The Reading Room

The Reading Room

By The Reading RoomArts
Download on the App Store

The Reading Room episodes

  • Stoner by John Williams: SPOILER podcast preview

    "She turned to him and pulled her lips into what he knew must be a smile"

    This week, in another chance to catch up with our new show SPOILER, we're reading John Williams' sleeper hit "Stoner" which, contrary to Paul's assumption, is not a "1990s drug romp", but a 1965 novel about the quiet, unassuming life of a quiet,unassuming man, William Stoner.  The book was largely ignored at the time of its original publication and famously took nearly half a century to become a hit, which leads Rachael to consider some other literary late bloomers....

    To hear more from SPOILER go to www.spoilerpodcast.co.uk or subscribe here: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/spoiler/id1042430544?mt=2

    36 min
  • SPOILER Podcast: Us by David Nicholls
    “While there was breath in my body, she would never lack sufficient AA batteries.”


    Another opportunity to try out our new podcast "Spoiler", and this week we're reading David Nicholls much anticipated novel "Us", the story of middle aged Biochemist Douglas Peterson whose wife announces her intention to leave him when their teenage son leaves home for University – but first there's the small matter of taking one final family holiday together.


    We discuss how the novel measures up to Nicholl's previous smash hit One Day, and Rachael takes a look at some strategies other authors have used to deal with the pressure of writing a follow-up.  Meanwhile, Paul reveals that the book made him cry, and takes the opportunity to list 10 TV shows which also cause him to blub like a little girl.


    To hear more from SPOILER go to www.spoilerpodcast.co.uk or subscribe here: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/spoiler/id1042430544?mt=2
    49 min
  • SPO!LER Preview


    Hello again!  It's been a few years now since The Reading Room ended, but now we're back with a brand new show called SPO!LER, which reviews books, films and TV shows in their entirety - without fear of spoilers.  We thought we'd give you loyal Reading Room subscribers a preview of the new show - this first episode features the 2014 drama Whiplash.  We're only putting the show on this feed once, so if you like it and want to hear more, head over to www.spoilerpodcast.co.uk or https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/spo!ler/id1042430544 to subscribe.
    42 min
  • ROOM 31 - The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore, Georgia Twynham, Jim Bob, Andrew Goulding
    This month, The Reading Room Book Group reconvenes to review young adult sci-fi novel The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore. Paul Tyler and regular reviewer Gill Hart are joined by Georgia Twynham who, as author of The Thirteenth series, knows a thing or two about writing for young adults.  There's also poetry from Andrew Goulding and Jim Bob, former frontman with Carter USM and author of Driving Jarvis Ham, gives us his nomination for our list of 101 Books To Read Before You Die.
    Click the player below to listen online, or subscribe using the links on the right.
    29 min
  • ROOM 30: The Barraclough Newsletters by Jim Gotts
    In another of our special extended monologues, this month The Reading Room presents The Barraclough Newsletters....
    Bunny Barraclough is a real pillar of her community - a leading member of the local amateur dramatics society and ladies luncheon club, respectable housewife and mother of two loving children. Join us for her bi-annual round-robin newsletters has she fills you in on the latest news of her perfect family...
    The Barraclough Newsletters was written by Jim Gotts and performed by Mary Scott.
    27 min
  • ROOM 28: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce, Escape From Tibet, Brendan Cleary
    On this month's programme, the final Reading Room Book Group (for now at least) reviews The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce, we talk to documentary maker Nick Gray about his book Escape From Tibet which tells the real life story of two young boys as they flee their homeland in order to escape Chinese repression.  John Mitchinson from Unbound gives us his nomination for our list of 101 Books The Read Before You Die, we have poetry from Brendan Cleary, and Jamie McKay brings us his Musings of a Muddled Mind.
    39 min
  • ROOM 27 - The Reading Room LIVE Part 2: Robert Llewellyn
    In the second part of our special LIVE show recorded at the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre we talk to Red Dwarf, Scrapheap Challenge and Carpool star Robert Llewellyn about his varied career and his writing. Robert talks about the return of Red Dwarf later this year, his love of electric cars and his past books including Sold Out and The Man Behind The Rubber Mask, before giving us an exclusive first reading from his new sci-fi novel News From Gardenia. The show also features music from Michael Reeve.
    WARNING: Mr Llewellyn's self-confessed "potty mouth" does put in an appearance during this show
    55 min
  • ROOM 26 - The Reading Room LIVE Part 1: John Osborne, Abigail Tarttelin, Andrew Goulding...
    In the first part of our live special recorded at the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre, we have poetry from John Osborne and Andrew Goulding, Abigail Tarttelin reads us two exclusive excerpts from her next novel Golden Boy which has just been snapped up by a major publisher, Jodie Orton reads us a fairy tale for grown ups, Reading Room regulars Gill Hart and Jamie McKay bring us live versions of their regular contributions and host Paul Tyler performs a piece of his own. Click on the player below to listen online...
    And don't forget to look out for Part 2 of the show in a couple of weeks time where Paul interviews Red Dwarf star Robert Llewellyn about his career and his writing, and Robert gives us an exclusive first reading from his new book News From Gardenia - subscribe to our feed to ensure you don't miss it.
    59 min
  • ROOM 26 - The Reading Room LIVE Part 1: John Osborne, Abigail Tarttelin, Andrew Goulding…


    In the first part of our live special recorded at the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre, we have poetry from John Osborne and Andrew Goulding, Abigail Tarttelin reads us two exclusive excerpts from her next novel Golden Boy which has just been snapped up by a major publisher, Jodie Orton reads us a fairy tale for grown ups, Reading Room regulars Gill Hart and Jamie McKay bring us live versions of their regular contributions and host Paul Tyler performs a piece of his own. Click on the player below to listen online...


    And don't forget to look out for Part 2 of the show in a couple of weeks time where Paul interviews Red Dwarf star Robert Llewellyn about his career and his writing, and Robert gives us an exclusive first reading from his new book News From Gardenia - subscribe to our feed to ensure you don't miss it.
    59 min

About The Reading Room

From the publisher's feed

The Reading Room is a monthly show dedicated to books and creative writing. Each month we present extended interviews with authors and original short stories.

More shows like The Reading Room

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,801 Listeners