Local people discuss classic and new fiction, including extracts from the audiobooks.
One of a series of publications by the British Library, ‘Crawling Horror – Creeping Tales of the Insect Weird’ is edited by Daisy Butcher and Janette Leaf, respectively postgraduate researchers at Her…
Clare Hobba discusses two books that make the connection between wildlife and the environment: “Vesper Flights” by Helen Macdonald and “Wilding” by Isabella Tree.
A special for Halloween week – tales of man eating plants, killer orchids, trees looking for revenge and more botanical Gothic tales – as collected for her new anthology by local researcher Daisy Butc…
Local writer and teacher Clare Hobba tells Rob Pearman why she wanted to talk about Man Booker 2018 prize winner ‘Milkman’ by Anna Burns.
Rob Pearman tells regular reviewer Debbie Heath why he chose George Saunders’ Man Booker prize winning novel ‘Lincoln in the Bardo’ for this edition in the series ‘Talking about Books and Audiobooks’
Val Page introduces Rob Pearman to the work of prolific Scottish writer Peter May. The Lewis Man begins with the discovery of a body buried in the peat….
Local author of fiction for children, Camilla Chester, discusses the first of Hilary Mantel’s planned trilogy about Thomas Cromwell with Local Life host Rob Pearman.
Regular reviewer, Debbie Heath, tells Rob Pearman why she recommends Gail Honeyman’s first novel ‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine’ (with excerpts from the audiobook).
Debbie Heath chose Daphne du Maurier’s famous novel ‘Rebecca’ as a topic for this series of conversations because it has become a favourite, not least owing to its intricate language and structure. R…
Jill Burridge discusses Kate Atkinson’s novel “Life after Life” with Talking Newspaper listener Dr Marie Freeman. Extracts by courtesy of Calibre Audio.
Graham Greene’s powerful novel – one of many by this Berkhampstead-bred writer – is set in anti-clerical, socialist Mexico in the 1920s. Val Page tells Rob Pearman why she chose this title.
Local author of children’s fiction, Camilla Chester, discusses with Rob Pearman “At Risk” the first spy/crime thriller written by Stella Rimington, former Head of MI5. In this novel, Liz Carlyle, MI5…
Rob Pearman talks with Val Page about this strangely titled – and very amusing – first novel by Swedish journalist and writer, Jonas Jonassan. Telling the story of the incredible adventures in the li…
Deborah Heath discusses one of Agatha Christie’s ‘murder mysteries’ and sets it in the context of the author’s many other works of fiction, and tries to persuade Rob Pearman to overcome his previous l…
Regular Local Life reviewer Terry Prince discusses Dickens’ novel about the French Revolution, exploring with Rob Pearman both the strong and dynamic narrative and the range of characters. He also re…
Deborah Heath talks with Rob Pearman about the first volume of Roald Dahl’s biography and traces some of his later fictional characters in strange people he encountered in his childhood. (Recorded in…
