The Reading Room

ROOM 9 – April 2011: Brendan Cleary, Louis Malloy, A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian

On this month's edition of The Reading Room we talk to Irish poet Brendan Cleary who also performs two of his poems (including a world premiere just for us!). We also hear from our Australian namesakes thereadingroom.com who tell us all about their book-based social network, the Reading Room Book Group discuss A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka and our poignant short story this month comes from Louis Malloy and is set in the aftermath of the Japanese earthquake of 1923. We also hear 101 Books To Read Before You Die nominations from regular contributor Steven Lawrence and "The Thirteenth" author Georgia Twynham, and we offer you the chance to be in the audience for our exclusive LIVE show on 15th May where we may or may not be performing nude... To listen to this month's show, click on the player below, or subscribe to our feed using the links on the right. Click below to join our friends at TheReadingRoom.com...

ROOM 8 - March 2011: World Book Night, Grace Atuhaire, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Joe Evans

On March's programme we tell you all about what we got up to on World Book Night when we gave away 48 copies of One Day by David Nicholls. We also speak to Ugandan poet Grace Atuhaire, Joe Evans provides our Tea Break Story and talks about his writing, we have further nominations for our list of 101 Books To Read Before You Die, and the Reading Room Book Group will be reviewing Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Click on the player below to listen online or subscribe to our podcast using the links on the right...

ROOM 7 - February 2011: World Book Night, 101 Books to Read Before You Die, Sarah Ann Juckes

On February's programme we launch our brand new feature 101 Books to Read Before You Die - Paul, Jonny and Joanne from thebookpond.com have picked the first three books for the list which will continue to grow each month. We also have an interview and fantastic short story from Sarah Ann Juckes, poetry from Paul Eteng and ex-football club chairman Rob Bradley talks about his new book of short stories Taboos, Troubles and Trusts. All that, plus a look at what books we got for Christmas, news about World Book Night when we'll be giving away 48 copies of One Day by David Nicholls, and we'll be previewing our Book Group selections for the next year and telling you how you can get involved. Click on the player below to listen online, or subscribe to our Podcast using the links on the right.

ROOM 6A - THE READING ROOM CHRISTMAS SPECIAL!

Something a bit different for our last show of the year - it's The Reading Room Christmas Special!  No Book Group this month - instead we have Christmas poetry from Dave Wood, a short story from Richard Barter, and a special Christmas story written and performed by the pupils of Peirrepont Gamston Primary School.  We’ll also be talking about our favourite books of the year and looking ahead to what we've got planned for The Reading Room in 2011. Click on the Player below to listen online, or subscribe to our monthly podcast using the links on the righthand side of the screen.

ROOM 6 - December 2010: Simon Scarrow, G L Twynham, Maeve Binchy, Louis Malloy

On December’s programme best selling author Simon Scarrow talks about his popular Eagle series of books, local author G L Twynham tells us about The Thirteenth series and reads from the first chapter of The Thirteenth, we have an interview and short story from Louis Malloy, and The Reading Room Book Group review Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy.  Click on the player below to listen online, or subscribe to our Podcast using the links on the right. Click here to buy Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy Click here to buy The Legion by Simon Scarrow Click here to buy The Thirteenth by G L Twynham

ROOM 5 - November 2010: Black Swan Green, The Wire, Paul Heaton, Sue Moorcroft

In November's programme, the Reading Room Book Group review Black Swan Green by David Mitchell and we take a look at the books that inspired the hit TV series The Wire. A packed programme also includes an interview and story from writer Richard Barter, poetry from Katherine Sankey, the final part of our series of interviews with romantic fiction author Sue Moorcroft and a brief chat with former Beautiful South frontman Paul Heaton. Remember - if you have any comments on the show, or if you'd like to take part, email us at readingroom@sirenonline.co.uk Click here to buy Homicide: A Year On The Killing Streets by David Simon Click here to buy The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighbourhood by David Simon and Ed Burns Click here to buy Black Swan Green by David Mitchell

Paul Heaton Interview

We were lucky enough to grab an interview with ex-Beautiful South frontman Paul Heaton before a recent gig in Sheffield to promote his second solo studio album Acid Country.  November's edition of The Reading Room will feature a short extract from the interview - but here it is in full.

ROOM 4 - October 2010: Jane Austen Book Club, Fiona Linday, Sue Moorcroft

October's programme includes poetry from Katherine Sankey, Fiona Linday talks about and reads from her book Get Over It which is aimed at adults dealing with bereavement, The Reading Room Book Group discuss The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler, and we have more from Sue Moorcroft on the art of writing romantic fiction. Remember - if you have any comments on the show, or if you'd like to take part, email us at readingroom@sirenonline.co.uk Click here to buy The Jane Austen Book Club Click here to buy Get Over it (Adventures)

ROOM 3 - September 2010

September's programme includes award-winning documentary maker Sam Pidoux talking about historical fiction, Dave Wood discusses Poetry, The Reading Room Book Group with Cheryl Cliffe and Gill Hart reviews Forever Today by Deborah Wearing and Sue Moorcroft tells us about the process of writing romantic fiction. Click here to buy All That Mullarkey Click here to buy Forever Today: A Memoir Of Love And Amnesia Click here to buy The Boleyn Inheritance

ROOM 2 - August 2010

Here's the podcast of our second programme for your listening pleasure.  This month, our producer Jonny Haw looks at eBooks, we have another short story from the Lincoln Phoenix Writers Circle, The Reading Room Book Group review Narrow Dog to Carcassonne by Terry Darlington, Melanie Carroll reviews three books looking at the Church and technology, and we have an, albeit extremely brief, interview with Katie Price as she promotes her new book, Paradise. Click here to buy Narrow Dog To Carcassonne Click here to buy Paradise