Simon Mayo's Books Of The Year

In a (sort of) music special, journalist and broadcaster Mark Kermode and former Home Secretary Alan Johnson talk us through their new memoirs - which focus on their fledgling music careers, stolen instruments and failed bands.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week's guests answer a quickfire Q&A on their reading habits including what book do you remember being read to you as a child? Is there a book on your shelf that you love and no-one else does? Is there a book you have used to impress a potential partner? And the book you would love to step inside of…  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

John Boyne is one of a rare breed of authors who actually enjoy writing. He has written 11 adult novels - as in novels for adults, rather than the fruity kind. And 5 for young readers. His latest A Ladder To The Sky focuses on the life of an author who will stop at nothing for fame, adulation and respect. Shaun Usher is the writer and sole custodian of the popular blogs lettersofnote.com, listsofnote.com and speechesofnote.com. As a result, he spends much of his life hunting down words he’d like to share. His books, Letters of Note; Lists of Note and More Letters of Note, were all published to widespread acclaim and became international bestsellers. His latest offering is Speeches of Note, which includes addresses The Queen and Richard Nixon were to give if Armstrong and Aldrin were stranded on the Moon - or World War 3 began.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A taster of our next pod featuring authors John Boyne and Shaun Usher  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kate joins Simon and Matt to chat about her new release Transcription. It tells the story of Juliet Armstrong, who is recruited as a young woman by an obscure wartime department. In the aftermath of war she joins the BBC, where her life begins to unravel. Kate won the Whitbread Book of the Year prize with her first novel, Behind the Scenes at the Museum.Her four bestselling novels featuring former detective Jackson Brodie became the BBC television series Case Histories, starring Jason Isaacs. Her 2013 novel Life After Life won the South Bank Sky Arts Literature Prize, was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize, and voted Book of the Year for the independent booksellers associations on both sides of the Atlantic. It also won the Costa Novel Award, as did her subsequent novel A God in Ruins (2015).  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sebastian is invited in to chat about his latest novel Paris Echo - plus an excellent Q&A about his reading habits. Best known for the French trilogy, The Girl at the Lion d'Or, Birdsong and Charlotte Gray (1989-1997) Faulks was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1993 and appointed CBE for services to literature in 2002. In Paris Echo he deals with questions of empire, grievance and identity in a city in which every building seems to hold the echo of an unacknowledged past, the shadows of Vichy and Algeria.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Carnegie Medal winning author Melvin Burgess (The YA-Father!) on his latest book The Lost Witch. Plus twice named Sportswriter of the Year Michael Calvin on his new book State of Play - addressing areas of football which are not on the back pages.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Manda Scott and Tracy Borman are the first to face our author Q&A. Manda has written A Treachery of Spies, focusing on the French Resistance. And Tracy's debut novel A King's Witch is set in the reign of James  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A historical fiction special! Manda Scott has written A Treachery of Spies, focusing on the French Resistance. And Tracy Borman's fiction debut is The King's Witch, set during the reign of James I.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Simon and Matt work their way through a book questionnaire...covering crying when reading, books as gifts, being read to as a child and much more. You can join in on their conversation on twitter @booksoftheyear or email booksoftheyear@yahoo.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Former SAS/SBS hero Ant Middleton talks about his time in the Special Forces, alongside DB John whose latest thriller is set inside present day North Korea. Plus your letters, reviews, suggestions... and a remarkable poem from a youngster  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Your reviews, letters and suggestions  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Simon and Matt are joined by Louis De Bernieres - the multi million selling author of Captain Corelli's Mandolin, to discuss his new novel So Much Life Left Over. Also in the studio is President Obama's speech writer Ben Rhodes to talk about his memoir The World As It Is. Plus your letters, reviews and Bros.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Simon and Matt discuss forthcoming guests and their books, to give you a chance to have a read in advance of their appearances.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Simon and Matt are joined by Robbie Williams to discuss his memoir Reveal. And crime fiction legend Lynda La Plante talks about the enduring success of Widows. Plus a story about a balloon that will make you cry. You can follow us on twitter @booksoftheyear  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.