Bookclub BBC Radio 4

Donal Ryan discusses his book The Spinning Heart with a group of readers, It's a powerful, moving novel told through twenty one individual voices. Set in Ireland in the immediate aftermath of the Celtic Tiger 'boom' years, each character reveals how the sudden and dramatic 'bust' affected their lives. At the centre is Bobby Mahon, once a respected and reliable foreman for a building company who suddenly loses his job when the firm's owner disappears overnight.
Presenter: James Naughtie
Producer: Nicola Holloway
Upcoming recordings:
13 December at 1830 at BBC Broadcasting House, London - Elly Griffiths is our guide to The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
24 January 2024 at 1830 at BBC Broadcasting House, London - Graeme Macrae Burnet discusses His Bloody Project
Email bookclub@bbc.co.uk to take part.

Katherine Heiny answers readers questions about Standard Deviation, her hilarious novel about marriage, parenting and the road not travelled. Audra is married to Graham, who is divorced from Elspeth. While Audra is sociable, loving, outspoken, tactless, kind and funny, Elspeth is contained, reserved, controlled and reticent. Despite loving Audra, Graham begins to wonder if his life should have taken a different path.
Katherine Heiny reveals the real-life moments that inspired the book, her love of the funny side of life and why she can never pass up on writing a good joke.
Upcoming recordings at BBC Broadcasting House, London
Wednesday 15 November at 1300 - Donal Ryan on The Spinning Heart
Wednesday 13 December at 1830 - Elly Griffiths is our guide to The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
Email bookclub@bbc.co.uk to take part.

Bernardine Evaristo joins James Naughtie and readers to discuss Mr Loverman, her 2013 novel about Barrington Walker, a married man with a secret life. Ever since his teens in Antigua, Barry has been in love with Morris and despite both men moving to London, marrying and having children, their love affair has never faltered. Now he’s in his seventies, Barry decides it’s time to tell the truth. It’s a funny, poetic, moving novel about love, family, prejudice and forgiveness.
Upcoming recordings, all at BBC Broadcasting House in London:
Thursday 12 October at midday - Katherine Heiny on Standard Deviation
Wednesday 15 November at 1300 - Donal Ryan on The Spinning Heart
Wednesday 13 December at 1830 - Crime Writer Elly Griffiths is our guide to The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins
Email bookclub@bbc.co.uk to take part.

James Naughtie is joined by Denise Mina to talk about her book The Long Drop. This intriguing true-crime story is set in 1950s Glasgow when notorious serial killer Peter Manuel spread fear throughout the city. The Long Drop alternates between Manuel's trial and a extraordinary night he spent with Glaswegian businessman William Watt, whose own family Peter Manuel was suspected of killing. Despite this, the two men form an unlikely alliance and tour the bars and dives of Glasgow together.
Recorded at The Portobello Bookshop in Edinburgh.
Upcoming recordings at BBC Broadcasting House in London:
21 September at 1300 - Bernardine Evaristo on Mr Loverman
12 October at 1200 noon - Katherine Heiny on Standard Deviation.
Email bookclub@bbc.co.uk to take part

Mick Herron answers readers' questions about his novel, Slow Horses, the first in his hugely popular Slough House series.
In it we meet the 'Slow Horses’ for the first time; failed spies who instead of being pensioned off, find themselves working in Slough House, near the Barbican in London. Here, they carry out menial administrative tasks of little or no importance, led by their offensive, vulgar boss Jackson Lamb. In this novel, the Slow Horses find themselves unexpectedly at the centre of the action.
Our next recordings:
Thursday 17th August: Denise Mina on her novel The Long Drop. 7pm at The Portobello Bookshop, Portobello, Edinburgh. (Free tickets are available via the Bookshop's website)
At BBC Broadcasting House, London:
Thursday 21 September at 1300 - Bernardine Evaristo on Mr Loverman
Thursday 12 October at 1200 noon - Katherine Heiny on Standard Deviation.
Email bookclub@bbc.co.uk to take part

To mark our 25th anniversary, Julian Barnes returns to Bookclub. He’s answering readers' questions about his Booker-shortlisted novel Arthur and George. It's based on real events and tells the story of Arthur Conan Doyle’s campaign to overturn the conviction of a young solicitor, George Edalji,
Upcoming recording:
Thursday 13 July 1830 at BBC Broadcasting House in London - Mick Herron on Slow Horses.
Thursday 17 August 1900 at The Portobello Bookshop in Edinburgh - Jenni Fagan on Luckenbooth