Book Talk

This month, host Sasha de Buyl is joined by Graphic Scotland's Ariadne Cass-Maran and Scottish Book Trust's own Michael Merillo to discuss Neil Gaiman's latest novel for adults, The Ocean at the End of the Lane. But is this book, about a man who looks back on his childhood haunts and adventures and his friendship with a very unusual girl, really meant for adults, or is it a children's book masquerading as something for the older crowd? The question is a surprisingly complex one, as the novel deals with many dark themes in a fairly delicate manner, while touching on the magic and whimsy of childhood and employing a structure -- two children meet and have fantastical adventures -- that frequently appears in children's fiction. The novel's audience isn't the only matter up for debate. Other discussions that arise include: * Is the narrator too unreliable or too much of an empty vessel to be interesting on his own, or does his emptiness signify something important (and devastating) about him? * Did the grim rel

At the end of August, Book Talk packed its bags and made its way over to the white-tented confines of Charlotte Square, for the Edinburgh International Book Festival. While there, we had the chance to have a quick catch up with award winning author and storytelling behemoth, Neil Gaiman. As we only had a few minutes, we chatted a little about Neil’s new book, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, and then asked him some serious hard hitting questions including ‘Do you have a favourite rodent?’ and ‘What is your favourite stop on the underground?’. Intrigued? Listen in above to hear Neil’s answers! The book Neil speaks about is You Are What You Speak by Robert Lane Green. For anyone interested in the ‘Legs or Hot Dogs?’ internet phenomenon, please see this website. Keep your ears at the ready, as we will be discussing Neil Gaiman’s new novel in full in September episode of Book Talk! Watch this space!

Summer may be winding down but Book Talk is heating up with a lineup of inspiring (and inspired!) authors who join host Ryan Van Winkle to talk about their upcoming books, how they work humour into even the most harrowing stories, their admiration for flawed characters and how jazz wakes up the mind. Genre-defying Helen Fitzgerald gets things started with a discussion of The Cry, her latest novel, which is available on e-readers now and will be released in paperback in September. The Cry, like many of her other books, follows two people who find themselves in an unimaginably awful situation and end up making perhaps the worst possible decisions. Find out more about the book, and the surprising connection Helen has found between writing and her former career in criminal justice. Also, check out her list of five books her fans will like that don't necessarily fit into the crime fiction genre. New Writers Awardee Pippa Goldschmidt is also celebrating the release of a book, her first, The Falling Sky. This tale

Book Talk host Paul Gallagher is joined by science fiction author Ken MacLeod and editor and literary events organiser Oisin Murphy-Lawless to discuss The Quarry, the final novel from the greatly loved and respected Scottish writer Iain Banks, who sadly passed away in early June this year, just days before The Quarry was published. The Quarry is narrated by Kit, a socially awkward, mildly autistic 18-year-old who lives with and looks after his cancer-stricken father Guy. The story involves a last weekend reunion of Guy’s old uni pals, before the house he and Kit live in is demolished to make way for an expansion of the adjacent quarry: an event that Guy is unlikely to live long enough to see. As the weekend progresses Kit observes the old friends hanging out, talking and arguing, and also becomes aware of a particular video tape that they are all keen to get their hands on for reasons none of them are willing to explain – a tape that Guy may have hidden somewhere in the house.  Here's some of the questions th

Summer is heating up, and we have a sizzling edition of Booktalk to go with the rising temperatures. First up, host Ryan Van Winkle sits down with Ruth Ozeki, whose novel, A Tale for the Time Being, has been longlisted for this year's Booker Prize. The book, about a diary written by a 16-year-old Japanese girl that washes up in British Columbia, inspires a spirited discussion of such wide-ranging subjects as reader-writer relationships, how major world events can impact on a work-in-progress (and how said work can provide a sort of therapy for the writer), and bullying in both children and adults. It's also inspired a soulful tune from Bath-based The Bookshop Band, a trio of literary songwriters who were commissioned by the owner of Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights to liven up authors' readings with some original songs. Though nerve-wracking (they do have to perform the songs for the authors themselves, after all!) the Band has taken up the project and run with it magnificently. They now have nearly 100 tu

Ghana Must Go, the much-anticipated debut novel of writer, photographer and designer Taiye Selasi, is the subject of this instalment of Book Talk. Host Danny Scott is joined by Ali Bowden, head of Edinburgh City of Literature, and SBT's Writer Development Manager, Will Mackie. Together, they attempt to peer through the clouds of hype surrounding this cross-continental family saga focused on the Sais, a clan of Ghanaian and Nigerian descent that tries to build a new life in Boston. Among the topics of discussion: does the book live up to the marketing frenzy? Does Selasi's lyrical and poetical style serve the story well? Is this a book to pop into your bag as you go on holiday, or should you shut yourself up with it for a few days? Find out how our panel felt about these questions and more, then join the discussion in the comments below or by tweeting us your thoughts @scottishbktrust or leaving a message on our Facebook page.

Summer has started, and there's lots to look forward to! Host Ryan Van Winkle takes a few moments to sit down with Irish author Kevin Barry, whose most recent collection of short stories, Dark Lies the Island, was published last year on the heels of his critically lauded novel, The City of Bohane. Barry is as much a poet in speech as he is on the page as he discusses where he finds his inspiration, how he got into writing short stories, how they've improved his writing and what we can expect from the dizzying, brutal world of Bohane. Then it's off to Charlotte Square to hear what this year's Edinburgh International Book Festival has in store. Find out what has Janet Smith, director of the children's programme, and Nick Barley, the festival director are most anticipating this year. Finally, hear from Richard Holloway, who reads his Treasures story--a touching saga of a painting that represents everything that's important to him. Have a minute, check out more stories from celebs and the public here. Downloads

Guest host Sasha de Buyl is joined by screenwriter, poet and Leith Library's Reader in Residence, Emily Dodd, and Rachel McCrum, performance poet and co-founder of Stewed Rhubarb Press to discuss R J Palacio's bestselling children's novel, Wonder. Wonder tells the story of 10-year-old August Pullman, a boy with a severe facial deformity who faces going to a mainstream school for the first time in his life. The book manages its difficult subject matter with a healthy dose of humour, but does its depiction of pre-adolescent life ring true? And does it fall into the trap of using August merely to teach kids a moral lesson?

Where do writers find their inspiration? As Ryan Van Winkle discovers in this edition of Bookmarked: pretty much anywhere, and not necessarily where you'd expect. Denise Mina found it in a commonplace object that nobody else wanted, spinning a Treasures tale of surprising emotional depth around a battered tea tin that once belonged to her grandmother. For Damian Barr, author of Maggie and Me, it was in memories so powerful he felt he needed to write the book 'or burst'. For her novel Bear Witness, Mandy Haggith was inspired by nature, an ancient myth and the slow re-introduction of once-indigenous species. Hear Mina read her Treasures story and talk about what tea means to her; learn how Margaret Thatcher and her policies impacted a young Barr (for better and for worse) and learn what makes bears so fascinating and so necessary to the world and why we should be welcoming them back to Scotland.

As the new film version hits cinemas, revisit our discussion from May 2012 about the enduring appeal of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel and what makes a book particularly re-readable. In this edition of Book Talk we focus on a classic, which many people would call the classic: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Paul Gallagher is joined by two avowed Gatsby fans - Books critic Keir Hind and Scottish Book Trust’s Head of Programme Sophie Moxon. Later in the podcast the discussion opens out to asking what makes a book particularly re-readable, which books we like to go back to and read again, and why.  Podcast contents: 00:00-02:40 Introduction02:41-19:30 The Great Gatsby review discussion19:35-23:35 Thoughts on Gatsby film adaptations; Gatsby computer game!23:40-30:50 Discussion on re-reading and what makes us return to particular books30:52-32:00 Conclusion; next month's books

This month, Paul Gallagher gathers freelance writer and blogger Nicola Balkind and SBT's Head of Reader Development, Philippa Cochrane, to discuss Jonas Jonasson's bestselling novel, The Hundred-Year-Old Man who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared. The book, which details the hijinks of a centenarian who escapes from his old people's home, drew mixed reviews from our Twitter followers, with one saying it made them want to go on a romp of their own and another giving up on it entirely. What did our panel think? You'll have to listen to find out! The spirited discussion touches on the novel's dark comedy, the unexpected depths concealed (or not!) beneath the humourous surface and whether or not the book is intended as a satire--and if so, whether it's a successful one.

On this edition of Bookmarked Ryan Van Winkle goes in search of essential interviews from the world of books and comes back with two gems - writer Kirsty Gunn talking about the long long process of development and writing of her just-published novel The Big Music, and TV broadcaster and author of A Down to Earth Guide to the Cosmos Mark Thompson (pictured) talking about how he got into astronomy and why it's so fascinating. And nestling between these two interviews is newly-crowned Granta Young British Novelist Jenni Fagan reading her short story 'Impilo'. It contains some strong language and is not for the faint-hearted, but is a great example of new exciting writing happening right now.  Contents: 0:00  Introduction  0:53  Kirsty Gunn interview   8:09  Jenni Fagan reads 'Impilo'   22:03  Mark Thompson interview  

Paul Gallagher is joined by Peggy Hughes, City of Literature’s Communications Executive and Duncan Wright, Senior School Librarian from Stewart’s Melville College in Edinburgh to discuss and review Boxer Beetle, the acclaimed debut novel from Ned Beauman, a part absurd historical comedy, part present-day mystery-chase story. Following their in-depth discussion of the book Paul interviews Ned Beauman about where he got the inspiration for the many and varied themes and characters in this striking novel. PODCAST CONTENTS 00:00-01:14 Introduction and competition01:15-12:58 Boxer Beetle review discussion13:01-19:05 Thoughts on strong content; the end of the book19:10-19:34 How to add your comments19:38-30:14 Ned Beauman interview30:17-31:34 Conclusion; next month's books CORRECTION: In the podcast Paul incorrectly refers to Ned Beauman's forthcoming book as The Teleportation Event, it's actually called The Teleportation Accident.

This month, Paul Gallagher hosts a discussion of Kate Atkinson’s new novel, Life After Life. Joining him are Kirsty Logan, books editor with The List, and Peggy Hughes, communications executive with Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust and member of the League of Extraordinary Booklovers. Together, they delve into a book that trips backwards and forwards through time, reliving the main character’s life (and many deaths) over and over and question whether the novel is a literary dream come true or a recurrent nightmare.

After a trip to the Middle East last month, Bookmarked host Ryan Van Winkle is back in the UK and ready to talk about crime, poetic inspiration and the extraordinary history of how one London landmark ended up in the Arizona desert. Highlights include: * Crime writer Sophie Hannah discussing her new book, The Carrier, motives that aren't so black-and-white and how success both helps and hinders her writing * A trip to the StAnza poetry festival in St Andrews, where Ryan talks about family and solves rhyming riddles with poet and performer John Hegley * Do you know the rhyme about London Bridge? You'll know much more than that as Ryan sits down with Travis Elborough, author London Bridge in America: The Tall Story of a Transatlantic Crossing. Travis's book tells the extraordinary story of how an American tycoon bought one of the last works of famed Scottish civil engineer John Rennie and used it as the centrepiece of a new development in Arizona.

Book Talk branches out into both non-fiction and graphic novels with the unconventional biography Dotter of her Father's Eyes. Mary and Bryan Talbot's book follows two life stories: that of Mary, the daughter of a pre-eminent scholar of James Joyce, and of Joyce's own daughter, Lucia. The unique approach to the biographies helped make this the first graphic novel to win the Costa biography award earlier this year. Host Paul Gallagher sits down with Keir Hind, books section editor for The Skinny, and artist and graphic novel writer Damon Herd to discuss how well this book works as a graphic novel, the collaboration between author and illustrator and the role of father-daughter relationships on the page. Listen to hear what our guests thought and join the discussion in the comments below, tweeting us your thoughts to @scottishbktrust, or hit us with a comment on our Facebook page.

In this episode of Bookmarked Ryan Van Winkle introduces four interviews that take us all over the world: Gavin Francis, author of Empire Antarctica, talks about ice, silence and Emperor Penguins; we visit the Erbil Literature Festival in Kurdistan to hear from young Iraqi writer Sabrin Qadi and her Scottish counterpart Krystelle Bamford; Closer to home, we speak to Glasgow crime author Caro Ramsay about her new book The Blood of Crows, which The Guardian called a "bleak, black and brilliant" read.

Following on from the last Book Talk podcast which featured a discussion of James Robertson's hugely accomplished 2010 novel And the Land Lay Still, we were delighted to have the opportunity to hear directly from James about his process of developing and writing the book. He talks about the entire four year process, from initial ideas, to developing characters, to figuring out how to put it all together, and how it felt to finally complete the book.    

Described by its blurb as being “epic in every sense”, James Robertson's 2010 novel And the Land Lay Still is an expansive, ambitious and at times breathtaking tome offering a survey of life in Scotland in the second half of the 20th Century. On this edition of Book Talk host Paul Gallagher talks with Duncan Wright, Senior School Librarian from Stewart’s Melville College in Edinburgh, and a member of The League of Extraordinary Booklovers, and Jeanette Harris, Scottish Book Trust’s General Manager, about And the Land Lay Still. Does Robertson succeed in combining epic scope and intimate character detail? Listen to find out what our guests thought. Join the discussion by tweeting us your thoughts on And the Land Lay Still to @scottishbktrust, or hit us with a comment on our Facebook page. 

Ryan Van Winkle gets 2013 off to a great start with his third Bookmarked podcast, which has him talking about kids' wild imaginations with author and illustrator John Fardell, discovering the world of football with Rodge Glass and rubbing shoulders with the League of Extraordinary Booklovers. Podcast highlights: Somerset Maugham Award-winning author Rodge Glass talks about sports and his new book, Bring Me the Head of Ryan Giggs John Fardell takes a break from creating a mural at the Mitchell Library to share what it's like to be an illustrator-in-residence, how kids constantly surprise him and who his favourite illustrators are 2012 New Writers Award winners Andrew Sclater and Roy Gill discuss how the award changed their lives and their writing and what we can expect from them in the future Karen Cunningham, head of Glasgow libraries, speaks about the future of books during Book Week Scotland Three members of the League of Extraordinary Booklovers talk about how they were chosen, what their mission is and w