The Radio 2 Book Club

Our latest Book Club choice is 'Playground' by Richard Powers. Richard won the Pulitzer in 2019, for his novel 'The Overstory' and his latest book is an epic tale told through three different stories, covering themes of AI, the environment and our shared humanity. Sara chats to Richard about his love and fascination with coral reefs, his writing processes and whether publishing a book gets any easier.

This week on the Radio 2 Book Club podcast, Sara welcomes listener reviewer Sadia Rana to share her Top 5 Reads of 2024 so far. She has been reading really widely and recommends us five different novels, new and old, from Patrick Hamilton to Sebastian Barry. We also hear from three bestselling authors about their latest novels, all of which were chosen for the Radio 2 Book Club earlier in the year. Abir Mukherjee tells us about his standalone thriller 'Hunted'. Marian Keyes discusses her sixteenth novel, 'My Favourite Mistake'. And recent Booker Prize shortlistee, Percival Everett, talks about his re-telling of Huckleberry Finn, 'James'. And remember if you'd like to be a listeners reviewer, you can get in touch with us any time via the email: radio2bookclub@bbc.co.uk

Our latest Radio 2 Book Club choice is 'The Glass Girl' by Kathleen Glasgow. It's officially a Young Adult book, but can be enjoyed by all readers (14+). It tells the story of Bella, a teenage girl on the brink, and the bumpy road back to recovery. Kathleen joins Sara to talk about her inspirations for this novel, her writing processes and why she still loves journalling. They also talk about balancing humour with dark themes and why books like this are so important for teenagers today. We hear an extract from the audiobook as well - and learn a bit too much about Sara's husband's spooning habits!

Sara features three books that her and the team have loved reading recently. These are:You Are Here by international bestselling author David Nicholls. Alter Ego by debut novelist Helen Heckety Table For Two by international bestselling author Amor Towles. Each author joins us to talk about their novels, the inspiration behind them and give us a book recommendation of their own too. We're also treated to a snippet of Radio 4's Book At Bedtime adaptation of David Nicholls' book - read by Sally Phillips.Remember, you can get in touch with the Radio 2 Book Club at anytime. We always love to know what you're reading and any new authors you have discovered. The email address is: radio2bookclub@bbc.co.uk

C.J. Cooke joins Sara in the Radio 2 Book Club to talk about her new gothic novel, The Book Of Witching. This is her tenth book and is based on a real-life Scottish Witch-Trial. She tells Sara about her inspirations for this novel, her research trip to Orkney and how the word 'Witch' is slowly, but surely being reclaimed. C.J. (Carolyn) often writes strong, female characters - and from a feminist point of view - and talks about how she handled the re-telling of a real story about real humans, in order to honour the history, but ensure its being seen through a contemporary lens. Here's a little more about the book: Glasgow 2024: Clem waits by her daughter’s hospital bed. Erin was found on an idyllic beach in Fynhallow Bay, Orkney with catastrophic burns and only one memory: her name is Nyx. But how did she get these burns? And how did her boyfriend end up burned alive?Orkney 1594: Accused of witchcraft, Alison Balfour awaits trial. The punishment? To be burned alive.Separated by four hundred years but bound by the Book of Witching, two women stand imperilled. Can they unlock a centuries-old mystery? And will Fynhallow Bay give up its secrets before someone else dies?If you'd like to get in touch to tell us what you've been reading and enjoying recently, or to apply to be one of our reviewers, you can email at anytime. radio2bookclub@bbc.co.uk

In this episode, Sara features three of our Book Club choices from the summer, that we think you will really enjoy. We'll hear about each of the books from the author's themselves, and get some book recommendations from them too.This week we're featuring:'Precipice' by the international bestselling author Robert Harris. Based on real-life events in 1914, when then Prime Minister H.H. Asquith wrote obsessively to 26-year-old Venetia Stanley, who he was having an affair with, and shared the most sensitive matters of state. 'A Case Of Mice And Murder' by former Barrister and KC Sally Smith. Her debut novel is a detective mystery set in London's law courts in 1901 and introduces us to Sir Gabriel Ward, who'll also be appearing in her next novel. 'Rare Singles' by former music journalist turned bestselling novelist Benjamin Myers. His new book tells the story of an American Soul star, Bucky Bronco, whose career is re-ignited when he's brought over to the UK for a special one-off show, by Scarborough resident and Northern Soul fanatic, Dinah. We hope you enjoy hearing about some of our recent choices! Remember you can get in touch with us at anytime to let us know what you have been reading and enjoying - and to give a shout out to your own book group. The email is:radio2bookclub@bbc.co.uk There'll be a new episode of the Radio 2 Book Club podcast every Tuesday. So why not click 'Subscribe' on BBC Sounds, so that you never miss an episode.

Booker Prize winning author, Alan Hollinghurst, joins Sara in the Radio 2 Book Club for a chat about his new novel, 'Our Evenings'. It's been seven years since Alan published his last book - and so there has been much excitement and anticipation for this new one, and it does not disappoint.The book is written as a memoir of an actor called Dave Win, and spans his life from when he was thirteen, to his late sixties. We learn about his life at school, and university, his first love affairs, his experimental theatre shows in London and his late-life affair which transforms his sixties. Poignant, dark and at some times wickedly funny, 'Our Evenings' gives us a portrait of modern England through the lens of one man's acutely observed and often unnerving experience.In this episode of the Radio 2 Book Club, Sara discusses Alan's writing processes, how long his ideas bubble up for and how much of him has gone into this book.

Vanessa Chan's debut novel - The Storm We Made - was fought over in a seven way publishing auction! It's now out in the world, and it's our first Radio 2 Book Club choice of 2024. Zoe chats to Vanessa, from her apartment in Brooklyn, about the inspirations for the story, her Malaysian upbringing and her writing routine. Here's a little bit more about the book: Her decision changed history. Now her family must survive it.British Malaya, 1930s: Discontented housewife Cecily is seduced by Japanese general Fujiwara and the glorious future he is promising for ‘independent’ Malaya, free from British colonialism. As she becomes further embedded as his own personal spy, she unwittingly alters the fate of her country by welcoming in a punishing form of dictatorship under the Japanese in WWII.Japanese-occupied Malaya, 1945: Cecily and her family are barely surviving. Her children, Jujube, Abel and Jasmin, are surrounded by threat, and look to their mother to keep them safe. But she can’t tell them about the part she played in the war – and she doesn’t know how to protect them.Can Cecily face up to her past to save her children? Or is it already too late… ?

For our last Book Club of 2023, Zoe chats to bestselling author Katherine Howe about her latest novel, 'A True Account' Katherine talks about her fascination with pirates, her love of history and her personal connection with the story she has just published. Zoe also asks about her writing routine and her inspirations. A little more about the novel:In Boston, as the Golden Age of Piracy comes to a bloody close, Hannah Masury – bound into service at a waterfront inn since childhood – is ready to take her life into her own hands. When William Fly is hanged for piracy in the town square, the teenage Hannah is watching. Forced to flee for her life, Hannah disguises herself as a cabin boy and joins the pitiless crew of another notorious real-life pirate, Edward "Ned" Low. To earn her freedom and finally change the tide of her own future, Hannah must hunt down William Fly's lost treasure.Meanwhile in 1930, Professor Marian Beresford pieces this bewitching story together, seeing her own lack of freedom reflected back at her as she watches Hannah's transformation. At the centre of Hannah Masury’s account, however, lies a centuries-old mystery that Marian is determined to solve. It soon becomes clear that Hannah was once just as determined to take this secret to her grave.'A True Account' tells the unforgettable, interleaved stories of two women in different worlds, both shattering the rules of their own society, both daring to risk everything to go forge their own adventure.

Zoe welcomes author and screenwriter Femi Kayode to the Book Club to discuss his brilliant new novel, 'Gaslight'. Femi has spent the last two decades in advertising, whilst also building an impressive resume on prime-time television, by creating and writing several award-winning TV dramas. He recently completed an MA in Crime Fiction - and is finishing a PHD now too (it seems he likes letters).Femi published his first novel, 'Lightseekers', in the pandemic. This was the beginning of a series of books based on the investigations of Dr Philip K. Talwo. Gaslight is the second book in this series, which centres around a murder within a Nigerian megachurch.Zoe chats with him about his inspirations for this story, his influences and how on earth he fits everything in!

This week, Zoe is joined by international bestselling novelist Terry Hayes. His new novel, The Year Of The Locus, is our lates Radio 2 Book Club pick - and it's quite the page-turner. It's been 10 years since Terry published his debut smash hit, I Am Pilgrim', but we think it has been worth the wait. Zoe chats to Terry about what has taken his so long, the status of the film adaptation, his writing habits and if we'll have to wait another ten years for his next book. Here's a little more info on Terry's new novel: If, like Kane, you're a Denied Access Area spy for the CIA, then boundaries have no meaning. Your function is to go in, do whatever is required, and get out again - by whatever means necessary. You know when to run, when to hide - and when to shoot. But some places don't play by the rules. Some places are too dangerous, even for a man of Kane's experience. The badlands where the borders of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan meet are such a place - a place where violence is the only way to survive. Kane travels there to exfiltrate a man with vital information for the safety of the West - but instead he meets an adversary who will take the world to the brink of extinction. A frightening, clever, vicious man with blood on his hands and vengeance in his heart...

Zoe welcomes Sarah Davis, one of our Superstar Librarians, to the podcast. Sarah has been working in libraries for 43 years! And is one of the original panel members for the Radio 2 Book Club. She talks to Zoe about her love of reading, why she loves her job - and - recommends us a few books and authors too.

Zoe welcomes Caroline Bond to the Book Club to discuss her new novel, The Day We Left. It's a powerful and moving story about identical twins, and Caroline draws on some of her own life experience for this book. They chat about her writing routine, inspirations, habits and how some characters can steal the show (or book) even when they're only in it for a short time. More on the book:Oli and Joe are identical twins. But they will never be the same. Lizzie Truman gives birth to her sons at thirty-one weeks. From the start, the differences between the twins are clear. Oli is bigger, stronger, healthier. Joe is small and much less robust, his future inexorably altered by the trauma of his premature delivery. As soon as the boys are well enough, Lizzie checks out of the maternity hospital and leaves her old life behind. By the time Oli and Joe are grown, Beth has a new name, a thriving business, and she has successfully raised her sons alone. But when the truth about their past emerges, the twins are forced to reassess everything they thought they knew about their mother, their upbringing and themselves.

Sarah and Louise from a reading group in Westward Ho! join Zoe to chat about their book club and what books they have been reading and enjoying recently. They recommend 'Lessons In Chemistry' by Bonnie Garmus and 'The Witch Elm' by Tara French - both which they have read as a group recently. Zoe also discusses the importance of strong female characters in fiction and why Radio 2's very own Jeremy Vine was spotted on a Penny Farthing!? If you'd like to get involved in the Radio 2 Book Club, sharing your recommendations or putting your reading group forward to be featured, just email zoeball@bbc.co.uk.

Zoe chats with librarian Pete Hughes about his library, career and reading recommendations. They discuss books by Patrick Gale, Gabrielle Zevin, Andy Weir and Sally Rooney. They also talk about reading out of your comfort zone and the importance of libraries within communities.