe to the LRB: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lrb.me/subsbkshppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Close Readings podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lrb.me/crbkshppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LRB Audiobooks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lrb.me/audiobooksbkshppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bags, binders and more at the LRB Store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lrb.me/storebkshppod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get in touch: podcasts@lrb.co.uk

In the 1930s, tens of thousands of central Europeans sought sanctuary from fascism in Britain. In The Alienation Effect (Allen Lane) acclaimed architectural historian Owen Hatherley draws on an immense cast of artists and intellectuals, including celebrated figures like Erno Goldfinger, forgotten luminaries like Ruth Glass, and a host of larger-than-life visionaries and charlatans, to argue that in the resulting clash between European modernism and British moderation, our imaginations were fundamentally realigned and remade for the better. Owen Hatherley was joined in conversation about his book by poet and translator Michael Hofmann. Find more events at the Bookshop: ⁠https://lrb.me/eventspod⁠ From the LRB: Subscribe to the LRB: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lrb.me/subsbkshppod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Close Readings podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lrb.me/crbkshppod⁠⁠⁠⁠ LRB Audiobooks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lrb.me/audiobooksbkshppod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bags, binders and more at the LRB Store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lrb.me/storebkshppod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get in touch: podcasts@lrb.co.uk

Ken Worpole, ‘a literary original, a social and architectural historian whose books combine the Orwellian ideal of common decency with understated erudition’ (New Statesman), has written on many subjects during his long career, from cemeteries to hospices to the novels of Alexander Baron, but has often returned to the subject of his beloved Essex. His latest essay collection Brightening from the East (Little Toller) focuses on the natural and built landscapes of the ‘region of the mind’ that is the estuarine marshlands of the Thames and the East Anglian coast, bringing us stories of radical communities and arcadian dreams of new ways of living. Worpole is in conversation with writer and journalist Melissa Benn; the evening will be hosted by writer and producer Gareth Evans. From the LRB: Subscribe to the LRB: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lrb.me/subsbkshppod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Close Readings podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lrb.me/crbkshppod⁠⁠⁠⁠ LRB Audiobooks: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lrb.me/audiobooksbkshppod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bags, binders and more at the LRB Store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lrb.me/storebkshppod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get in touch: podcasts@lrb.co.uk

In this enlightening discussion, Paul B. Preciado, a groundbreaking writer and philosopher, explores themes from his latest work, Dysphoria Mundi. He argues that dysphoria is not a mental illness but an epistemic rupture that reflects the limitations of current societal norms. Nathalie Olah, a skilled journalist and critic, guides the conversation, delving into the implications of somatic politics and the political nature of knowledge. They also discuss the historical constructs of binary sex and how queer resistance can serve as a model for broader societal change.

Xiaolu Guo, an acclaimed novelist and filmmaker, discusses her latest work, *Call Me Ishmaelle*, a feminist reimagining of Moby-Dick. Joining her is Philip Hoare, a writer renowned for his insights into maritime literature. They explore Guo's childhood in a South China fishing village and how it shaped her perspective. Guo reinterprets Ishmael as a female figure and transforms Ahab into a black captain, reflecting on race and identity. Themes of displacement and a reverse artistic journey illuminate her narrative, while Darwin's influence is woven throughout.

Didier Eribon, a renowned French sociologist and author, discusses his poignant new book, which reflects on aging, particularly through the life of his mother. He delves into the societal neglect of the elderly and what it means to truly represent their voices. Eribon shares how neoliberal policies have eroded care systems, making elderly isolation more common. He also touches on the complexities of family loyalty and racism, and the need for genuine political activism that advocates for the vulnerable in society.

Celebrate the reissue of Samuel Beckett's trilogy as the hosts explore his unique and haunting language. They dive into themes of bodily horror, decay, and absurdity, revealing the bleak humor that permeates his works. The conversation touches on Beckett's wartime experiences and their impact on his writing, as well as the significance of rhythm in reading his texts aloud. List-making becomes a playful tool for memory, transforming the understanding of his complex narratives. Join them for a deep dive into Beckett's provocative world.