Talking of Books

By Dubai Eye 103.8

What's Talking of Books about?

Talking of Books is a weekly review show which showcases some of Dubai’s most intrepid readers. From new releases to chats with local and international authors, this is a must-listen for any bibliophile.

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Talking of Books episodes:

02.16.2020
Talking of Books but make it fashun!
01 Feb 2020: Hafsa Lodi has covered fashion in the region for a decade, and is a seamstress and designer herself. Her non-fiction book Modesty: A Fashion Paradox is an in-depth look into a multi billion dollar retail sector that...
02.09.2020
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Stacey Siebritz & Luigi Bonomi
08 Feb 2020: Montegrappa Writing Prize winner Stacey Siebritz explains what the prize means to her, and UK literary agent Luigi Bonomi explains the role he'll play mentoring her and helping take her manuscript 'The Leap' to publication. See omnystudio.com/listener for...
02.09.2020
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Tayari Jones
08 Feb 2020: Tayari Jones shares the sofa with Annabelle Corton on Talking of Books live at the Emirates Festival of Literature 2020 to discuss her novel 'An American Marriage’ which traces the lives of Roy, a man wrongly convicted of...
02.09.2020
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Gavin Thurston
08 Feb 2020: The man behind the scenes of 17 of Sir David Attenborough’s nature documentaries, award-winning cameraman Gavin Thurston, shares his secrets on how to capture cheeky monkeys at their cheekiest and chats about his book 'Journeys in the...
02.09.2020
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Ross Collins
08 Feb 2020: Scottish artist Ross Collins has illustrated over 100 books for children and written a few too. He shares his insights on drawing for children in favourites like ’There’s a Bear on My Chair’ and 'This Zoo Is...
02.09.2020
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Sara Jane Arbury & Fiona Ross
08 Feb 2020: Sara-Jane Arbury and Fiona Ross are the wordsmiths behind 'Roald Dahl’s Rotsome and Repulsant Words’. They explain to Annabelle Corton how their lively lexicon lets children discover etymologies, definitions and fascinating language facts along the way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...
02.09.2020
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Kevin Crossley-Holland & Nujeen Mustafa
08 Feb 2020: Poet Kevin Crossley-Holland met Syrian refugee Nujeen Mustafa here in Dubai at the 2017 Litfest which resulted in him writing her story 'Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo’. They discuss their collaboration on the eve of a multinational...
02.09.2020
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Edna Adnan Ismail
08 Feb 2020: The former foreign minister of Somaliland, Edna Adan Ismail, joins Annabelle Corton live at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature to discuss her work reducing maternal mortality. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02.09.2020
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Esi Edugyan
08 Feb 2020: Historical fiction writer, Esi Edugyan, explains to Annabelle Corton the ideas and process behind ‘Washington Black’ the story of an eleven-year-old slave who finds himself pursuing a promise of freedom. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02.09.2020
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Markus Zusak
08 Feb 2020: Bestselling Australian author Markus Zusak explains to the Talking of Books team the pressure of finishing a book that was 13 years in the making, and why his daughter is perhaps the sharpest critic of his productivity. See...
02.09.2020
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Tony Juniper
07 Feb 2020: Sustainability campaigner Tony Juniper asks ‘What has Nature Ever Done for Us?’ in his new book and explains to Sonal Rupani that 100% of our economic development comes from what nature provides yet still, we take most...
02.09.2020
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Henry Firth and Ian Theasby
07 Feb 2020: Henry Firth and Ian Theasby are the boys from Bosh! and they’re here to help everyone eat more plants. They’re the most popular vegans on YouTube, reaching more than half a billion people in their first year...
02.09.2020
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock
07 Feb 2020: Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock overcame a challenging childhood to pursue a career as a space scientist. She discusses the role that 'The Clangers' played in inspiring her to look to the skies as a very young child and...
02.09.2020
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Roma Agrawal
07 Feb 2020: Roma Agrawal is an award-winning structural engineer who builds really big things. She chats about why she promotes engineering careers to kids and about her first book, ‘Built'. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02.09.2020
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Hazza al Mansoori & Sultan Al Neyadi
08 Feb 2020: UAE astronauts Hazzaa al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi chat about life on a space station and training with world-record breaking female NASA astronaut Christina Koch. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02.08.2020
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Harry and Chris
07 Feb 2020: Harry Baker and Chris Read are 'Harry and Chris’ the UK’s favourite (if only?) Comedy-Rap-Jazz duo. Hear them chatting about pandas, robot wars, bullying and mathematics with Sonal Rupani. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01.25.2020
The Bookshelf – Popular! It’s all about Pop-uuu-Lar!
25 Jan 2020: It's a popularity contest this week as Shadi Moazami director and founder of MAIA Luxury Communications, and Tamreez Inam, bookstagrammer and LitFest Team member, discuss, compare and contrast two books connected by popularity and celebrity culture: The...
01.25.2020
Readers Recommend
25 Jan 2020: Dubai-based journalist, bookworm and former editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar, Louise Nichol, tells us how she gets her reading fix as a busy mother of three, and what books she’s enjoyed recently, from Nadiya Hussain's raw and honest...
01.25.2020
Book News – There’s been a MUR-DER.
25 Jan 2020: The controversial and - some might say ‘murderous’ - act that’s got the whole book world talking – it really divided our listeners on the show! And a big question about the value of historical artefacts and...
01.21.2020
Book News
18 Jan 2020: The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature announced a ground-breaking venture with Dubai Police and the Penal and Correctional Institutions to publish Tomorrow, I Will Fly, a book of essays written by men and women inmates in Dubai...
01.18.2020
The Bookshelf: Elham Alqasim
18 Jan 2020: Elham Al Qasimi, first Arab woman and UAE national to reach the North Pole, joined us to talk about her journey to the Arctic and what she’s looking forward to asking wildlife cameraman Gavin Thurston at the...
01.18.2020
The Bookshelf: Woman in the Wilderness
18 Jan 2020: Would you leave the comfort of home behind for a life in the wilderness, hunting your food and living in a tent? Miriam Lancewood has, and Ehsan Al Awadhi gave us the highlights from her memoir Woman...
01.18.2020
The Bookshelf: Thinking on My Feet
18 Jan 2020: Journalist Georgia Tolley joined us in the studio to review Thinking on My Feet by Kate Humble, a narrative on the simple act of walking, why it’s beneficial and how it has helped her. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...
01.11.2020
The Bookshelf
11 Jan 2020: Author Rehan Khan tells us about the history and research running through his own Tudor Turk novels and what he’s looking forward to asking Alwyn Hamilton about her books. Rehan will be moderating Jonathan Phillips and Bettany...
01.08.2020
The Bookshelf: Finding Chika
04 Jan 2020: Finding Chika by Mitch Albom is a touching rumination on the magic of children and the extraordinary lengths parents will go to for them. Festival Director, Ahlam Bolooki, talks about Finding Chika as well as Tuesdays with Morrie, two...
01.08.2020
The Bookshelf: A Monk's Guide to Happiness
04 Jan 2020: How do you stay calm in such a busy world? Misha’al Eskander joined us in the studio to tell us all about A Monk’s Guide to Happiness by Gelong Thubten and why we all need mindfulness in...
01.08.2020
The Bookshelf: Do It or Ditch It
04 Jan 2020: How do you decide which idea to run with and which action should become your top priority? Eithne Treanor told us all about Do It or Ditch It by Bev James, who will be attending the EmiratesLitFest in February - a...
12.22.2019
Book news and a holiday language pop quiz
21/12/2019: What’s a yuleshard, what story competition has just launched for children ages 8-12, and who has just been added to the Emirates LitFest lineup? Allison K Williams and Annabelle Corton wish you a happy festive season and give the...
12.22.2019
Long Lost Loves and Impossible Choices
21/12/2019: The Best of Adam Sharp by Graeme Simsion weaves a great playlist of songs throughout its story of what happens when you reconnect with your long lost love. And After the End by Clare Mackintosh is the story of...
12.22.2019
Book of the Week: Ascent by Sir Chris Bonington
21/12/2019: Journalist, editor and broadcaster Mark Lomas' review of the incredible memoir Ascent by mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington took us to colder climes and new heights of appreciation for mountaineering, climbing, and a ‘life lived on the edge’. See omnystudio.com/listener for...
12.14.2019
Book News: Mice, Bridges and the London Underground
14/12/2019: The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature have announced two exciting additions to the 2020 line-up in February: author of bestselling author Markus Zusack and creator of Geronimo Stilton, Elisabetta Dami. Plus a heartwarming story to restore your faith in...
12.14.2019
The Big Question
14/12/2019: What will cities look like in the future? And is the future Asian? International journalist Riz Khan moves from the advances in radio broadcasting to the advances of modern life, touching on various nonfiction books that help us answer...
12.14.2019
Book of the Week: Decoded
14/12/2019: Mai Jia is 'China's answer to John Le Carre' according to the Financial Times. Polyglot, writer and Chinese book club founder Antonina Grunska-Gokdeniz reviews Decoded, a story of a mathematical genius recruited as a codebreaker by the secret services...
12.14.2019
Literary Soundtrack - A Moment for Malcolm Taylor
14/12/2019: We dedicated this week’s literary soundtrack to the late Malcolm Taylor as we unearthed some old recordings of Malcolm sharing his thoughts on Ian Fleming’s famous creation: James Bond. Have a listen to one legend weigh in on another, and...
11.23.2019
Literary Soundtrack
23/11/2019: In honour of the Faith in the Modern World panel at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature next year, we just had to play Faith by George Michael. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11.23.2019
Readers Recommend
23/11/2019: How good are you at keeping secrets? Author Karen Osman discusses her book The Perfect Lie, a thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. She also reviews the ideal holiday read: The Secret Hours by...
11.23.2019
Book of the Week
23/11/2019: If your spouse were convicted of a crime and sent to prison, would you stand by them? How long would you wait? An Emirati marriage reviews an American Marriage. Bookworm couple Ahlam Bolooki and Peyman Parham Al Awadhi were...
11.23.2019
Book News
23/11/2019: Today’s Talking of Books co-host Allison K Williams has edited and coached many authors throughout her career. She gives us the lowdown of her own workshops happening at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in February 2020 and even...
11.16.2019
Sassy Villains, Silences and Speaking Up - The Emirates LitFest is back!
16/11/2019: At the next Emirates Litfest in Feb 2020, the dazzling yet sinister actions of the assassin Villanelle in Killing Eve, the serial killer in Linwood Barclay’s Elevator Pitch and the more insidious crimes in Christina Dalcher’s bestselling Vox, are...
11.09.2019
Books on Brexit
09/11/2019: What does a spy thriller and an insect in pajamas have in common? The Cockroach by Ian McEwan and Agent Running in the Field by John Le Carré are both works of fiction that are inspired in different ways...
11.09.2019
Story Corner – Books that help children cope
09/11/2019: How can books help us cope in trying times, particularly if you are a child? My Monster and Me by Nadiya Hussain is a beautiful picture book that tackles worry and anxiety, Jemima Small Vs. The Universe by Tamsin...
10.26.2019
Book News: Book Fair Alert!
26/10/2019: What book would you save in a fire? Who is coming to Sharjah International Book Fair? and which writer has come up with a novel way of… well…deciding what to include in their novel? Ft. Allison K Williams and...
10.26.2019
Literary Soundtrack: Cool Girl
26/10/2019: A Gillian Flynn novel inspired Tove Lo’s ‘Cool Girl’ – that’s our feature on Soundtrack this week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10.26.2019
Worth the Hype?: The Secret Commonwealth
26/10/2019: We said goodbye to Lyra Silvertongue at the end of The Amber Spyglass nearly a decade ago. She returned as a baby in prequel La Belle Sauvage, but now she’s all grown up at university and caught up in another...
10.26.2019
Book of the Week: In the Company of Strangers
26/10/2019: Our book of the week explores the secrets and lies of Pakistani high society as they navigate love and loss against the backdrop of terror plots. Awais Khan shares the inspiration for his debut novel and advice from his experiences...
10.19.2019
Literary Soundtrack: Music of the Night
19/10/2019: Since The Phantom of the Opera just graced the stage at Dubai Opera, we thought we’d look at the literary inspiration for this beloved musical and how much of the story was based on history? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10.19.2019
Book of the Week: The Giver of Stars
19/10/2019: The Giver of Stars is a breathtaking story of five extraordinary ‘packhorse’ librarians and their journey through the mountains of a Kentucky mining town during the Depression in spite of a hostile landscape and community. Author Karen Osman joined...
10.19.2019
The Big Question: How To Live Vegan
19/10/2019: To be vegan or not to be vegan? That is the question! How To Live Vegan by YouTube sensations at BOSH! is hot off the press and we delve into the pages with food blogger at My Custard Pie,...
10.12.2019
2019 Booker Prize Shortlist
12/10/2019: Isobel Abulhoul and James Mullan dived deep in to the Man Booker shortlist, talking about which are their favourites, not-so-favourites and which book they think could be the 2019 winner. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10.05.2019
What books make you want to go on an adventure? Part 2
05/10/2019: When Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years, is terminally ill, their home is taken away and unsure of where to go in life, they literally decide to put one foot in front of the other and...

What's Talking of Books about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Talking of Books episodes:

Talking of Books but make it fashun!

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Stacey Siebritz & Luigi Bonomi

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Tayari Jones

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Gavin Thurston

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Ross Collins

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Sara Jane Arbury & Fiona Ross

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Kevin Crossley-Holland & Nujeen Mustafa

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Edna Adnan Ismail

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Esi Edugyan

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Markus Zusak

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Tony Juniper

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Henry Firth and Ian Theasby

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Roma Agrawal

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Hazza al Mansoori & Sultan Al Neyadi

Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: Harry and Chris

The Bookshelf – Popular! It’s all about Pop-uuu-Lar!

Readers Recommend

Book News – There’s been a MUR-DER.

Book News

The Bookshelf: Elham Alqasim

The Bookshelf: Woman in the Wilderness

The Bookshelf: Thinking on My Feet

The Bookshelf

The Bookshelf: Finding Chika

The Bookshelf: A Monk's Guide to Happiness

The Bookshelf: Do It or Ditch It

Book news and a holiday language pop quiz

Long Lost Loves and Impossible Choices

Book of the Week: Ascent by Sir Chris Bonington

Book News: Mice, Bridges and the London Underground

The Big Question

Book of the Week: Decoded

Literary Soundtrack - A Moment for Malcolm Taylor

Literary Soundtrack

Readers Recommend

Book of the Week

Book News

Sassy Villains, Silences and Speaking Up - The Emirates LitFest is back!

Books on Brexit

Story Corner – Books that help children cope

Book News: Book Fair Alert!

Literary Soundtrack: Cool Girl

Worth the Hype?: The Secret Commonwealth

Book of the Week: In the Company of Strangers

Literary Soundtrack: Music of the Night

Book of the Week: The Giver of Stars

The Big Question: How To Live Vegan

2019 Booker Prize Shortlist

What books make you want to go on an adventure? Part 2