Service95 Book Club With Dua Lipa

George Saunders, award-winning novelist known for Lincoln in the Bardo, talks about experimenting with form and writing through grief. He explains why he chose ghosts and a bardo-like afterlife, how the idea grew over decades, and how distinct voices and humor shape a mournful story. A lively, compassionate conversation about risk, craft, and finding light amid sorrow.

Mark Ronson and Dua Lipa come together for a live recording of the Service95 Book Club at New York City’s legendary Hotel Chelsea.  In this episode, they respond to your questions from the Service95 Book Club community, diving into the allure of reading, curiosity, and the city after dark. What draws us to intense, shadowy novels? If they could bring back one long-lost NYC institution, which would it be? How do they navigate the endless stream of book recommendations when choosing their next read? And what truths does the night reveal that daylight often conceals?  Buy the book at Bookshop.org, Waterstones, and Barnes & Noble  Get in touch:      📩 Email us – books@service95.com      📲 Follow @service95bookclub on Instagram for updates      📚 Subscribe to the Service95 Book Club newsletter – introduced each month by Dua – at www.service95.com      And don’t forget to hit subscribe wherever you get your podcasts  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This month on the Service95 Book Club podcast, Dua sits down with producer and DJ Mark Ronson to discuss his memoir Night People – a candid look at the music, obsession, and late-night worlds that shaped him long before success felt secure. In a Service95 exclusive, Mark reads an excerpt from Night People that revisits a formative early lesson in ambition. The passage recalls a moment when, desperate to get a foot in the door, he sells out his best friend Sean Lennon without his knowing, securing a slot for his band at the New Music Seminar. It’s a story driven by hunger, insecurity, and hard-earned self-awareness. It’s a revealing snapshot of why Night People stays with you – not because it smooths over mistakes, but because it faces them head on. Buy the book at Bookshop.org, Waterstones, and Barnes & Noble  Get in touch:      📩 Email us – books@service95.com      📲 Follow @service95bookclub on Instagram for updates      📚 Subscribe to the Service95 Book Club newsletter – introduced each month by Dua – at www.service95.com      And don’t forget to hit subscribe wherever you get your podcasts  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Ronson, a celebrated producer and DJ, discusses his memoir, shedding light on his childhood shaped by a nocturnal family lifestyle. He reflects on the vibrant 90s New York club scene, contrasting underground venues like Limelight with super-clubs, and how DJing provided him with a sense of control and validation. Mark shares a pivotal moment when he shocked a hip-hop crowd by mixing rock, showcasing the daring spirit of his work. The conversation also touches on the evolving role of women in nightlife and the complexities of race within the DJ community.

Regular listeners of the Service95 Book Club podcast will know that, alongside our new monthly author interviews, we love returning to some of Dua’s most powerful conversations from the past two and a half years. This time from the archive, Dua revisits her discussion with Brit Bennett, author of Service95 Book Club’s November Monthly Read for 2023, The Vanishing Half. The novel opens up profound questions about identity, class, and the legacies that echo across generations – including perhaps the most challenging question of all: what even constitutes race? The Vanishing Half follows the Vignes twins, who grow up in a small Southern Black community obsessed with skin tone. As they come of age, their lives split in radically different directions: one sister returns home to raise her dark-skinned daughter, while the other chooses to pass as white, building a life far removed from her past – even from her own family. As their daughters’ lives eventually intersect, Brit weaves a layered exploration of identity, inheritance, and the cost of reinvention across generations. In this episode, Dua and Brit talk about the nuances of self-invention, the emotional cost of secrecy, and the ways in which family history can shape – and sometimes distort – who we become. Together, they reflect on the complexities of belonging, the fragility of personal truth, and the choices that define our lives. Don’t miss it. Get in touch:     📩 Email us – books@service95.com     📲 Follow @service95bookclub on Instagram for updates     📚 Subscribe to the Service95 Book Club newsletter – introduced each month by Dua – at www.service95.com     And don’t forget to hit subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ingvild Rishøi, a Norwegian author known for her evocative storytelling, shares insights on her novel Brightly Shining. She discusses the intricate dynamics of a family grappling with an alcoholic father and two daughters who embody resilience amid chaos. Ingvild reads an exclusive passage that highlights their struggles and moments of fragile hope, revealing how the story delicately intertwines hardship with glimmers of optimism. This discussion dives deep into the human experience, capturing both the pain and beauty of familial love.

Ingvild Rishøi, a Norwegian author celebrated for her empathetic storytelling, discusses her novel Brightly Shining, a modern take on The Little Match Girl. She delves into the complex dynamics between two sisters dealing with their alcoholic father, revealing their resilience and hope. The conversation highlights her unique first draft process and the significance of portraying child poverty and emotional truths. Rishøi also shares insights on adapting her work into film, emphasizing the importance of community support for vulnerable children.

In a heartfelt discussion, Patti Smith, the influential poet, musician, and author of the memoir Just Kids, shares her journey of writing about her profound connection with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. She opens up about the promise she made to him, the challenges of writing through grief, and how memory can be transformed into art. Patti delves into the energy of 1970s New York, the significance of mutual support in creativity, and her perspective on punk as a form of freedom. This conversation captures the essence of love, loss, and artistic legacy.

Join the iconic Margaret Atwood, celebrated for her novel The Handmaid’s Tale, as she dives into her writing process. She reveals how a vivid image can spark a narrative, recounts her unique method of blending rhythm and sound in prose, and discusses the balance of emotion and structure in storytelling. Atwood also explores the intriguing parallels between her character Serena Joy and the modern Tradwife movement, asserting that her novels project possible futures rather than declare predictions. This enlightening conversation is a must for fans!

Elisabeth Moss, the award-winning actor known for her role as Offred in The Handmaid's Tale, shares her fascinating journey of adapting the iconic novel. She recounts her initial reaction to reading the book and the pivotal moment of meeting Margaret Atwood, emphasizing the author's profound impact on her portrayal. Elisabeth also delves into the symbolism of the handmaid costume, showcasing how design choices transformed it into a powerful visual metaphor for resistance and solidarity. Her insights on the show's cultural relevance resonate deeply in today's society.