Bookclub BBC Radio 4

James Naughtie and readers are joined by novelist Sarah Winman, answering questions about her novel Tin Man.
It's a moving and intimate portrait of three characters, Michael, Ellis and Annie. They variously fall in love, and fall out of touch, but are always deeply connected.
Tin Man is a short and powerful novel about love, loss and kindness.



Our next Bookclub recordings are with

Mary Lawson, discussing her novel Crow Lake, at 1300 on 24 May at BBC Broadcasting House in London.

Julian Barnes discussing Arthur and George at 1830 on Tuesday 13 June at BBC Broadcasting House, London.

email bookclub@bbc.co.uk to take part

Tan Twan Eng talks to James Naughtie and a group of readers about The Garden of Evening Mists.
A lyrical novel set largely in 1950s Malay (now Malaysia), it tells the story of Yun Ling, imprisoned by Japanese soldiers during the Second World War, and Aritomo, a master gardener who once worked for the Emperor of Japan.
It's a complex and moving story about forgetting, forgiveness and mercy.


Our next Bookclub recordings:
(email bookclub@bbc.co.uk to join us)

Wednesday 19th April at 1300 at BBC Broadcasting House in London.
Sarah Winman will be answering questions about her novel Tin Man.

Wednesday 24 May at 1300 at BBC Broadcasting House in London
Mary Lawson on Crow Lake

Nadifa Mohamed joins James Naughtie and readers to talk about her award-winning novel The Fortune Men. Set in Cardiff in the 1950s, the novel is based on the real-life trial of Mahmood Mattan, a Somali seaman accused of murder. It's a powerful, moving read and a dazzling portrait of a proud, bewildered young man and his life in Cardiff's Tiger Bay.


Upcoming recordings:

15 March at 1830 at BBC Broadcasting House, London: Tan Twan Eng will be answering questions about his novel The Garden of Evening Mists.

19 April at 1300 at BBC Broadcasting House, London: Sarah Winman on her novel Tin Man

Email bookclub@bbc.co.uk to come along.

James Naughtie and a group of readers talk to Cal Flyn about her acclaimed book, Islands of Abandonment, an exploration of places which have been reclaimed by nature. She talks about her travels to Cyprus, the Orkney Islands, First World War battlefields in France, and beyond, chronicling the fightback that plants have staged once humans have left. She reveals why finding hope in even the most desolate places is important to her, and why it's ok to leave lawns unmown.

Our next recordings are both in-person events at BBC Broadcasting House in London.

16 February 2023 at 18.30 Nadifa Mohamed will be answering questions about The Fortune Men.

15 March 2023 at 1830 Tan Twan Eng on The Garden of Evening Mists

To come along and take part, email bookclub@bbc.co.uk

Historian Ross King answers listener questions about his book Brunelleschi's Dome. An incredible story of one man's determination to build an apparently impossible structure, it's a tale of ingenuity, artistic rivalries, and single-minded obsession. Although building had started on Florence's Santa Maria del Fiore in the late thirteenth century, it wasn't until 1418 that local goldsmith Filippo Brunelleschi came up with an audacious way of constructing the magnificent dome, which still dominates the Florence skyline today. But as Brunelleschi's Dome reveals, the architect faced huge obstacles and opposition along the way.

Our next Bookclub recordings:

18/01/23: Cal Flyn will be talking about her book, Islands of Abandonment. 1300 at BBC Broadcasting House, London.

16/02/23: Nadifa Mohamed on The Fortune Men. 1830 at BBC Broadcasting House, London

Email bookclub@bbc.co.uk to send in a question, or come along.

James Naughtie is joined by writer A J Pearce and a group of listeners, as she answers their questions about her bestselling novel Dear Mrs Bird. Set in London in the 1940s, it’s the story of Emmy who has ambitions to be an intrepid war reporter, but instead finds herself working as a secretary on the agony aunt pages of an old-fashioned women’s magazine. Her main duty is opening and sorting the post but Emmy just can't resist sharing her opinions...
Dear Mrs Bird is a funny, heart-warming novel which does not shy away from the true horrors of war.

Our next Bookclub recordings:

Ross King, on 8th December. He'll be taking us to Italy with his book Brunelleschi's Dome. To take part, in person or online, email bookclub@bbc.co.uk

1300 on 18 January at BBC Broadcasting House: Cal Flyn on Islands of Abandonment. email bookclub@bbc.co.uk to come along