Service95 Book Club With Dua Lipa

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.

Dua Lipa chats with renowned Canadian novelist and poet Margaret Atwood, the mind behind The Handmaid's Tale and her new memoir, Book of Lives. Atwood shares fascinating insights into the origins of Offred, revealing the name's significance of ownership and its linguistic roots. She explores how Offred's journal fits within literary traditions, comparing it to plague accounts and samizdat literature. Their conversation dives deep into the intertwining of language, history, and power, offering a rich perspective on storytelling.

In this engaging discussion, acclaimed novelist Margaret Atwood delves into the captivating origins of her iconic work, The Handmaid's Tale. She reflects on her experiences in Cold War-era East Berlin and the political climate of the 1980s that shaped Gilead. Atwood analyzes the significance of Offred's name, the role of women's agency, and the eerie parallels to today's society. With insights into Puritan roots and the complexities of societal control, she masterfully connects her timeless themes to modern political realities.

In this insightful chat, award-winning journalist Patrick Radden Keefe dives deep into his book, *Say Nothing*, unraveling the dark mystery of Jean McConville's disappearance during the Northern Ireland Troubles. He discusses the haunting culture of silence that surrounded the event and reflects on the complexities of justice versus peace in post-conflict societies. Listeners will learn about the intertwining lives of radical figures like the Price sisters and the weight of investigative responsibility that came with uncovering the truth.

In this discussion, award-winning author David Szalay shares insights on his novel, Flesh. He reveals how his Hungarian roots influence the story and its setting. Szalay's writing style embraces deliberate restraint, capturing meaning in mundane moments. He emphasizes character creation through intuition, often inspired by fleeting encounters. Additionally, he discusses the effectiveness of fragmentary narratives and aims for complex emotional responses from readers, making this conversation an enlightening listen for fans of his work.