24/11/18: Festival Director Ahlam Bolooki is talking about what Arab World authors and sessions she’s looking forward to at the 2019 Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. She mentions Fadi Zaghmout, Shadi Al Rawi and Taleb Al Refai.

24/11/18: Isobel Abulhoul chooses the literary soundtrack this week inspired by the important message that we’re only human. Rag’n’Bone Man’s I’m Only Human speaks to us all about the frailty of humankind.

24/11/18: Everyone knows the story of Aladdin…, or do they? Since it was first added to The Arabian Nights in an eighteenth-century French publication, it has been interpreted in many ways, most often as a children’s tale of rags-to-riches. Translator Yasmine Seale and Professor of Literature at NYU Abu Dhabi Paulo Lemos Horta have collaborated on a brand-new translation of this beloved folktale – we’ll be speaking to Paulo all about it – will the real Aladdin, please stand up?

17/11/18: Many books have left a lasting impression on Rebekah Heaney, but this week she talks about the books that made her think differently about a traditionally dark and malevolent figure: Death. She talks about the significance of Death as a storyteller himself in The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, The Tale of the Three Brothers from The Tales of Beedle the Bard in JK Rowling’s The Deathly Hallows, and the endearing version of the character that Terry Pratchett made popular in his Discworld novels.

17/11/18: This week’s song choice was all about inspiration for the writing process and dispelling fear of the blank page.

17/11/18: American comic book writer, Stan Lee, best known for his work with Marvel Comics, passed away this week, and Talking of Books briefly discussed his incredible legacy and words of wisdom. Excelsior!

17/11/18: Are you currently holding a grudge or is someone holding a grudge against you? This could be the right segment for you. Writer and editor Allison K Williams reviews How To Hold a Grudge by Sophie Hannah, the first comprehensive examination of the practice of grudge-holding.

17/11/18: By now, Rachel, Ross, Phoebe, Monica, Chandler and Joey are like family to many people. Friends is the iconic TV show that we often find ourselves rewatching. We discuss the definitive history of the show with Deputy Editor of Emirates Woman and pop culture aficionado Georgie Bradley who reviews I’ll Be There For You - The One About Friends by Kelsey Miller.

17/11/18: In the spirit of NaNoWriMo, when writers all over the world try and write a novel in a month, Allison K Williams helps give you some pointers that will be useful for National Novel Writing Month and for various writing competitions being held by the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.

10/11/18: Fact vs Fiction? It’s the age old question. Enter your argument on Costa Debate and you could be winning a trip to anywhere in the world! Plus a self-help book with some bizarre advice and how to read a bowling alley.