Clare Hobba discusses two books that make the connection between wildlife and the environment: "Vesper Flights" by Helen Macdonald and "Wilding" by Isabella Tree.

Talking about books

Wildlife and the environment

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 Butcher.

Beware the killer plants!

Local writer and teacher Clare Hobba tells Rob Pearman why she wanted to talk about Man Booker 2018 prize winner 'Milkman' by Anna Burns.

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'

Lincoln in the Bardo

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....

The Lewis Man by Peter May

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.

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

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).

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

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.  Rob Pearman was glad to have been reminded about this writer's great skill, especially when he realised that he had never actually read [...]

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Jill Burridge discusses Kate Atkinson’s novel “Life after Life” with Talking Newspaper listener Dr Marie Freeman. Extracts by courtesy of Calibre Audio.

Life after Life by Kate Atkinson

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.

The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene

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 intelligence officer, faces a terrorist threat as well as the patronising sexist attitude of her MI6 partner.   This discussion includes extracts from the audiobook [...]

At Risk by Stella Rimington

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 life of a centenarian who escapes from a home, it has been translated into some 35 languages, selling over a million copies in [...]

The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonassan.

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 lack of interest in such a famous writer.

Halloween Party by Agatha Christie

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 recalls a production of the play based on this novel which was produced at the Abbey Theatre a few years ago.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

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 2016.)

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Talking about books

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