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Private Notes
Damian Barr is joined by Ian Rankin, Sara Collins and Ambrose Parry (aka Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman), with poet Richard Scott.
This week on The Big Scottish Book Club, writer Damian Barr (pictured) is in Perthshire at the Inchyra Arts Club and the theme is memoir. Maggie O'Farrell joins Damian to discuss her latest book, I Am, I Am, I Am, while Janice Galloway chats her about her memoir All Made Up. Rhik Samadder talks about his acclaimed debut I Never Said I Loved You. There is performance from Andrew McMillan with his poem, Glimpse.
Damian Barr is in Helensburgh talking funny with novelists John Niven, David Nicholls and Marian Keyes, and there is performance from short story writer Chris McQueer.
Damian Barr is in Helensburgh with crime writer Denise Mina, novelist Patrick Gale and chat show host turned author Graham Norton. There is also poetry from Inua Ellams.
This week's theme in The Big Scottish Book Club is memoir. Damian Barr's guests in Lanark Memorial Hall are Scottish comedian and internet sensation Janey Godley, who will be discussing her book Handstands In The Dark about her tough childhood in Glasgow's East End, and authors Lemn Sissay and Alexandra Heminsley, who discuss their respective personal stories about growing up in the care system, and radically changing family circumstances. There's poetry from Janette Ayachi, and this week's book group, who are celebrants from Clackmannanshire, tell Damian what they thought about Lemn Sissay's My Name Is Why.
Writer Damian Barr is at Lanark Memorial Hall with guests Neil Gaiman, Kirsty Logan and Dr Gavin Francis, and there’s poetry from Harry Josephine Giles. The theme of this week’s show is other worlds, both real and imagined, and our book group of the week give their verdict on Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book.
Writer Damian Barr is at Lanark Memorial Hall with guests Val McDermid, Richard Osman and Professor Dame Sue Black, and there is poetry from Iona Lee. This week's book group tell Damian what they thought about Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club.
Writer Damian Barr is at Lanark Memorial Hall with guests Kathleen Jamie, Amanda Thomson and Luke Turner, and there is poetry from Heather H Yeung. Damian and guests discuss their creative interpretations of the world around us and our relationship with the natural world, which has been heightened for many this year. There is poetry from Heather H Yeung and the Open Book Grassmarket book group from Edinburgh tell Damian what they thought about Kathleen Jamie's Antlers of Water.
Writer Damian Barr is at Hamilton Town House with guests Kate Mosse, Kirsty Wark and Graeme Macrae Burnet. This episode sees Damian and guests delve into the past, from 16th-century France to the Highlands in 1869 and a house full of secrets in 20th-century Galloway, as they discuss fact and fiction and the history they explore in their novels. There is poetry from Andrés Nicolás Ordorica, and this week's book group tell Damian what they thought of Kate Mosse's The Burning Chambers.
Writer Damian Barr is at Hamilton Town House to discuss class with guests Jessica Fellowes, Paul McVeigh and Graeme Armstrong. There is poetry from Courtney Stoddart, and this week's book group tell Damian what they thought of Graeme Armstrong's The Young Team.
Writer Damian Barr is at Hamilton Town House to discuss family secrets with guests Andrew O'Hagan, Juno Dawson and Sathnam Sanghera. There is poetry from Nadine Aisha Jassat and this week's book group tell Damian what they thought of Andrew O'Hagan's Mayflies.
Writer Damian Barr hosts this episode - the last of this series - from Hamilton Town House. From an intrepid pack of librarians on horseback to a brave and brilliant mother and a fictional pop star and protest queen, novelists Jojo Moyes and Kirstin Innes and American screenwriter Dustin Lance Black discuss the pure ‘gallus' characters at the heart of their books. There's poetry from Jenny Lindsay and this week's book group, who come from Edinburgh and West Lothian, tell Damian what they thought of Kirstin Innes' Scabby Queen.
Writer Damian Barr is at Motherwell Concert Hall with guests Louise Welsh, Sarah Perry and James Robertson. There is also spoken word performance from Mara Menzies, and this week's book group tell Damian what they thought of James Robertson's News of the Dead.
Writer Damian Barr is at Motherwell Concert Hall with guests Denise Mina, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and Hannah Lavery. There is also poetry from Len Pennie, and the National Museum Book Group from Edinburgh give their opinion on one of this week's reads.
Writer Damian Barr is at Motherwell Concert Hall discussing the power of stories with guests Bryony Gordon, Mohsin Zaidi and Darren McGarvey. There is poetry from Jeda Pearl, and the Durno book group give their thoughts on one of this week’s books.
Writer Damian Barr is at Motherwell Concert Hall talking families with guests Bobby Gillespie, Kirsty Capes and Séamas O'Reilly. There is poetry from Mae Diansangu, and the Lossiemouth Book Group give their verdict on one of this week's reads.
Writer Damian Barr is at Motherwell Concert Hall talking crime, murder and mayhem with writers Alan Johnson, Ian Rankin and Alan Parks. There is poetry from Nasim Rebecca Asl, and the Who Cares Scotland Book Group give their opinion on one of this week's reads.
Writer Damian Barr is at Troon Concert Hall talking memoirs with Miriam Margolyes, Jackie Kay and Pete Paphides. There is a spoken word performance from John Gerard Fagan, and the Sing in the City Book Group give their verdict on one of this week’s reads.
Writer Damian Barr is at Troon Concert Hall talking travel with guests Monisha Rajesh, Cal Flyn and Alan Warner. There is poetry from Michael Pedersen, and the Troon Book Group give their thoughts on one of this week’s reads.
Writer Damian Barr is at Troon Concert Hall talking short stories which reveal whole worlds with guests Bernard MacLaverty, Val McDermid and Kit de Waal. There is spoken word performance from Bee Asha Singh, and the Readers of Colour book group give their thoughts on one of this week’s reads.
Damian Barr chats to international best-selling novelist Kate Mosse about her love of Miss Marple and her new book, Warrior Queens and Quiet Revolutionaries. Bafta-winning actress Elaine C Smith shares the books she loves, and former police officer turned hit writer Karen Campbell discusses her latest novel, Paper Cup.
Damian Barr is joined by literary legend Armistead Maupin to discuss his classic Tales of the City series, Glasgow-based comedian Josie Long reveals the writers that inspire her, and sports commentator turned online sensation Andrew Cotter talks about his books Dog Days and Olive, Mabel and Me. The Edinburgh Gay Men's Book Group rate Scottish classic Trainspotting, by Irvine Welsh, and regulars at Portobello Bookshop give their recommended reads
Damian Barr chats to Booker-nominated author Graeme Macrae Burnet about his latest novel, Case Study, best-selling writer Denise Mina discusses her literary inspirations and new crime thriller Confidence, and broadcaster Stuart Cosgrove shares his love of soul music and his books Hey America! and Cassius X.
Damian Barr chats to best-selling writer Patrick Gale about his latest novel, Mother's Boy; footballing legend Pat Nevin talks about the books he loves and his memoir, Accidental Footballer; and award-winning journalist Chitra Ramaswamy discusses her story of a very special friendship, Homelands.
Damian Barr chats to guests Rachelle Atalla, Gavin Mitchell and Sarah Vaughan.
Damian Barr chats to Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Jennifer Egan about her latest novel, The Candy House; Deacon Blue front man and broadcaster Ricky Ross shares his favourite books and gives insight to his own memoir, Walking Back Home; and best-selling crime writer Mark Billingham discusses the latest offering in his Thorne series, The Murder Book. Meanwhile, readers at the Edinburgh International Book Festival rate Scottish classic The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson, and recommend some must-read books.
Damian Barr chats to comedian, actor and writer of the Young Bond series Charlie Higson about his new novel Whatever Gets You Through the Night; crime writer Ian Rankin shares his favourite books and the latest chapter in his Rebus series, Heart Full of Headstones; and writer Bethan Roberts discusses the film adaptation of her novel My Policeman. Meanwhile, crime fans at the Bloody Scotland festival give their thoughts on Scottish classic Laidlaw, by William McIlvanney, and recommend some spine-chilling reads.
Damian Barr chats to writer and radio presenter Reverend Richard Coles about his best-selling debut novel, Murder Before Evensong; award-winning writer and poet Lemn Sissay shares his favourite books; and musician and broadcaster Cerys Matthews reveals her love of Dylan Thomas and discusses her new adaptation of Under Milk Wood. The readers of St Boswell's share their thoughts on Scottish classic Trumpet, by Jackie Kay, and recommend the books they would give to a friend.
Damian Barr presents an Edinburgh International Book Festival special, with Judy Murray, Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead and Booker Prize winner Eleanor Catton
Damian Barr is joined by Shetland and Vera author Ann Cleeves to discuss her new novel, The Raging Storm. Lauren Lyle, star of the series Karen Pirie, reveals how she brings the Val McDermid character to life, and, on the 30th anniversary of Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh talks about the ITV crime series and his latest novel, The Long Knives. True crime podcasters rate Truman Capote classic In Cold Blood, and crime readers at the Shetland Noir Festival in Lerwick recommend their favourites
Damian Barr is joined by historical fiction legend Maggie O’Farrell to discuss her novels Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait. Rochelle Neil, star of the Windrush series Three Little Birds, reveals the books that inspire her, and Caine Prize winner Leila Aboulela shares the origins of her latest historical novel, River Spirit. Lifelong fans of Alice Walker's The Colour Purple share why they love the novel, and Colin Grant, Michael Pedersen and Jackie Kay share their personal histories through memoir and poetry
In this Christmas special, Damian Barr is joined by best-selling author Jenny Colgan to discuss her new festive novel, Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop. Graham McTavish, star of Outlander, reveals his favourite fiction, and Beetle Boy series author MG Leonard shares her latest novel, The Ice Children. The primary pupils of Mallaig rate Raymond Briggs classics The Snowman and Father Christmas, and the senior pupils recommend their favourite reads as potential gifts for teens
