Book Talk

Book Talk: The Death of Lomond Friel by Sue Peebles

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:18:17 +0000

Paul Gallagher is joined by journalist Chitra Ramaswamy to review Scottish writer Sue Peebles' debut novel The Death of Lomond Friel. The story centres on Rosie Friel, an Edinburgh Radio presenter and minor Scottish celebrity, and how her life, and the lives of her family members, are affected when her dad Lomond has a stroke.

PODCAST CONTENTS

00:00-01:12 Introduction & competition

01:15-16:56 Discussion of The Death of Lomond Friel

17:04-22:37 Related Recommendations; next month's book; conclusion

PODCAST CONTENTS
00:00-01:12 Introduction & competition

01:15-16:56 Discussion of The Death of Lomond Friel

17:04-22:37 Related Recommendations; next month's book; conclusion

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Book Talk: A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:35:41 +0000

Paul Gallagher is joined by The Scotsman features writer Lee Randall and freelance journalist and books blogger Nicola Balkind to discuss Jennifer Egan’s 2011 Pulitzer Prize-winner A Visit from the Goon Squad, as well as choosing some related reading recommendations.

Driven less by a progressing narrative or a central character than by several overriding themes - passing time, changing relationships and the nature of the music industry to name a few – A Visit from the Goon Squad investigates these themes through 13 distinct chapters, each of which focuses on a different character, all of whom are in some way connected to each other.

PODCAST CONTENTS

00:00-01:18 Introduction

01:23-18:31 In-depth discussion of A Visit from the Goon Squad

18:40-25:04 Brief discussion of criticisms and influences on Goon Squad

25:08-29:00 Related Recommendations; next month's book; conclusion

Book Talk Extra: John Burnside full Glister interview

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:41:38 +0000

John Burnside is a Scottish novelist and poet of considerable acclaim – he won the Forward poetry prize for his collection Black Cat Bone in October this year, and his latest novel, A Summer of Drowning, is on the shortlist for the current Costa Fiction prize. Book Talk's Paul Gallagher sat down with him to discuss themes and ideas in his novel Glister, and the far-reaching discussion that followed covers Burnisde's politics, perspectives on faith, writing, reading and much more. You can read an edited selection of his answers here, or stay on this page to listen to the full unedited interview.

Book Talk: Glister by John Burnside

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 09:41:25 +0000

Paul Gallagher is joined by The Skinny magazine's books editor Keir Hind and BookRiot.com founding contributor Edd McCracken to discuss John Burnside's 2008 novel Glister, a dark and imaginative novel, rooted in Scottish identity and full of ambiguity. It's an engaging, opinionated discussion - let us know whether you agree or disagree with our guests' perspectives by adding your comments to this page.

PODCAST CONTENTS:

00:00-15:17 Introduction; Glister discussion

15:22-26:22 *SPOILERS* In-depth discussion about key scenes and the ending of Glister

26:27-30:40 Related Recommendations; next month's book; conclusion

Book Talk: Lyrics Alley by Leila Aboulela

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:14:57 +0000

A family saga, a continent-spanning narrative and a backdrop of huge cultural and political change. Leila Aboulela's award-winning novel Lyrics Alley goes under the Book Talk microscope this month, as host Paul Gallagher is joined by Roland Gulliver and Anna Burkey to discuss and dissect the book, as well as suggesting their related recommendations.

Podcast contents:

00:00-11:28 Introduction and Lyrics Alley review

11:31-28:13 In-depth Lyrics Alley discussion (plot spoilers)

28:22-35:13 Related recommendations; next month's book

Podcast contents:

00:00-11:28 Introduction and Lyrics Alley review

11:31-28:13 In-depth Lyrics Alley discussion (plot spoilers)

28:22-35:13 Related recommendations; next month's book

Book Talk: The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:32:01 +0100

Download the podcast (mp3)

Listen to host Paul Gallagher and guests Pauline McLean and Rachel McCabe discussing The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai, and suggesting their related recommendation titles. Join the conversation and add your own thoughts on Book Talk's Twitter and Facebook pages.

Podcast contents:

00:00-17:09 The Borrower review discussion

17:14-27:19 More in-depth Borrower chat (some spoilers)

27:25-34:10 Related recommendations; next month's book

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