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Bookclub — Society & Culture
Bookclub

Led by James Naughtie, a group of readers talk to acclaimed authors about their best-known novels

Copyright: © (C) BBC 2020

Latest Episodes:

Anthony Doerr - All the Light We Cannot See Oct 03, 2021

Show notes

Anthony Doerr talks to James Naughtie and a group of readers about his novel All the Light We Cannot See, which won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Set largely in St Malo in the 1940's, It tells the twin stories of Werner and Marie Laure,. They are on opposite sides during World War Two, but find themselves linked by a love of radio, and storytelling. Meanwhile, a Nazi officer is hunting down a diamond, which is said to be cursed. Anthony Doerr talks about how he tackled writing this highly structured, sweeping, adventure-filled tale.

Presenter : James Naughtie Producer : Nicola Holloway

November's Bookclub Choice : The History of Bees by Maja Lunde . Email us at bookclub@bbc.co.uk if you have a question for Maja.

Lissa Evans - Old Baggage Sep 05, 2021

Show notes

Lissa Evans talks to James Naughtie and a group of her readers about her novel Old Baggage.

Set in 1928, it tells the story of Matilda Simpkin, who was an activist during the Women’s Suffrage Campaign. Jailed five times, Mattie marched, sang, gave speeches and smashed windows, and nothing since then has had the same depth or excitement. After a chance meeting with 15-year-old Ida, she sets out on a new venture, starting a girls’ club to help young women gain and maintain independence.

Old Baggage was shortlisted for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Literature 2019.

Presenter : James Naughtie Producer : Dymphna Flynn

For details on how to take part in Bookclub email us at bookclub@bbc.co.uk October’s Bookclub Choice : All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (2014)

Tahmima Anam - A Golden Age Aug 01, 2021

Show notes

A Golden Age by Tahmima Anam is set fifty years ago, during the Bangladesh War of Independence. The conflict is seen through the eyes of Rehana, a fiercely protective mother, whose children join the fighting. Rehana, though not a natural revolutionary, becomes involved in the conflict herself, determined to do whatever it takes to keep her family intact. Tahmima Anam joins James Naughtie to answer questions from readers about this powerful, award winning book.

Francis Spufford - Golden Hill Jul 04, 2021

Show notes

Francis Spufford’s novel Golden Hill won the Costa Book Award, the Ondaatje Prize and the Desmond Elliot Prize and was shortlisted for a host of others. It’s been described by critics as ‘a crackerjack novel of old Manhattan’, ‘Like a newly discovered novel by Henry Fielding with extra material by Martin Scorsese’, and ‘utterly captivating’.

Francis joins James Naughtie and a group of his readers to discuss this novel set in the embryo metropolis of 18th Century New York.

Presenter: James Naughtie Producer: Allegra McIlroy

August’s Bookclub choice: A Golden Age by Tahmima Anam

Melissa Harrison - All Among the Barley Jun 06, 2021

Show notes

Melissa Harrison is an acclaimed nature writer, novelist and podcaster. She joins James Naughtie and a group of her readers to discuss her novel All Among the Barley, set in Suffolk in the mid 1930’s. Centring on the experiences of teenage Edie Mather whose family have been farming the land for generations, the novel touches on the backdrop of shifting political and social change, as well as the dramatic change that’s just starting in the English countryside.

Presenter: James Naughtie Producer: Allegra McIlroy

July’s Bookclub choice: Golden Hill by Francis Spufford

Liane Moriarty - Big Little Lies May 04, 2021

Show notes

James Naughtie and a group of readers talk to Australian author Liane Moriarty about her New York Times bestselling novel Big Little Lies. Set in the sunny world of Pirriwee Public Primary School in the beautiful North Shore area of Sydney, there’s a dark thread of hidden violence running under the surface of the novel. Liane Moriarty sets an unexpected murder against a wittily written chorus of gossipy and competitive school parents, effortlessly intertwining the darker undercurrents with a breezy and humorous style. The novel has since been adapted for television with an all-star cast including Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon and Meryl Streep.

Presenter: James Naughtie Producer: Allegra McIlroy

June’s Bookclub choice: All Among the Barley by Melissa Harisson

Amor Towles - A Gentleman in Moscow Apr 04, 2021

Show notes

James Naughtie and a group of readers talk to Amor Towles about his bestselling novel A Gentleman in Moscow. The 30 year story of Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov takes in the sweep of Russian history from the period just after the Russian Revolution, through the Stalinist purges, and heading towards Kruschev’s thaw – all experienced thorough the lens of Rostov’s long house arrest in The Metropol Hotel.

To join in future Bookclub programmes email us: bookclub@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: James Naughtie Producer: Allegra McIlroy

May’s Bookclub choice: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Kei Miller - The Cartographer Tries to Map a Way to Zion Mar 07, 2021

Show notes

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 McIlroy

April’s Bookclub choice: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Tana French - The Wych Elm Feb 08, 2021

Show notes

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 Ryan

March's Bookclub Choice : The Cartographer Tries to Map a Way to Zion by Kei Miller (2014)

Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go Jan 03, 2021

Show notes

Kazuo Ishiguro, Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, discusses his novel Never Let Me Go with James Naughtie and a group of invited readers.

In one of the most acclaimed novels of recent years, Kazuo Ishiguro tells the story of Kathy, Tommy, Ruth and other school friends growing up in a darkly skewed version of contemporary England.

Narrated by Kathy, now 31, Never Let Me Go is her attempt to come to terms with her childhood and adolescence at the seemingly idyllic Hailsham School as well as the fate that always awaited her and her friends outside in the wider world.

To join in future Bookclub programmes email us bookclub@bbc.co.uk

Presenter : James Naughtie Producer : Dymphna Flynn

February's Bookclub Choice : The Wych Elm by Tana French (2018)

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