Podcast: Bookclub

Presented by James Naughtie, BBC Radio 4's Bookclub, speaks to the award-winning writer Kit de Waal about her heart-rending debut novel, My Name Is Leon. Published in 2016 by Penguin it's the story of two brothers separated after one is adopted. The book, now taught on the curriculum in English schools, takes us back to 1980s Birmingham, and while brothers Leon and Jake share the same mother, Carol, their futures look very different. Jake is adopted, while Leon remains in foster care. The story follows Leon over the course of one difficult year in his life, and when he's given a bike it opens up his horizons. He often goes to the local allotments, where he meets the characters of Mr Devlin and Tufty, and sees a different slice of life.This recording takes place at the Rare Birds Bookshop in Edinburgh.Producer: Dominic Howell
Editor: Gillian Wheelan
This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

Presented by James Naughtie, Bookclub speaks to the award-winning writer, historian, and podcaster, Tom Holland, about his book Rubicon, which looks at the triumph and tragedy of the Roman Republic. Originally published in 2003, the book won the PEN Hessell-Tiltman prize for non-fiction, and it unravels the myths and realities of ancient Rome as it charts the final decades of the Republic, placing us back in a pre-Christian era, and setting in context the convulsion that began in January of 49 BC when Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon river in northern Italy en route to Rome and civil war, all in search of power. The episode was recorded at the Topping Bookshop in Edinburgh.Producer: Dominic Howell
Editor: Gillian Wheelan
This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

Led by presenter James Naughtie, the writer Joanne Harris takes questions from a BBC Bookclub audience on her best-selling novel, Chocolat. Published in 1999, the book follows the character of Vianne Rocher, a chocolate-maker and sometime witch, who arrives in the village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes with her six-year-old daughter Anouk at the beginning of Lent and opens a chocolaterie opposite the church. Francis Reynaud, the local priest, disapproves of her instantly and Vianne's arrival polarizes the villagers. The book sold over a million copies in the UK and won the Creative Freedom and Whitaker Gold awards. It was later turned into an Oscar-nominated film starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. Producer: Dom Howell
Editor: Gillian WheelanThis was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

Ross Raisin is a young writer who won much praise for his debut novel God's Own Country in 2008. He discusses the book with James Naughtie and a group of readers.It's the story of Sam Marsdyke who's a troubled nineteen year old young man living on a remote farm in the North Yorkshire Moors. It's a place of beauty and Sam resents the incomers, be they the ramblers he spies upon, or the new neighbours who've just moved up from London. Sam is one of contemporary fiction's unforgettable characters; thanks largely to his use of the local dialect - words like beltenger, raggald or snitter. But these words don't get in the way of the reading, and part of the success of Sam's language is its confirmation of his isolation. There's an ambiguity for the reader about whether Sam's early mishaps in the novel are intentional, such as the neighbour's boy getting food poisoning from Sam's welcoming gift of hand picked mushrooms. But Ross Raisin says that for him, as Sam's creator, there's no ambiguity. Later in the novel, Sam's demise is swift, dark and frightening; and it's Ross's achievement that the reader still feels sympathy for him. Producer : Dymphna Flynn
June's Bookclub choice : The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory.

David Nicholls talks to James Naughtie and a group of readers about his enormously successful novel One Day.The book has now sold over 5 million copies worldwide since its first publication in 2009. It's the will-they-won't they story of Dexter and Emma, who get together on their last day at Edinburgh University in the late 80s, and whom we meet in the novel every July 15th for the next twenty years. It is in turns moving, stylish and funny.David Nicholls discusses how cinema and tv and his work as an actor influenced the writing of this novel, as well as his love of Hardy and Dickens. Looking back at the novel, having not read it for four years, he is honest about how he might write it differently, if he was allowed.Presenter : James Naughtie
Interviewed guest : David Nicholls
Producer : Dymphna FlynnOctober's Bookclub choice : Married Love by Tessa Hadley (2012).

Led by presenter James Naughtie, a BBC Bookclub audience in Glasgow speaks to the author Natalie Haynes about her 2019 novel - A Thousand Ships - which retells the ancient Greek myths from a woman's perspective. Penelope, Clytemnestra, Andromache and Cassandra among others, all make appearances, but their stories are given a new voice and a fresh emphasis. This is the Trojan war and its impact as never seen before. The book was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction in 2020. Producer: Dom Howell
Editor: Gillian Wheelan
This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

This month BBC Radio 4's Bookclub, presented by James Naughtie, speaks to the writer Michel Faber about his debut novel, Under the Skin. Published in the year 2000 by Canongate it went on to be shortlisted for the Whitbread Award that same year. The book follows the female protagonist of Isserley who roves the A9 in the Scottish Highlands looking to pick up hitchhikers (preferably ones with big muscles). In 2013 the book was made into a film, shot in Glasgow, and directed by Jonathan Glazer. It starred Scarlett Johansson as Isserley.Producer: Dominic Howell
Editor: Gillian WheelanThis was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

This month, Bookclub, presented by James Naughtie, speaks to the author Christopher Brookmyre, as he takes questions from a live BBC audience about his debut novel, Quite Ugly One Morning. The book is a pacey crime thriller, not so much a 'whodunnit', as a 'whydunnit', and it introduces us to the wily, wise-cracking journalist Jack Parlabane - a character Chris is still writing about some thirty years later. Published in 1996, Quite Ugly One Morning, was a best-seller at the time, and the actor David Tennant read the audiobook. Producer: Dom Howell
Editor: Gillian WheelanThis was a BBC AUDIO SCOTLAND PRODUCTION.

This month, BBC Bookclub, presented by James Naughtie, speaks to the writer Sara Collins, as she takes questions from a live audience about her award-winning debut novel, The Confessions of Frannie Langton. Sara was the Costa Book Awards First Novel Winner in 2019 and also she has also adapted the book for television.Producer: Dom Howell
Editor: Gillian Wheelan
This was a BBC Audio Scotland production.

Presented by James Naughtie, BBC Bookclub speaks to the writer Richard Osman about his crime-fiction novel The Thursday Murder Club, which sold millions of copies, and has been made into a film.

Award-winning writer Alan Warner takes questions from Radio 4's Bookclub audience about his first-person, pacey novel, Morvern Callar, which was written in 1995 when Warner was in his late twenties. Morvern is a twenty-one year old foster-child whose life takes an irreversible turn when she discovers her boyfriend's dead body. The book was later turned into a critically-acclaimed film, of the same name, in 2002.

The writer Carys Davies talks to readers about her beautifully-crafted novel, The Mission House, which follows the character of Hilary Byrd, a British librarian in his fifties, who is seeking to find himself again in modern-day southern India.

Susanna Clarke won the Women's Prize for Fiction with her novel Piranesi. She joins James Naughtie and a group of readers to answer their questions about this intriguing, tantalising novel.

Bestselling novelist Ken Follett joins James Naughtie and readers to discuss his historical novel A Column of Fire, the third in his hugely successful Kingsbridge series. It’s a tale of spying and intrigue, as Elizabeth I battles to keep her throne in the face of fierce religious division across Europe.

Ayobami Adebayo talks to James Naughtie and readers about her novel, Stay With Me, a moving story of loss and motherhood. Set against the backdrop of tumultuous political events in Nigeria, it tells the story of Yejide and Akin, whose marriage is childless. The novel, which is narrated by them both, explores the pressure to have a child, the toll it takes on their relationship and the profound emotional burden of desperately wanting to become a parent.
Ayobami answers readers questions about the inspiration behind Stay With Me and how she inhabited the minds of her characters. Presenter: James Naughtie
Producer : Nicola HollowayNext Bookclub recordings - both at 1830 in Broadcasting House, London 14 August - Ken Follett on A Column of Fire
25 September - Susanna Clarke on Piranesi

Marlon James answers readers' questions about his award-winning novel, A Brief History of Seven Killings. The novel, which is narrated by multiple characters, opens in Jamaica in the run-up to the 1976 election. Kingston is riven by violence as competing gangs, some supported by the US government, compete for territory and control of the drugs trade. The novel is based on real events, including a planned assassination attempt on Bob Marley. Marlon James talks to readers about writing multiple characters, his approach to describing violence and how he sees the book now, ten years after publication. Forthcoming recordings at 1830 at BBC Broadcasting House in London 10 July - Ayobami Adebayo on Stay With Me
14 August - Ken Follett on A Column of Fire
25 September - Susanna Clarke on Piranesi

Celebrated novelist and short story writer Lucy Caldwell joins James Naughtie and readers to discuss These Days. Set in 1941, it focusses on the lives of two sisters living through the Belfast Blitz.Lucy talks about the inspiration for her novel, her research and writing it during the pandemic.

James Naughtie and readers quiz Nicholas Shakespeare about his book, Six Minutes In May: How Churchill Unexpectedly Became Prime Minister. It chronicles the dramatic political and military events of 1940 which led to the momentous Norway Debate and Chamberlain’s resignation. Upcoming recordings at BBC Broadcasting House in London: Wednesday 15 May at 1300: Lucy Caldwell on These Days Thursday 6 June at 1245: Marlon James on A Brief History of Seven Killings

Clare Chambers talks to James Naughtie and readers about her bestselling novel, Small Pleasures. Set in the London suburbs in the 1950s, it tells the story of Jean Swinney, a journalist who is asked to investigate a letter sent to her paper, from a mother claiming her daughter is the result of a virgin birth. Jean meets the mother, Gretchen; her husband, Howard and daughter Margaret and is drawn into their family life. Her investigations soon expand both her world, and her heart. Upcoming recordings, at BBC Broadcasting House in London: Wednesday 24 April at 1800 - Nicholas Shakespeare on Six Minutes In MayWednesday 15 May at 1300 - Lucy Caldwell on These Days. Thursday 6 June at 1245 - Marlon James on A Brief History of Seven Killings Wednesday 10 July at 1830 - Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ on Stay With Me Email bookclub@bbc.co.uk to take part. Over 18s only.

Bookclub travels to Northumberland to meet best-selling crime writer Ann Cleeves. She joins James Naughtie and listeners to discuss her novel, Hidden Depths: Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope sets out to solve two murders which are apparently linked, although there are no clues to connect the victims.Upcoming recordings - 1830 BBC Broadcasting House in London : 26 March - Clare Chambers on Small Pleasures
24 April - Nicholas Shakespeare on 6 Minutes In May Email bookclub@bbc.co.uk to take part. Over 18s only.