Lit with Charles

Charles Pignal
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Lit with Charles

Welcome to Lit With Charles, a podcast on all things literary! I'm Charles Pignal, and every fortnight I’m asking guests about the four books which have made the biggest impact on their lives and work. If you're like me, you love literature – but maybe aren't always sure what you should be reading. The aim of this podcast is to make literature exciting and accessible; in each episode writers, artists, and other interesting people are giving real recommendations, to help you discover new books and authors off the beaten track. Here at Lit With Charles, every book has a story to tell.

  1. 2 天前

    Rachel Cockerell, author of "Melting Point"

    In today’s episode I have the pleasure of speaking with Rachel Cockerell, a London-based author, whose first foray into writing began as a family memoir, and evolved into a remarkable and innovative work of historical non-fiction called Melting Point. Melting Point is a great 2024 release from Headline, and will be coming out in Spring of 2025 in the States. The book was longlisted for the 2024 Baillie Gifford Prize, and explores the origins of the Zionist movement, and one of its particular, little-known chapters – the Galveston Plan.  Most interestingly, perhaps, is the structure – it’s a polyphonic blend of primary sources and texts, which she splices to build a story arc. The book is an absolutely fascinating read that touches on identity, belonging, and the search for a place to call home. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and would strongly recommend it. Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading! Rachel Cockerell’s four books were: Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert (2015) Lincoln in the Bardo, George Saunders (2017) The Old Ways, Robert Macfarlane (2012) Golden Hill, Francis Spufford (2016)

    51 分鐘

  2. 2024/12/16

    The Best Books I've Read This Year

    Well, we’ve made it to the end of 2024. I love putting together this list each December because it forces me to look back on a year of reading, try to create some order out of the chaos, and figure out what it is about the stories that I came across that I did and didn’t appreciate. Some books were clear losers. But some took me on crazy journeys, which I knew from the first few pages would stay with me long after the story was finished. I don’t want to spoil my picks here, so I’m not going to say what they are – you’ll have to listen to the episode for that! However, I can say that in the mix are a crime novel turned Hollywood classic, a powerful piece on colonialism, and an emotional contemporary book about addiction and artistry. So without further ado, here are my top five books for 2024 – and I look forward to seeing you all in 2025! Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading!

    36 分鐘

  3. 2024/12/02

    Lionel Barber, author of "The Gambling Man"

    There’s something about the idea of a ‘genius’ that has always captivated us. Whether it’s the artist painting their masterpiece or the entrepreneur betting on the future, we’re captivated by people who seem to see the world differently – and stake everything on that vision. While Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos might be household names, there’s one figure who I’d argue is even more fascinating: the maverick billionaire investor and founder of SoftBank, Masayoshi Son. Equal parts visionary and gambler, Masa as he’s more commonly known has built an empire on being an early investor in companies like Alibaba, Yahoo and Uber. My guest today is Lionel Barber. Lionel is an acclaimed journalist and author, best known for his 15-year tenure as Editor-in-Chief at the Financial Times. A veteran reporter, over the course of his career he has conducted interviews with a real ‘who’s who’ of the international stage, including Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel, Barack Obama, Donald Trump. His recent book, Gambling Man: The Wild Ride of Japan’s Masayoshi Son, takes readers on a journey through the life and business ventures of one of the tech world’s most thrilling figures. The book is a great read, and I strongly recommend it for anyone who’s interested in business, tech, or international affairs. It was such a pleasure to have the opportunity to sit down with Lionel and pick his brains, and I’m very pleased to be able to share our conversation with you. Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading! Lionel Barber’s four books were: Doctor Faustus, Thomas Mann (1947) The Maltese Falcon, Dashiell Hammett (1930) Present At The Creation, Dean Acheson (1969) Pachinko, Min Jin Lee (2017)

    42 分鐘

  4. 2024/11/18

    Susanna Crossman, author of "Home is Where We Start"

    The memoir is a fascinating form to explore. I’m always intrigued as to how an author can adapt their life and fit it into the confines of a page. How does one capture all its complexities, contradictions, and fleeting moments, in a narrative that feels both honest and coherent? My guest today is Susanna Crossman, a British-French writer, essayist, and clinical arts therapist, who has just published Home is Where We Start with Penguin Random House. The book is her own account of growing up in ‘the fallout of the Utopian Dream’ – in a politically revolutionary Community in the late 1970s. In the fascinating work, she blends memoir and social commentary, weaving philosophical ideas into the wider narrative of her own experiences with community and disillusionment. It was great talking with Susanna today, and I’m so pleased to be able to share her insightful, nuanced thoughts about literature in general. Susanna has recently started a Substack, which you can check out here. Susanna Crossman’s four books were: On The Banks of Plum Creek, Laura Ingalls Wilder (1937) The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Milan Kundera (1984) Memoirs of Hadrian, Marguerite Yourcenar (1951) What is Ancient Philosophy?, Pierre Hadot (1995) Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading!

    45 分鐘

  5. 2024/11/04

    Arthur Larrue, author of "La Diagonale Alekhine"

    So this episode is a bit unusual for a variety of reasons. First of all, it’s with a good friend of mine – novelist Arthur Larrue. As you might have guessed from his name, though, Arthur Larrue is French and this entire interview is conducted in French. So unless you speak French, or are trying to test your linguistic abilities, this episode might not be the one for you. However, if you are a fellow Francophone, join me for a lively and insightful chat with an author who has navigated both the clandestine world of anarchist squats in Saint-Petersburg and the literary splendor of Russian novels. From the whiskey-fueled brilliance of Faulkner to the modernist zest of Apollinaire, and the revolutionary writings of Jean-Patrick Manchette, this episode is a whirlwind tour through the minds and lives of literary greats. Tune in for a fun and thought-provoking discussion – and if not, see you next time instead. Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading!

    47 分鐘

  6. 2024/10/21

    Mid-Season Episode: 10 Questions for Charles

    Welcome to this very special episode of the Lit With Charles podcast, where instead of interviewing an interesting guest, I’m actually responding to 10 listeners’ burning questions! Today, you’ll get to hear about my earliest memory of falling in love with reading, and how Stephen King's thrilling tales resonated in  my pre-teen years. I’ll be spilling the beans on why Roberto Bolaño's 'The Savage Detectives' didn't click for me, and chatting about my scepticism around 'must-read' lists – like those ones that crop up from Barack Obama and the New York Times. Also on the menu: the recent Nobel Prize announcement, and the shock disclosure of which one single classic novel fails to impress me – it’s a cultural favourite, and I think it might be a controversial pick. I even manage to touch on my Instagram book review origins (a collection of COVID-19 quarantine updates that went viral) and the shape of this book-loving ecosystem that we’ve built as a community. It's a roller-coaster of reflections, confessions, and some good old fashioned literary nostalgia. Let's jump in! Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading!

    47 分鐘

  7. 2024/10/07

    Vanessa Beaumont, author of "The Other Side of Paradise"

    Today I sat down with Vanessa Beaumont, a former literary agent and novelist about her debut novel The Other Side of Paradise which follows Jean Buckman, a young American newspaper heiress, who arrives in London in the glittering 1920s, and evolves throughout the story, through personal tragedy and loss. Over the course of the story, we watch her grapple with the pressures of mid-Century society on a woman, what it means to do one’s duty, and the pull of desire in the face of it all. It’s kind of a Downtown Abbey meets Francis Scott Fitzgerald, with a modern feminist perspective As always, Vanessa picked the four books which have had the biggest impact on her as both a reader and a writer, and we also discussed her career trajectory. Before publishing The Other Side of Paradise, Vanessa spent 8 years as a Commissioning Editor at Short Books, and co-founded and ran a literary agency, so it was fascinating to get some insights from that. It was such a great conversation, and as always, such a pleasure talking with Vanessa. Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading! Vanessa Beaumont’s four books were: Little Women, Louisa May Alcott (1868) The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton (1920) Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh (1945) Tender is the Night, F Scott Fitzgerald (1934)

    39 分鐘

  8. 2024/09/23

    Eric Chacour, author of "What I Know About You"

    Today I sat down with Éric Chacour, a Canadian novelist born to Egyptian parents, to discuss his stunning debut novel. What I Know About You has captivated readers in its original French, winning the prestigious Prix Femina des Lycéens, and been translated into numerous languages, and with Pablo Strauss’ 2024 translation, now makes its grand entrance into the English-speaking world. Eric's novel, which he spent 10 years working on before it was published in 2023, is a richly woven tapestry of family, love, loss, and the queer identity. Set against the backdrop of a changing Egypt, the story shines a light on the tension between personal desires and cultural expectations, offering readers a nuanced look at what it means to belong in different settings. In this episode, as always, Eric has selected for us the four books which have most strongly influenced his life and literary journey – from tales of mysterious libraries to the adventures of dashing heroes. But, we also spend some time getting to grips with Eric's creative process, the inspirations behind his storytelling, and what it means to write a novel that crosses both geographical and emotional borders. I was so interested to learn about his path to becoming a novelist, from youthful inspiration to the sometimes challenging reality of life as a published author, and how Canadian national treasure Celine Dion fits into the picture. This was a great chat, and I’ve definitely come away from it with my mind expanded.  Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading! Eric Chacour’s four books were: The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafón (2001) The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas (1844) Promise at Dawn, Romain Gary (1960) The Orphan Muses, Michel Marc Bouchard (1989)

    42 分鐘
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簡介

Welcome to Lit With Charles, a podcast on all things literary! I'm Charles Pignal, and every fortnight I’m asking guests about the four books which have made the biggest impact on their lives and work. If you're like me, you love literature – but maybe aren't always sure what you should be reading. The aim of this podcast is to make literature exciting and accessible; in each episode writers, artists, and other interesting people are giving real recommendations, to help you discover new books and authors off the beaten track. Here at Lit With Charles, every book has a story to tell.

資訊

  • 創作者
    Charles Pignal
  • 活躍年代
    2023年 - 2025年
  • 集數
    70
  • 年齡分級
    兒少適宜
  • 版權
    © Charles Pignal
  • 節目網站
    Lit with Charles

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