POPULARITY
For the latest podcast Ali caught up with writer and academic Dr Rodge Glass to learn about his extraordinary new book, Joshua In The Sky: A Blood Memoir. It's a slightly different interview as Ali picks certain texts which are referenced throughout, allowing Rodge to talk about the book in a different way. Before that he explains who Joshua is and the reasons for writing Joshua In The Sky, and talks about HHT (Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia) the rare genetic disorder they share. The two then go on to talk about the work of Caroline Bird, Jenny Offill, Tom Leonard, Hassan Blasim, and Grace Paley, among others. They also discuss the life and work of Alasdair Gray and Michel Faber, both of whom Rodge has written biographies of, which raises the subject of memoir, the differing ways to approach the form, and how both these writers, and writing about them, feed into this one. Fittingly for a book which defies easy explanation, this is an insightful and honest conversation which touches upon just some of the themes in Joshua In The Sky and which will hopefully lead to you wanting to know more. For full details, including all the ways to listen, head to https://www.scotswhayhae.com Photos of Rodge Glass - credit Alan Dimmick
For the latest SWH! podcast we welcomed back previous guest Rodge Glass (right) to talk about Gray Day 2023 (Saturday 25th Feb) - the third annual celebration of the life and work of Alasdair Gray. This year the inspiration is his 1992 novel 'Poor Things', and Rodge talks about the novel, how it fits into the Gray canon, the event at Glasgow's Oran Mor on the evening of the 25th and who will be appearing, the importance of the Alasdair Gray Archive, as well as discussing the forthcoming film adaptation by Yorgos Lanthimos & starring Emma Stone, and a lot more. It's always a pleasure to talk to Rodge Glass, biographer to, and one of the leading authorities on, Alasdair Gray, and Gray Day - Poor Things promises to be a very special night indeed. Further details and all the relevant links - including where to get tickets from - are over at scotswhayhae.com
For the latest SWH! podcast, Ali caught up with writer, academic, and Alasdair Gray biographer (and old pal of Scots Whay Hae!) Rodge Glass to hear all about the 2nd International Alasdair Gray Conference, which will be on 16th – 17th June 2022. Rodge gives details of the conference, including how to register and get involved, and just what will be going on and where. He also talks about the organisations who are collaborating for this event, explains the Conference titles 'Making Imagined Objects' and 'Across Space & Form', the interdisciplinary and interactive aspects, and the importance of discussing Alasdair Gray's art and writing together. It's a conversation which will appeal to all fans of the great man. For further details as to what's going on, and where, head to scotswhayhae.com.
Highlights from previous Read All About It episodes, as Teddy Jamieson, Kirstin Inner, Rodge Glass, Polly Clark, Alan Bissett and Hayley Reynolds all choose their favourite teenage/formative years read. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Rodge Glass is a novelist, biographer and an academic. He has published three novels, a collection of short stories and a graphic novel, as well as a highly-acclaimed and award-winning biography of the great Scottish writer, Alasdair Gray.Describing himself as ‘a bit of a Strathclyde University addict’, Dr Rodge Glass, to give him his academic title, is returning to the university for his fourth time – having previously been a student, a writer in residence and also a part-time lecturer. His new role will be as a senior lecturer in creative writing, with his main specialism in fiction, and also creative non-fiction. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
My guest on this episode is renowned author, screenwriter and playwright Alan Bissett. If you don't know him from his excellent prose and theatre work then you may know him from how active he was for the Yes campaign during the 2014 Scottish Referendum.But to me, he's a novelist first and foremost. He'd probably disagree with that, yet that's how I got into his writing so I guess that'll always be my perception of him.When I began studying Scottish Literature in first year of university, I was motivated (in no small part by some weird sense of cultural nationalism) to spend the time away from the course texts and to absorb other Scottish writers. Trainspotting is a book we're all familiar with, and naturally that happened to be the only Scottish novel that I'd read going into uni and the relatively older age of 24. That book then turned up as a course text in my first year because, well... why wouldn't it?Re-reading it, and realising I had access to a huge library and a vast reservoir of Scots literary knowledge, I spent my time in between essays, exams and course texts pulling as many different books as I could from between the stacks of the Glasgow Uni library. I devoured Kelman, Crichton Smith, MacCaig, Gray, Spark and then moved onto more contemporary authors like Bissett, Louise Welsh and Robertson among others. Boyracers was one of the first contemporary novels I read.I went on to read Pack Men, as it was his most recent at the time, and then Death of a Ladies Man. Welsh was important to me because it demonstrated that people could write in Scots and "get away with it"; Kelman was vital to my literary development because it was the first novel I read in Glaswegian, and it contained characters the likes of which I'd met in my own scheme when growing up; but Bissett was more relevant, largely in part because I found it easier to identify with teenagers from Falkirk than I could with twenty-something heroin addicts in Leith or a blind guy in Glasgow. As I look back on that period of voracious reading, I now know it was because the community he depicts in Boyracers, and later again in Pack Men, is so similar to ones I know.This podcast is a very cerebral chat. I hope you don't find it too dense. Highlights include:Creativity always seemed natural, he kept coming back to that when he was youngCame to realise writing was a career when he was doing a PHd Being shortlisted for the Macallan Prize is when he realised writing was a thingComing from a TV household with no creative familyYou only start to realise the themes of your writing when people start to talk to you aboutScottish writing and the themes of identity of community, and how those mainly seem to come from writers who are not from the landed gentryHow Alan finds this to be more powerful and valuable than writing about rich people having drawing room affairsThe object of growing up is like to get out of your community and how that leads to a sense of guilt when you doHow current writers that he's been working with seem to reflect the difference in community now than in the generation before – Boyracers was filled with hope, but it's hope that the current generation of teenagers don't feelThere's a generation of young theatre makers like Steph Smith, Catrion Evans, Kiron Hurly, Gary McNair, Rob Drummond and Nick Green who are doing politically explicit workThe radical spirit that theatre had in the 70s with John McGrath etc feels like it's coming backYet it's harder for Scottish novelists to be political because of the global competitionIt's very difficult for political novels to get throughHow Late It Was, How Late was prophetic about the struggle people face with the DWP now, despite it being written in the mid 90sPeople want to escape reality instead of experience or read about what people actually feel say and doAmerican cultural colonisation is greater than ever despite the narratives of big media franchises like Game of Thrones or Marvel films not being culturally specificOur obsessions with these universal cultures mean that local cultures – their stories, dialects, art – are slowly being erased and neglectedBut that's not to say we should protect our cultures by allowing them to remain untouched, rather there should be cultural spaces where local culture still exist – we must preserve minority cultureIt's difficult to know what our default cultural tastes would be when entertainment is controlled by media conglomeratesThe artist's that feel that they have some kind of social responsibility at least signals that they are willing to make a stand that's bigger than just them as an individualWe get caught up in the rights of the individual above all else and it's not surprise because that's capitalism but we have to perverse the work that we doMoving to writing plays is as much about the economic reality of writing novels and how difficult it is to pay bills as a full time writer when it takes a long time to write a book Many novelists are stimulated into over production because of the fear of having their livelihood taken away from them, Alan can't work like thatThere's also an energy in Scottish theatre that wasn't quite there in Scottish literatureTheatre is more immediate but a novel is more powerful because of the mental experience is deeperYet a play can react quicker to current events whereas a novel takes timeThe full scale demolition of masculinity in Death of a Ladies ManThe alpha male pursuit to anoint great works of literatureAnd how that pursuit can be destructive, and the way that has affected the mental health of many great writes, such as James JoyceHowever ambition is required to power you through being creativeYet a lot of female writers have a completely different mindset, which often makes them better writersThe Caledonian Antisyzergy and the dual identity of Scots which is reflected in referendum resultThe referendum was Scotland finding out what it is was – Scotland doesn't know what it is or what it would spring towards whilst it's still part of the unionAlan finds that interviews aren't fun anymore because they talk about politics…So we make it fun by talking about MarvelAnd the seemingly infinite expansion of franchisesWe have a shared love for blockbuster moves despite them being more disposable than everAlan's favourite film is Jaws and compared to current CGI films, it feels so handmadeThe shift in the 70s in blockbuster films which shook everything up in terms of how big budget films are made, and how that shift would not happen now because of CGIWe agree Marvel Studios are good at retaining artists' singular vision in a big budget blockbuster settingDisney used to feel like a benign company that used to make kids films every year, and now they seem to run HollywoodThere are, however, more nourishing forms of entertainmentWHY ARE ADULTS WATCHING KIDS FILMS?! And whey to complain about them when they're not FOR adults?Society aims to keep us in a state of permanent adolescence Some Scottish Literature chat – James Robertson is a genius, he's so far ahead of every other Scottish author. Also, Louise Welsh, Kirsty Logan, John Niven, Sophie Sexton, William Letford, Richie McCafferty, Laura Marney, Rodge Glass, Zoe Strachan are all people to watchAlso James Hogg – Confessions of a Justified Sinner is ESSENTIAL literatureLots of show notes here. Apologies for the length of the post. I hope you enjoy the episode!Featured MusicIntro: Voodoo Puppets – Electric Chair Blues (used under CC licence, you can check it out here).Suede - The Next LifePink Floyd - Comfortably NumbMartyn Bennett - MoveAll music can be purchased on iTunes and the digital retailer of your choice. Or in a record store. You know they still exist, right? I make no claim to the copyright of these tracks.LinksGo buy any of Alan's books from a book store. A bricks and mortar one. That'd be well good.You can see his website here to see what he's upto in the theatre world. His twitter and facebook are also pretty cool.Thank you!My thanks are eternal to you and everyone else who has listened to the podcast and helped me get it to where it is. If you could take a second to rate and review this podcast on iTunes I'd love you forever and ever.Questions? Feedback?You can do either by dropping a comment in the comment box below.Or you can hit the contact link to show me some love by using the cool email form.Social MediaI'm on a few social media sites, so it'd be pretty handy if you could show me some love over there.Check out the Facebook page.Or you can get me on Twitter.Oh and seriously, rating and reviewing this podcast on iTunes would be amazing. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
Harlan Coben talks to Mariella Frostup about his new thriller novel Six Years. We report from the London Book Fair which this year has given prominence to Turkish publishing. And author Rodge Glass takes a wry literary look at the impact of cheap flights.
Ryan Van Winkle gets 2013 off to a great start with his third Bookmarked podcast, which has him talking about kids' wild imaginations with author and illustrator John Fardell, discovering the world of football with Rodge Glass and rubbing shoulders with the League of Extraordinary Booklovers.Podcast highlights: Somerset Maugham Award-winning author Rodge Glass talks about sports and his new book, Bring Me the Head of Ryan Giggs John Fardell takes a break from creating a mural at the Mitchell Library to share what it's like to be an illustrator-in-residence, how kids constantly surprise him and who his favourite illustrators are 2012 New Writers Award winners Andrew Sclater and Roy Gill discuss how the award changed their lives and their writing and what we can expect from them in the future Karen Cunningham, head of Glasgow libraries, speaks about the future of books during Book Week Scotland Three members of the League of Extraordinary Booklovers talk about how they were chosen, what their mission is and what books they were eager to recommend LINKSBook List: 10 Books About the Beautiful GameBook Week ScotlandDuncan Wright: The League of Extraordinary BookloversJohn FardellNew Writers AwardsRodge Glass
The 16th podcast is our second attempt at an interview with writer Rodge Glass. We initially tried to do so at the launch of his latest novel ‘Bring Me the Head of Ryan Giggs' but electronic gremlins got the better of us. What we have following the interview is some live footage from that night of Rodge reading from the book and it makes for a great listen. But then I would say that.
The 16th podcast is our second attempt at an interview with writer Rodge Glass...
Mariella Frostrup looks at the career and life of Dodie Smith, the author best known for her hugely popular children's story, The 101 Dalmatians, and I Capture the Castle. Sofka Zinovieff talks about her latest novel, The House on Paradise Street and Sam Mills and Rodge Glass discuss basing books around real living people.
Rodge Glass reading After Drink You Can Turn Earth Upside Down. Part of an engaging and varied series of podcasts of leading authors reading their remarkable new stories, poems or essays on the theme of ‘Elsewhere’. Commissioned by Edinburgh International Book Festival and supported by the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund. You can read or download the Elsewhere stories, listen to more Elsewhere podcasts or watch the videos of events filmed live at the Book Festival on www.edbookfest.co.uk.
In our final lyrically themed podcast, we feature excerpts from our amazing event for Let's Get Lyrical with multi award winning poet Robin Robertson and the splendid musician Alasdair Roberts who is currently working with Robin on a new collection of songs. We also hear Ryan's poem 'Gasoline' turned into a song by novelist and musician Rodge Glass. Presented by Ryan Van Winkle. Produced by Colin Fraser of Anon Poetry Magazine http://www.anonpoetry.co.uk and @anonpoetry. Email: splpodcast@gmail.com
Ryan Van Winkle chats with novelist, biographer, creative writing teacher, editor and musician Rodge Glass about lyrics, songwriting and how music is different from writing novels. Presented by Ryan Van Winkle. Produced by Colin Fraser.
Rodge Glass – Alasdair Gray: A Secretary’s Biography In this week’s podcast, Rodge Glass tells me how, after his first disastrous meeting with Alasdair Gray in a bar in Glasgow, he later went on to be the writer’s student, amanuensis and eventually biographer. Rodge recalls how Gray (a self-described “fat, spectacled, balding, increasingly old Glasgow pedestrian”, who is also the author of Lanark, widely regarded as the finest Scottish novel of the past century, as well as a host of other books and creator of many art projects), reacted when the biography was first mooted: “Be my Boswell!” he shouted, dancing a jig around the room and raising a finger to the heavens. “Tell the world of my genius!” In the interview, Rodge reflects on the experience of being himself a character in this unconventional life, and is frank about such things as his own feelings for Gray (“I have great affection for him”) and his uncertainty over what to make of Gray’s artwork. You can read Gray’s own reaction to Glass’s biography here. And …
Hanif Kureishi is one of Britain’s leading writers with work ranging from My Beautiful Launderette and The Buddha of Suburbia through plays and political writing to, most recently, Venus. Something to Tell You is the coming of age story of Jamal, a successful psychoanalyst haunted by his first love and a brutal act of violence from which he can never escape, and the dramas that develop 30 years later. Energetic, funny and tender, Kureishi has, once again, given us a story that reflects on our times and our lives and the search for meaning amid the beautiful chaos of contemporary life. This is an extract of his conversation with Rodge Glass about Something to Tell You. You can hear the full recording at ayewrite.com or by subscribing to the AyeWrite audio podcast series in iTunes or at http://feeds.feedburner.com/ayewrite.