The Book Club

Live in the 4ZZZ studios, Jeet Thayil reads the opening of his lyrical novel - Narcopolis. You can check out our interview with Jeet here. Originally broadcast on The Book Club on 06/09/2012

Jeet Thayil is an accomplished poet, musician and journalist and his debut novel Narcopolis has recently been announced on the Man Booker longlist. It's an examination of intoxication, a history of a Bombay rarely seen in popular culture. Focused on an Opium Den on Shuklaji St, it weaves in and out of the lives of people who are in many ways defined by that space and its drugs. Course and vicious and philosophical and lyrical it's a book rich with symbolism and stunningly written. Sky had a chance to chat with Jeet about the freedom of addiction, the sad transformation of Bombay and the other potential title for the book "St Dimple". Originally broadcast on The Book Club on 06/09/2012, Narcopolis is out now through Allen & Unwin.

Born in Scotland, Barry Maitland moved to Australia in 1984 where he became a Professor of Architecture with the University of Newcastle. In 1994, he published his first book - The Marx Sisters - in what would become the Brock and Kolla novels. A highly succesful series of crime stories, following Kathy Kolla and David Brock, detectives at New Scotland Yard. He won the Ned Kelly award for crime writing in 1996 for his book The Malcontenta, and has been shortlisted 5 times since. His latest work Chelsea Mansions came out last year and Allen & Unwin have also just re-released his third novel - All My Enemies. Barry joined Sky in the studio to talk about Brock and Kolla, the impact of place and setting on a story and the joys of exploring a diverse range of interests and hobbies, all in the name of keeping the writing real. The interview was originally broadcast on The Book Club on 30/08/2012

Chris Turney is a British-Australian scientist who has published several books on science and climate change. His new book, 1912: The Year the World Discovered Antarctica, delves into the history of Antarctic scientific research and exploration. One hundred years ago, five different expeditions from teams around the globe headed to Antarctica in hopes of reaching the South Pole for the first time, mapping unknown territory and making a contribution to science. On the centenary of these historic expeditions, Chris Turney's book highlights the dramatic stories of these scientists and adventurers. Grace chatted with Chris about the many expeditions, the struggles they encountered and punching penguins in the face for fun and profit. Originally broadcast on The Book Club on 30/08/2012. 1912 is out now through Text.

Grace catches up with Benjamin Law and finds out all about his new book Gaysia: Adventures in the Queer East. From the homosexuality-curing properties of special yoga to providing sex education in Burma or going behind the scenes at a Thai ladyboy beauty contest, this is a rollicking conversation. Originally broadcast on 23/08/2012. Gaysia is out now through Black Inc.

Grace chats with Melbourne author Ruby J Murray about her debut novel Running Dogs, politics and rebellion in Indonesia, expat life, fairy tales and mythology. Originally broadcast on 23/08/2012. Running Dogs is out through Scribe.

Sky sits down with the Queensland Poetry Festival Manager, Sarah Gory, and Angela Rawlings, the Arts Queensland Poet In Residence. They discuss the upcoming festival, the state of poetry in Australia and the differences in perception towards the art around the world. Originally broadcast on 23/08/2012.

Amy talks to Venero Armanno about his unsettling new novel Black Mountain, the history and potential of eugenics, hero's journeys, and creating stories within stories. First broadcast 16/08/2012. Black Mountain is available now through UQP.

Grace talks to 21-year-old British-Nigerian author Chibundu Onuzo about her debut novel The Spider King's Daughter, Nigerian and British pop music, writing characters from very different walks of life, and breaking into the literary world as a young writer. Originally broadcast on The Book Club on 16 August 2012. The Spider King's Daughter is a dramatic tale about the social and political divide between wealth and poverty in contemporary Lagos. It's out now through Allen & Unwin.

Sky talks to Arnold Zable about his new book, Violin Lessons, the effect of music on language, the power of the word and different forms of first person. Originally broadcast on The Book Club on 11/08/2011.

Sky chats with BWF director Jane O'Hara about the upcoming festival, particularly some of her highlights and the reason behind the Eastern Pacific focus in this year's program. Originally broadcast on 09/08/2012, the Brisbane Writers Festival is on from the 5th to the 9th of September.

Sky talks to Jim Hearn about his debut memoir High Season, the stresses of the hospitality industry, the ups and downs of heroin and completing his PhD in creative writing. Originally broadcast on The Book Club on 09/08/2012. High Season is available now through Allen & Unwin.

Live in the 4ZZZ studios, Susan Johnson reads a passage from her new novel My Hundred Lovers, in which the narrator meditates on the sense memory of eating a good croissant. Check out our interview with Susan Johnson as well. Originally broadcast on The Book Club, 26 July 2012.

Grace chats to Melbourne Writers Festival director Steve Grimwade about the writers, philosophers and journalists appearing at this year's festival, a literary tribute to David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust, and being mistaken for Joss Whedon.

Grace chats to Susan Johnson about her new novel My Hundred Lovers, sex, death, and the perfect croissant. Listen to Susan Johnson reading a passage from My Hundred Lovers here. Originally broadcast on The Book Club on 26 July 2012.