Rté - The Book Show

Kevin Power talks about ‘White City’, his second novel. Aifric O’Connell looks at what happens when novels go out of copyright. With Bob Dylan turning 80, Liam MacNally has put together a very timely collection entitled ‘Happy Birthday Mr Bob' And a selection of book clubs share their recommended reads.

Louise Nealon’s ‘Snowflake’ is one of the most anticipated debut novels of the year, but ‘pressure is for tyres’ she says. Breda Brown is in studio to look at the genre of Irish historical fiction. Anne Griffin returns to The Book Show to answer questions from The Vine Club about her brand new second novel, ‘Listening Still

Fíona Scarlett talks about the surprising moment of inspiration for her debut novel ‘Boys Don’t Cry’. Aifric O’Connell has some very useful ‘tips and recs’ for getting back into the habit of reading. The Bookmarks Book Club in Dublin have several questions for Conor O’Clery about ‘The Shoemaker and his Daughter’ and other things besides.

Not one to make life easy for himself, Jon McGregor set about trying to write interestingly about the vast, white and relatively featureless landscape of Antarctica. Breda Brown investigates the growth in ‘Northern Noir’. 'Reading Between the Wines' book club have questions for Catriona Ward, author of 'The Last House on Needless Street'.

With Nomadland the film getting all the plaudits we speak to investigative journalist Jessica Bruder who wrote the original book detailing the lives of these modern economic nomads. John Boyne answers questions from the Bafllrs Book Club about his novel 'The Heart's Invisible Furies' and Aifric O'Connell takes a look at dystopian fiction.

Max Porter talks about The Death of Francis Bacon. Dr Aoife Bhreatnach is reading Ireland's formerly banned books to hunt out the filth, the muck and the downright indecent. Joseph O’Connor answers questions from the Charlie Byrne’s Book Club in Galway city about his novel Shadowplay.

Louise Kennedy reflects on rave reviews and being an inspiration for other women who have come to writing later in life. Catherine Ryan Howard says that crime fiction has no obligation to reality. Emer McLysaght answers questions (on behalf of Sarah Breen and herself) about Oh My God What A Complete Aisling!

Neil Jordan discusses 'The Ballad of Lord Edward and Citizen Small'. The Fingal Libraries Online Book Club puts the questions to Rónán Hession about 'Leonard and Hungry Paul'. Aifric O'Connell looks at some of the best plot twists in contemporary fiction.

Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Liz Nugent, Michael Harding, Catherine Ryan Howard, Mike McCormack, Elaine Feeney, Patrick Freyne & Anna Carey join with book clubs from around the country to say goodbye to 2020. Phew.

With the huge success of Champagne Football, Mark Tighe talks about it and the inspiration he found in All The President's Men. The Best Book Club EVER (that's its name) in Mallow, Co Cork ask Maggie O'Farrell about Hamnet. And Stefanie Preissner looks at what the books we choose for others says about how we see them.

Helen Cullen talks about lack of the representation of ‘The Irish Mammy’ in fiction and insights gained from her own novel ‘The Truth Must Dazzle Gradually’. Chris Whitaker answers questions from the Readin’ & Feedin’ Book Club in Drogheda, Co Louth about his novel ‘We Begin At The End’. Stefanie Preissner has a bone to pick about cop clichés.

With Big Girl, Small Town shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award, Michelle Gallen talks about small-town Ireland. Doireann Ní Ghríofa answers questions from the Wicklow Women’s Book Club about ‘A Ghost in the Throat’, the Irish non-fiction book of the year at the An Post Irish Book Awards.

John Banville tells us why we need to read Hubert Butler. Stefanie Preissner has a wish-list of books she would like to read...once they have been written, that is. And the Giant’s Causeway Book Club put their questions to Sarah Crossan about her novel One.

From The Haunting of Hill House to a terraced one in East Belfast, Jan Carson will look at terrorising of the domestic space and the legacy of Shirley Jackson. Stefanie Preissner navigates the blurred lines between fact and fiction. And the Bitchin' Book Club in Dublin will be put their questions to Louise O’Neill, about her novel Asking For It.

On this edition of The Book Show...when Jack becomes Jacqueline: we’re talking gender-swapped fairytales. Stefanie Preissner has reached 'peak memoir' and she should know she’s written two, The Book Movie Whiskey Album Club in Limerick city can’t wait to get stuck into John Connell’s The Cow Book.

Bookseller and author Shaun Bythell talks about The Seven Kinds of People You Find in Bookshops. We will take a look at the role of suspense in fiction, and the Tanyard Lane Book Club, Tullamore, Co Offaly quiz Anne Griffin, the Irish Book Awards Newcomer of the Year 2019 about her novel, ‘When All Is Said’.

On this edition of the Book Show: a possible culture clash as teachers in Kerry question Paul Howard about Ross O’Carroll Kelly, Stefanie Preissner has tips to finally tackle that ever increasing pile of books marked ‘to be read’ and writer Jenny Offill talks about trying to be funny about climate crisis...and life in the US in general.

Children's author and screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce spells out why children's books are so important and why they should be afforded more respect. Sara Baume will be quizzed by the Mannan Castle Book Club from Co Monaghan about her novel 'spill simmer falter wither'

With publishing pioneer Lennie Goodings of Virago & Donal Ryan.

Best selling thriller author Michael Connelly on how he solved his own problem writing during this pandemic in an eerily quiet Los Angeles. We look at how bookshops might function when they reopen, hear from a first time author who has yet to see her debut novel in an actual shop & book clubs recommend some of their favourite reads for the summer.