Service95 Book Club With Dua Lipa

This month, we’re tackling one of the most urgent issues of our time, the question of migration across borders. Small Boat is a stunning and provocative novel that is inspired by the real-life tragedy of 27 asylum seekers who drowned in the English Channel in 2021. Rather than tell the story through the perspective of the victims, Small Boat is narrated by the French radio operator who failed to send help. It’s an audacious and uncomfortable choice – and that’s exactly the point.  In this episode, Dua speaks with Vincent about moral responsibility, the challenge of maintaining empathy at a time of great political polarisation, and the dangers of becoming desensitised to human suffering. They talk about his choice to centre the story around an ambivalent protagonist, and how fiction can make us face uncomfortable truths.  The novel doesn’t offer easy answers. Instead, it holds a mirror up to us, asking what we would do, what we’ve done, and what it means to look away. As Dua says, this book doesn’t let you off the hook – and it’s one everyone should read.  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

Join acclaimed poet and novelist Ocean Vuong, known for his impactful debut novel, as he unpacks the complexities of language and trauma. He explores how writing can act as a bridge between generations, emphasizing the weight of memory in immigrant experiences. Ocean shares poignant stories about his grandmother and the intersection of queerness and survival. He also delves into the challenges of intimacy in writing, responding to censorship, and the excitement of adapting his novel for film. It's a heartfelt conversation about beauty and the power of words.

Jennifer Clement, author of Widow Basquiat, shares insights into Jean-Michel Basquiat and his muse, Suzanne Malouk. They discuss the explosive creativity of 1980s New York, filled with vibrant art and music. Jennifer reveals how their bond was shaped by shared trauma and exploration of identity, as well as the impact of the AIDS crisis that transformed their world. They also explore Basquiat's unique artistry, his responses to racism, and the emptiness that often accompanied his fame, shedding light on a chaotic yet beautiful love story.

In this new podcast series, we’ll bring you both new interviews with authors of Dua’s Monthly Reads - books that make you laugh, cry, or rethink something you thought you knew - and dive back into the Service95 archives to hear conversations that are too good to miss. A place that Dua will share her favourite reads from her bookshelf with you, let’s open the front cover and get started. 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