Podcasts about Sue Townsend

Livros mencionados: Bíblia Sétimo Dia, Daniel Faria; Stoner, John Williams; Os Livros que Devoraram o Meu Pai, Afonso Cruz; Noite, Elie Wiesel; Everything I Know About Love, Dolly Alderton; Never Mind, Patrick Melrose; O Ano do Pensamento Mágico, Joan Didion; Maos, Art Spiegelman; O Eremita Viajante, Bashõ; Siddartha, Herman Hesse; Cartas a Um Jovem Poeta, Rainer Maria Rilke; Obra Poética, Sophia de Mello Breyner; A Paixão Segundo G.H., Clarice Lispector; Cândido, Voltaire, Relógio de Água; Diário Secreto de Adrien Mole, Sue Townsend,; Jovem Torless, Robert Musil; Crime no Expresso do Oriente, Agatha Christie; Um Espião Entre Amigos, Ben Macityre; Romeu e Julieta, William Shakespeare; No país das últimas coisas, Paul Auster; 2666, Roberto Bolaño; Septologia, Jon Fosse; Calvin & Hobbes, Bill Waterson; Harry Potter, J. K. Rowling; Passing, Nella Larsen; Por Quem os Sinos Dobram, Ernest Hemingway; Caim, José Saramago. Sigam-nos no instagram: @leiturasembadanas Edição de som: Tale House

Sunday Times bestselling author Beth Morrey (Saving Missy, Lucky Day) talks about Sue Townsend's definitive comic coming-of-age novel The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Celia appears to have it all and her life is running like clockwork - and so it should because she has it planned down to the very last minute - but then along comes a challenge that could be her undoing! Celia is thrust into a process equal parts amusing and heartbreaking as she shakily charts a new path. + From falling for the boy next door to romancing a minotaur - occupational therapist turned  successful romance novelist Davina Stone talks us through the many forms that modern romance takes. The only proviso is, no matter how serious the story, the ending must be happy! Guests Emma Young, author of “The Disorganisation of Celia Stone”. Her debut novel was “The Last Bookshop”. Davina Stone, author of ‘The Felix Factor', the sixth novel in her series The Laws of Love . She also writes monster romance under the name Lilith Stone  Other books that get a mention Emma loves the diary format and she recalls the young adult books that first inspired her: The Adrian Mole series by Sue Townsend, “So Much to Tell You” by John Marsden, “I Capture the Castle” by Dodie Smith and “Bridget Jones' Diary” by Helen Fielding. Emma is donating half her royalties to Beyond Zero Emissions (www.bze.org.au). Michaela mentions “The Tao of Pooh” by Benjamin Hoff Annie mentions “Don't Sweat the Small Stuff…and “it's all small stuff” by Richard Carlson Davina mentions Romance Writers of Australia, a community of over 700 aspiring, emerging, and established indie and traditionally published romance authors. INSTAGRAM @emma_young_book_fiend @fremantlepress @davinastone_ @rwaaus https://davinastone.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Celia appears to have it all and her life is running like clockwork - and so it should because she has it planned down to the very last minute - but then along comes a challenge that could be her undoing! Celia is thrust into a process equal parts amusing and heartbreaking as she shakily charts a new path. + From falling for the boy next door to romancing a minotaur - occupational therapist turned  successful romance novelist Davina Stone talks us through the many forms that modern romance takes. The only proviso is, no matter how serious the story, the ending must be happy! Guests Emma Young, author of “The Disorganisation of Celia Stone”. Her debut novel was “The Last Bookshop”. Davina Stone, author of ‘The Felix Factor', the sixth novel in her series The Laws of Love . She also writes monster romance under the name Lilith Stone  Other books that get a mention Emma loves the diary format and she recalls the young adult books that first inspired her: The Adrian Mole series by Sue Townsend, “So Much to Tell You” by John Marsden, “I Capture the Castle” by Dodie Smith and “Bridget Jones' Diary” by Helen Fielding. Emma is donating half her royalties to Beyond Zero Emissions (www.bze.org.au). Michaela mentions “The Tao of Pooh” by Benjamin Hoff Annie mentions “Don't Sweat the Small Stuff…and “it's all small stuff” by Richard Carlson Davina mentions Romance Writers of Australia, a community of over 700 aspiring, emerging, and established indie and traditionally published romance authors. INSTAGRAM @emma_young_book_fiend @fremantlepress @davinastone_ @rwaaus https://davinastone.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tijan Sila ist zum zweiten Mal bei DEAR READER zu Gast. Dieses Mal bringt Tijan Sila sein aktuelles Buch Radio Sarajevo mit. – welches nun schon ein paar Monate nach Erscheinen in der vierten Auflage bei Hanser Berlin erschienen ist. Elegant, berührend, lustig schreibt Sila dort von seinen Erfahrungen im besetzten Sarajevo. Von den Gewaltverhältnissen, die zu Kriegen führen und darüber, wie er für Überlebende nie zu enden scheint. Mitgebracht hat Tijan Sila das Familienlexikon von Natalia Ginzburg. Aus dem Italienischen und mit einem Nachwort von Alice Vollenweider, im Verlag Klaus Wagenbach erschienen. Und Sue Townsend, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾, erschienen 1982 im Methuen Verlag.    Wir sprechen über rechtschaffene Garstigkeit, Geiselhaft, Gewalt gegen Kinder, rabiate Sozialistinnen, über den Walser-Gestus von Schriftstellern, über Menschlichkeit und die coolste Schriftstellerin aller Zeiten, den ersten Schlag und Teenager. Viel Spaß!

Tijan Sila ist zum zweiten Mal bei DEAR READER zu Gast. Dieses Mal bringt Tijan Sila sein aktuelles Buch Radio Sarajevo mit. – welches nun schon ein paar Monate nach Erscheinen in der vierten Auflage bei Hanser Berlin erschienen ist. Elegant, berührend, lustig schreibt Sila dort von seinen Erfahrungen im besetzten Sarajevo. Von den Gewaltverhältnissen, die zu Kriegen führen und darüber, wie er für Überlebende nie zu enden scheint. Mitgebracht hat Tijan Sila das Familienlexikon von Natalia Ginzburg. Aus dem Italienischen und mit einem Nachwort von Alice Vollenweider, im Verlag Klaus Wagenbach erschienen. Und Sue Townsend, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾, erschienen 1982 im Methuen Verlag.    Wir sprechen über rechtschaffene Garstigkeit, Geiselhaft, Gewalt gegen Kinder, rabiate Sozialistinnen, über den Walser-Gestus von Schriftstellern, über Menschlichkeit und die coolste Schriftstellerin aller Zeiten, den ersten Schlag und Teenager. Viel Spaß!

Att läsa om böcker kan handla om trygghet, att återvända till en älskad plats. Men det är också ett sätt att få syn på förändring, menar Eva-Lotta Hultén. Lyssna på alla avsnitt i Sveriges Radio Play. ESSÄ: Detta är en text där skribenten reflekterar över ett ämne eller ett verk. Åsikter som uttrycks är skribentens egna.I en stringhylla, som då ännu inte var retro utan bara omodern och därför placerad i ett barnrum i ett fritidshus, stod tre böcker. Ofta stod där många fler men dessa tre stod där alltid. Rummet med hyllan och böckerna var mitt under somrar, helger och skollov. Det var så litet att där utöver hyllan bara rymdes en säng och en smal byrå. Ändå tillbringade jag en hel del tid där, läsandes. När de medhavda biblioteksböckerna var utlästa tog jag valfri bok av de tre ständiga och läste om. Om och om igen.Det handlar om ”Bröderna Lejonhjärta”, Lennart Nybloms ungdomsbok ”Sök vid nymåne” och Jan Mårtenssons skämtsamma deckarhistoria ”Släkten är bäst”. Kan jag ha läst dem femton gånger? Eller tjugo? Plötsligt saknar jag dem. Kanske inte så mycket Astrid Lindgrens klassiker som jag läst högt för mina barn, men de båda andra. De hör inte precis till världslitteraturen men de finns i mitt system. Båda utspelar sig på små öar och har dem på omslaget. Som vuxen är jag bosatt på en liten ö. En slump? Kanske.Jag beställer båda på antikvariat och faller rakt ner i barndomen när jag börjar läsa Sök vid nymåne. Den underbart muntra boken handlar om en 1950-talsfamilj som på impuls köper en ö på Västkusten och bygger sig ett hus. En lång rad udda människor kommer i deras väg och jag skrattar högt precis som förr.Omläsning ger igenkänning som kan skapa trygghet. Små barn hör gärna samma sagobok hundra gånger. Om det finns någon bok jag är verkligt trött på att läsa högt så är det Richard Scarrys Vi lär oss ABC. Men även äldre barn kan uppskatta omläsandets trygghet. I Sök vid nymåne är alla snälla och allt ordnar sig till det bästa. Jag visste precis vad jag skulle få när jag tog ner den ur hyllan. Lättsam underhållning och lyckligt slut. Precis som i en annan av mina barndomsfavoriter ”Vi på Saltkråkan”. Även den utspelar sig för övrigt på en ö, med en intrig som är märkligt lik Sök vid nymåne. Nybloms bok kom ut först.Men läser inte också många av oss som vuxna om böcker för att det inger oss trygghet?Kerstin Ekman konstaterar i sin essäsamling Min bokvärld att det är nutidsflykt hon ägnar sig åt när hon glider in i Herman Melvilles Moby Dick. Jag citerar ”På 1840-talet när Melville skrev om havet hade ännu inga tankfartyg läckt ut tjockolja, ingen plast drev omkring på sjön, fragmenterades och sjönk neråt för att slukas som osmältbar föda av valar, delfiner och andra havsvarelser. Inga motorer bullrade och inga enorma turistfartyg i flera våningar släppte ut sitt avfall i dessa till synes oändliga vatten.” Slut citat.Moby Dick är som bekant ingen munter bok, och det är inte heller Kejsarn av Portugallien eller Jan Fridegårds En natt i juni, som jag själv läst om som nutidsflykt. Bara det faktum att de utspelar sig i en svunnen tid ger möjlighet till en stunds vila från klimat- och miljöbekymmer. En trygghet så god som någon.Men de flesta av mina omläsningar i vuxen ålder handlar inte om trygghet. Jag har återvänt till Månen och silverslanten av William Somerset Maugham, Det som en gång var av Helena Granström och Mästaren och Margarita av Michail Bulgakov för att de varit omvälvande läsning på olika sätt. Mästerligt skildrad mänsklig komplexitet; intellektuellt utmanande existentiella frågor i skönlitterär dräkt; vildsint magisk realism och samhällssatir. När jag sjunkit in i dem för andra eller tredje gången har det fortfarande funnits mer tankeguld att hämta, mer njutning att få.Den ideala läsaren, menar Ekman, är just den som läser om. Efter att en av hennes böcker gått som radioföljetong hör flera personer av sig och berättar att de förstått boken på ett annat sätt den här gången. Den första läsningen skedde för spänningen, den andra ledde djupare.Kerstin Ekman själv återvänder till bland andra Leo Tolstojs Krig och fred, Thomas Manns Bergtagen, Emily Brontës Svindlande höjder och Cora Sandels Alberte och Jakob. Hon läser dem mitt i natten när hon inte kan sova och beskriver en djup och varaktig kärlek till dem, en sådan man kan känna för en god människa eller en älskad hund. Det är böcker med förtrollande språk och underhållande intrig; böcker som förbryllar och böcker som hon som författare återvänder till för att lära sig mer om hantverket. Böcker som för varje omläsning ger nya perspektiv, nya frågor och nya insikter.En läsupplevelse formas alltid av berättelsen i kombination med våra egna erfarenheter, känslor och tankar. Som läsare stiger man aldrig ned i samma berättelse två gånger. Det här kan vi gärna hålla i minnet när det kommer till läsning i utbildningssyfte. Är det en litteraturkanon vi behöver, eller fördjupning? Att läsa för att ha läst eller för att förstå och utvidga vår tankeförmåga? Att läsa om är att vägra vara effektiv, vägra prestera och vägra erövra.Jag minns ännu hur min gymnasieklass fick läsa, och läsa om, Gunnar Ekelöfs debutsamling Sent på jorden och hur vi tillsammans tog oss allt djupare in i texten. Denna gemensamma vandring bland Ekelöfs dikter är ett av mitt livs största läsupplevelser. Inget skulle bockas av. I stället återvände vi till samma texter och utforskade dem från nya håll. Alla de böcker som fått ett kapitel i Kerstin Ekmans Min bokvärld hör till det vi betraktar som höglitteratur: Homeros, Eyvind Johnson, Selma Lagerlöf, Henrik Ibsen, Charles Dickens, Moa Martinsson, Doris Lessing, bland andra. Men inte läser väl Kerstin Ekman bara om sådan litteratur? I bisatser nämner hon Jerome K Jeromes Tre män i en båt och Agatha Christies 4.50 från Paddington.Vilken bok har hon läst om flest gånger, 4.50 från Paddington eller Thomas Manns Bergtagen? Varför får den ena en helt egen essä medan den andra nämns i förbigående?Kanske kan hennes nästa bok handla om alla de böcker hon återvänder till för att de ger henne tröst, trygghet och skratt trots, eller kanske på grund av sin lätthet. Så som Adrian Moles dagböcker av Sue Townsend både roat och lugnat mig sedan jag läste de första delarna i tioårsåldern.Adrian Mole har följt mig genom livet och varje omläsning är ett besök inte bara i en för mig välbekant bokvärld utan också hos en tioåring som satt lutad mot väggen i sängens fotända med en bok i händerna och skrattade åt helt andra saker än en femtioåring.Vissa, tyngre, böcker i min hylla är fulla av understrykningar i olika färger. Alla är de mina, gjorda under decennier. Som 40-åring ville jag markera andra rader än som 20-åring. Genom årtiondena talar jag inte bara med böckerna jag läser om utan också med mig själv och den jag var när jag läste förra gången och gången innan den.Omläsningsböckerna är den bästa sortens vänner; de som hela tiden öppnar nya skikt i en, men som samtidigt låter en minnas och bevara den man en gång var.Eva-Lotta Hultén, journalist och författareLitteraturKerstin Ekman: Min bokvärld. Albert Bonniers förlag, 2023.

Olaug Nilssen og Marie Aubert starter ny sesong med å snakke om dagbøker! Marie har skrevet dagbok hele livet, mens for Olaug føles dagbok som bortkastet tid. Hvorfor er det interessant å lese om andres erfaringer, og hvor ærlig og autentisk kan en redigert dagbok egentlig være? Kan man lese dagbøker som romaner? Og hva står det i Maries dagbøker fra barneskolen?Disse tekstene nevnes i episoden:- Liv Køltzow. Dagbøker i utvalg 1964-2008 av Liv Køltzow, red. Hans Petter Blad og Kaja Schjerven Mollerin, Aschehoug (2021)- Året med 13. måneder. En dagbok av Åsa Linderborg, overs. Nina Aspen, Gyldendal (2020)- Mitt Abruzzo. Journal 29.1.-18.7.2021 av Per Petterson, Oktober (2021)- «Kjære dagbok» av Tor Eystein Øverås, essay i Vinduet (20.12.2021)- Adrian Mole-serien av Sue Townsend (1982-2009)- Superhemmelig og Topphemmelig av Barbro Lindgren, overs. Inger Dietrichson og Mona Helene Saastad, Tiden norsk forlag (1974 og 1975)- Sylteagurker med sjokolade av «Stephanie» / Philippe Labro, overs. Bente Christensen, Cappelens forlag (1987)- Bare spør Alice. Autentisk dagbok av en pike som ble stoffmisbruker av Beatrice Sparks, overs. Arne Moen, Gyldendal (1991)- Gottfried von Baaders dagbok av Pål Norheim, Tiden norsk forlag (1998)- Oppdateringer og Oppdateringer 2 av Pål Norheim, Kolon (2014 og 2017)I podkasten «Olaug og Aubert på Litteraturhuset» møtes forfatterne Olaug Nilssen og Marie Aubert for å snakke om bøker de liker. I subjektiv bokklubb-stil snakker de om utroskap, vennskap, nittitallet, dystopier, og mye mer.Podkasten er produsert for Stiftelsen Litteraturhuset i 2023Vignett ved Hans Kristen HyrveCoverfoto Kristin Svanæs-Soot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jamie Fewery, author of OUR LIFE IN A DAY, THE WAY BACK and the just about to be published THE BRINK a rom-com told in reverse about a couple on the brink of divorce.Jamie chats about:Being part of the marketing team who made Fifty Shades of Grey go stratospheric, and what it taught him about being published himselfHow the first novel he went on submission with wasn't the book he first published but was what got him a publisherBeing a man who writes about relationships in a market and how those books are his preference tooHis experience of changing publishers for his third novelGuest Author: Jamie Fewery Twitter: @jamiefewery IG: @jamiefeweryauthor Books: THE BRINK, THE WAY BACK, OUR LIFE IN A DAYHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family (coming May 2023. Jamie's recommendations:A book for fans of Jamie's work: Republic of Love by Carol ShieldsA book Jamie has always loved: Collected Stories by Lorrie MooreA book that's been published recently or is coming soon: This Family by Kate Sawyer, At The Table by Clare Powell Other books discussed in this episode: Unless by Carol Shields, Larry's Party by Carol Shields, Ralph's Party by Lisa Jewell, The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer, The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbuck, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole by Sue Townsend, Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams, Normal People by Sally Rooney, The Exhibitionist by Charlotte Mendelson, I'm Sorry You Feel That Way by Rebecca WaitNovel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCHTo receive transcripts and news from Kate to your inbox please SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.

My guest this week is Emma Aldwinckle, based in Leicester, who is writing a Diary of a Disabled PhD student. We talk about pilgrimage journeys and the notion of doing a PhD as a pilgrimage journey. Emma talks about her chronic illness and how it impacts on her ability to travel to places. We learn about her three wheelchairs and all the different makes and models she has had to navigate, and Emma talks about an artist who is making a non-disabled person feel like they are in the shoes of a disabled person. Emma also reflects on how technology has opened up a whole new world for disabled people. We learn how the return to physical meetings and classes has posed a problem for Emma, and we discuss how technology will evolve post-Covid. We talk about the days of queuing up to use the phone and renting TVs, and Emma shares a wonderful anecdote about hiding from the TV rental man. We learn about Emma's PhD and how she has done something really innovative. She talks about referencing academics who wrote about a council estate in Leicester which they had never lived in and which anyone who lived there wouldn't recognize. We find out how the creative writing aspect of a PhD appeals and what they teach us about social issues. It will be more of a novel than a traditional PhD, and Emma also talks about how there are many people in the media with hidden disabilities. Emma tells us why last year was the Year of Death as many people she knows died and Emma talks about Leicester-based Sue Townsend and the letters she received after she opened up about her disability in later life and the added labour that has to be done by disabled PhD students. Then, at the end of the interview, Emma reflects on how the twists and turns we experience in life make us who we are as a person. We learn what she always dreamed of doing from a young age and we find out whether she looks back or forward and how bad experiences can be put to good use, as well as the importance of exploring.

Nicole Hockley lost her son Dylan when he was 6 years old, during the Sandy Hook school shooting in Connecticut in 2012. She talks about her son, her feelings of loss, her activism and her reaction to the trial of Alex Jones, where a jury decided he should pay nearly 1 billion dollars in damages. Do you feel comfortable voicing your opinion? Are you afraid of the ‘cancel culture'? Actress Juliet Stevenson is in a new play that address the issue of differing opinions in the modern world – she explains why she thinks we've lost free speech in this country. Women in Iran are continuing to protest in the wake of the death of Mahsa Amini. Iranian women have a strong history of protesting – author Kamin Mohammidi discusses. This week marks 40 years of Sue Townsend's ‘The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole'. English Professor Emma Parker and writer Cathy Rentzenbrink join us to talk about the enduring legacy of Adrian Mole. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Lottie Garton

The Doctor' first opened at the Almeida in 2019 Juliet Stevenson's performance was described as ‘one of the peaks of the theatrical year'. Now on stage in London's West End the play has again been highly applauded by the critics. Juliet joins Emma Barnett to discuss playing Dr Ruth Wolff, medical ethics, identity politics, anti-Semitism, media witch hunts and the way institutions protect themselves against criticism. It's been 40 years since The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ by Sue Townsend was published. On New Year's Day 1981 Adrian lives in Leicester. His parent's relationship is rocky, money is tight. He is worried about his spots and the length of his penis and he yearns for Pandora a girl from school who is from the posh part of town. Joining Emma are Dr Emma Parker, Associate Professor of English working on Twentieth Century women's writing at Leicester University and the writer Cathy Rentzenbrink. What does the diary of a teenage boy tell us about the lives of girls and women in the early 80's? We hear from the Miriam Cates, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge who yesterday at PMQ's asked Liz Truss about the charity Mermaids which offers support around gender and identity to children and young people up to 25 years old and is currently the subject of a regulatory compliance case by the Charity Commission. Plus Paralympian swimmer Ellie Simmonds talks about her Strictly Come Dancing journey and the impact of the online trolling she's received since taking part in the show. Presenter Emma Barnett Producer Beverley Purcell PHOTO CREDIT. Ruth Wolff

Just our luck! We have finished “The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 ¾” by Sue Townsend! Jody and Alison discuss episode one of the 1985 TV adaptation, touch on some Adrian miscellany, play a quickie round of Jeopardy, and read some one-star reviews. They also veer into semi-relevant chat about Peloton star Cody Rigsby. Thanks so much Blume Head Danielle for her letter about Food Lion and her childhood performance of Fame. Stay tuned for our next book announcement – we're going back to Judy y'all!

Our guest this week is author Tom Watson. Tom is a graduate of the UEA creative writing course where he won the Curtis Brown Prize. Metronome, his debut novel was published on 31st March. It is an utterly compelling read examining what happens to human relationships and love when put under extreme pressure. The podcast is produced and presented by the team at Mostly Books. Find us on Twitter @mostlyreading & Instagram @mostlybooks_shop. Edited by Nick Short @alongstoryshorter. Metronome is published in the UK by Bloomsbury. Books mentioned in this episode include: Metronome - Tom Watson 9781526639547 My Family and Other Animals - Gerald Durrell 9780141374109 The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 - Sue Townsend 9780141315980 Moby-Dick - Herman Melville 9780141198958 East of Eden - John Steinbeck 9780141185071 The Secret History - Donna Tartt 9780140167771 The Waves - Virginia Woolf 9781784870843 The Shipping News - Annie Proulx 9781857022421 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro 9780571258246 Dept. of Speculation - Jenny Offill 9781847088741

The novelist Beth Miller talks to me about Sue Townsend's classic The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾, as well as the strange world of tribute acts and how difficult it is to get a funny book published these days.

Hosts Dan, Irenosen and Simon are joined by author and screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce to look at the "Coming Of Age" category in the BBC's Novels That Shaped Our World list. This list of 10 books includes the Twighlight Saga, the Harry Potter Books and Sue Townsend's classic "The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4" Frank discusses his writing and inspirations, how important libraries are to him and what he thinks is missing from the list. We also hear from Professor Sebastian Groes, on some findings that his research unearthed about the Coming Of Age novels in this list.

“The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4,” Oct 9-Nov 6, 1981. Adrian nearly dies TWICE (camping and tonsils), goes to a weird Marriage Counselor Bonfire, and most importantly, FINDS CHARLIE! Jody and Alison chat about the newly announced Superfudge animated film, football, and of course, perform some faux British dramatic readings. Thank you, Sue Townsend, for this gem of a book. It's a Judy Blume book club. Join us every week!

"The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4," May 6-June 7, 1981. Adrian paints his Noddy wallpaper black and becomes a red sock revolutionary. Dad is made redundant, the power shuts off, Bert Baxter loses his 40-year-old false teeth, Doreen Slater cures Dad's impotence, and Grandma beats up Barry Kent. Jody and Alison do dramatic readings and provide critical literary analysis of this Sue Townsend classic. Ginormous thank yous to Blume Heads Lisa and Deanna for their letters about drunk teens, Jane Eyre, and Panic in Needle Park. It's a Judy Blume book club. Join us every week!

"The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4," March 3-April 10, 1981. Happy Christmas Eve, Blume Heads! Adrian turns 14 and calls the emergency doctor over a case of zits, Nigel and Pandora split up (so do Adrian's parents), Bert Baxter terrorizes the OAP Skegness outing, and dad clobbers Mr. Lucas at their Civilized Meeting. Join Alison and Jody for a cup of Bovril and a deeper dive into Simone De Beauvoir, mediocre English accents, and dramatic reenactments. It's a Judy Blume (and Sue Townsend) book club. Join us every week!

"The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4," Jan 1-15, 1981. Say hello to our new book, the Sue Townsend classic! Jody and Alison chat about 1981's events, music, movies, and TV... UK-style. Welcome to the year of John McEnroe's Wimbledon tirade, Charles and Diana, The Yorkshire Ripper, Bucks Fizz on Eurovision, and the teen who tried to shoot the Queen. Adrian starts the new year with some lofty resolutions, decides he's an intellectual, and writes a poem for Malcolm Muggeridge. Charlie runs away, Nigel shows off his tan, and Pandora enters the scene. There's also some classic British adverts and truly awful English accents (please forgive us). Super duper thank you to our newest Patron, Lisa W.! It's a Judy Blume book club. Join us every week!

Do you remember being 13 years old? Or maybe you ARE 13 years old! You may even be preparing for that big step into "teenagehood"! No matter how old you are, being 13 is a BIG DEAL. Join guest host Luke Blaylock and Talia Smith as they discuss the epic highs and lows of a boy named Adrian Mole, age 13 ¾. Show Linktree: https://linktr.ee/onceuponatimepod Guest Host: Luke BlaylockTwitter: @theblaylockUK Instagram: @the_absolute_blaylock Youtube: Luke BlaylockResources:The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Age 13 ¾ by Sue TownsendThe Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Age 13 ¾ (TV) (1985)The Secret Diary of Adrain Mole, Age 13 ¾, The Musical Fox Books, Book Store“Why Sue Townsend's Adrian Mole is such an important character” by Alyssa RosenbergSue Townsend BBC Obituary Sue Townsend-Honorary Degree-University of Leicester (1991) YouTubeA Life in… Sue Townsend by Alex ClarkThe Secret Life of Sue Townsend, BBC Documentary YouTubeSue Townsend: The Difficult Years by Iain HollingsheadSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/OnceUponATimePC)

Author and columnist Caitlin Moran talks to John Wilson about some of the works and events that have had the biggest influence on her writing career. The eldest of eight children, she was home-schooled and raised on a council estate in Wolverhampton. At just 16 years old she published her first novel, became a music journalist, and started writing regular columns in the national press. She explains why Sue Townsend's brilliantly funny The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ fuelled her desire to become a novelist, how the British music press allowed her to hone her craft as a journalist, and how a letter from Lenny Henry changed her life. Producer: Edwina Pitman

I have loved Christmas since I was a child. The hopes of snow and flying reindeer, that special Christmassy feeling in the air. I still sense that as a grown up, but the festive season seems to come with a lot more pressure these days. This year, instead of trying to create the perfect Instagrammable Christmas, what if we just relaxed and focused on what really matters? Welcome to Season Two of the Calm Christmas podcast with bestselling self-help author Beth Kempton. This series is all about making the season special for less – less stress, less expense, less pressure… Episode 1 is on the theme of PREPARE and includes:A cosy introduction to The Calm Christmas PodcastPondering the question of what Christmas means to you – and to meSome beautiful wintery words from some of my favourite writers and poetsJournaling prompts for reflecting on your Christmas experiencesPlus our weekly nature corner, recipes, wellbeing ideas and tips for getting ahead for ChristmasI hope this podcast will help you locate Christmas as an anchor in the stormy seas of winter in this world right now. New episodes every Wednesday throughout November and December. Remember to subscribe to get new episodes as soon as they drop! CLICK HERE to sign up for my FREE two-week writing course, the Winter Writing Sanctuary (runs Nov 22 – Dec 4 2021) For more details of my book Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year go to bethkempton.com/christmasTo be in with a chance of winning a signed copy of The Almanac 2022 by Lia Leendertz and my book Calm Christmas, head over to Instagram @bethkempton. The deadline for entries is 4pm UK time on Friday November 5, 2021. Take good care, Beth (@bethkempton on Instagram)Featured in this episode:·      Good Hours by Robert Frost, in A Mind of Winter edited by Robert Atwan·      We Can be Film Stars, Just for One Day by Sue Townsend in On Christmas: A seasonal anthology by Gyles Brandreth·      Of Calcutta, Christmas and New Year by Suhel Seth in On Christmas: A seasonal anthology by Gyles Brandreth ·      Introduction by Judith Flanders in Poems for Christmas·      Christmas: A biography by Judith Flanders ·      The Almanac: A seasonal guide to 2022  by Lia Leendertz ·      Royal Horticultural Society's Gardening Through The Year by Ian Spence·      East Wind Melts the Ice by Liza Dalby ·      Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year by Beth Kempton 

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ is the first book in the Adrian Mole series of comedic fiction, written by Sue Townsend. The book is written in a diary style, and focuses on the worries and regrets of a teenager who believes himself to be an intellectual

In Episode 21 of the podcast, Anisha and Dhruv discuss their favourite “What If” books and movies. From Paul Auster's seminal 4 3 2 1 to Kate Atkinson's Life after Life and companion piece, A God in Ruins to Sue Townsend's lighter Queen Camilla to Curtis Sittenfeld's alternative history novel, Rodham. Also, books we've struggled with: Strange Hotel by Eimear McBride for Anisha and Lincoln in the Bardot by George Saunders for Dhruv. There's loads on the watch front too: Marvel's What If and HBO's latest prestige offering, The White Lotus, with razor sharp observations on privilege and class. We end with Anisha's controversial admission on Pixar movies. Oh yes we do. WATCH Marvel Studios What If / The Butterfly Effect / What is the butterfly effect? / That's 70's Show / Dude, Where's My Car? / Sliding Doors / Grey's Anatomy / Inglorious Bastards / The White Lotus / American Pie / Our discussion on Netflix and its binge strategy / Shang-Chi / Up / Opening montage of Up BINGE READ 4321 by Paul Auster / New York Trilogy by Paul Auster / Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld / Queen Camilla by Sue Townsend / Life After Life by Kate Atkinson / A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson / Strange Hotel by Eimear McBride, also discussed in my latest blog post / A Girl in A Half Formed Thing by Eimear McBride / Lincoln in the Bardot by George Saunders / Our short story episode / Follow us on Instagram and listen to our episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Anchor and wherever you get your podcasts by typing EAT WATCH BINGE READ. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/eatwatchbingeread/message

Mallory Blunder is a flamboyant Bloomsbury playwright who receives weekly treats from a mysterious admirer. Mallory's mother Face-times him from her Torquay home atop crumbling cliffs, hoping that a marriage might be in the offing. After discussing his latest show, a genius work-in-progress, Mallory breaks the news about a terrible fate that has befallen his most virulent and vitriolic critic. His mother hatches a plan . . . PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY is the first heartwarming book from the Curled Up and Cozy Collection, a charming and quirky magical realism series from the author of FITZMARBURY WITCHES, #1 Amazon Best Seller in several dark fiction categories. Audio drama exclusive preview! Allow me to introduce you to your eccentric new London neighbours! Some harbour secrets. Some stumble, tumble, or tiptoe through their days. Others hurtle towards outlandish destinies. PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY is as snug as an English country village, as intriguing as a Miss Marple mystery, and as enthralling as Tales of the City. This book is a literary antidote to the lock-down blues. PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY is available on Amazon from September, 2021. Be enchanted by author D. J. Swales' debut feel-good novel of spell-binding and quirky magical realism fiction. The pages of PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY will charm readers of Strange Weather in Tokyo, Tales of the City, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Convenience Store Woman, The Diary of Adrian Mole, The Nakano Thrift Shop, and Palace Walk. Meet these neighbours and more: Josie is an nocturnal neighbourhood seer and midnight street dancer. Mr. Bootle is the owner of an esoteric bookshop haunted by a ghost named Jemima. Jasper Mince lives a clandestine rent-free life under the bed of an unwitting local resident. Mallory Blunder is a flamboyant purple-gowned theatre impresario who swings from one stage disaster to another. Mrs. Sorpresa owns and runs a cavernous invitation-only Colombian cafe and bakery, while quietly nursing a broken heart . Mrs. Hargreaves and her two children cultivate a fifth floor ramshackle balcony farm nicknamed, The Hanging Gardens of Bloomsbury. Danny Savarino must confront the disappearance of his parents and and investigate their mysterious sightings around the world. Listen now, your new neighbours are waiting . . . Be charmed by this first book in the CURLED UP AND COZY COLLECTION, a series of charming short-chapter books inspired by Japanese popular fiction authors such as Hiromi Kawakami, Sayaka Murata, and Haruki Murakami, and the work of Armistead Maupin, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Naguib Mahfouz, Sue Townsend, Salley Vickers, and Matt Haig. Enjoy this audio drama exclusive preview podcast. This author is an independent creative. Please support him on PATREON or PAYPAL.

Discover how Sheila Barclay returned from London to Belfast, soon scandalizing the already-divided society with her newfangled take on Irish stew. Learn how Sheila boomeranged back to London in triumph, where one of her first customers outside Green Park Station was Josie (before she became Bloomsbury's mysterious midnight walker). PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY is the first heartwarming book from the Curled Up and Cozy Collection, a charming and quirky magical realism series from the author of FITZMARBURY WITCHES, #1 Amazon Best Seller in several dark fiction categories. Audio drama exclusive preview! Allow me to introduce you to your eccentric new London neighbours! Some harbour secrets. Some stumble, tumble, or tiptoe through their days. Others hurtle towards outlandish destinies. PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY is as snug as an English country village, as intriguing as a Miss Marple mystery, and as enthralling as Tales of the City. This book is a literary antidote to the lock-down blues. PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY is available on Amazon from September, 2021. Be enchanted by author D. J. Swales' debut feel-good novel of spell-binding and quirky magical realism fiction. The pages of PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY will charm readers of Strange Weather in Tokyo, Tales of the City, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Convenience Store Woman, The Diary of Adrian Mole, The Nakano Thrift Shop, and Palace Walk. Meet these neighbours and more: Josie is an nocturnal neighbourhood seer and midnight street dancer. Mr. Bootle is the owner of an esoteric bookshop haunted by a ghost named Jemima. Jasper Mince lives a clandestine rent-free life under the bed of an unwitting local resident. Mallory Blunder is a flamboyant purple-gowned theatre impresario who swings from one stage disaster to another. Mrs. Sorpresa owns and runs a cavernous invitation-only Colombian cafe and bakery, while quietly nursing a broken heart . Mrs. Hargreaves and her two children cultivate a fifth floor ramshackle balcony farm nicknamed, The Hanging Gardens of Bloomsbury. Danny Savarino must confront the disappearance of his parents and and investigate their mysterious sightings around the world. Listen now, your new neighbours are waiting . . . Be charmed by this first book in the CURLED UP AND COZY COLLECTION, a series of charming short-chapter books inspired by Japanese popular fiction authors such as Hiromi Kawakami, Sayaka Murata, and Haruki Murakami, and the work of Armistead Maupin, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Naguib Mahfouz, Sue Townsend, Salley Vickers, and Matt Haig. Enjoy this audio drama exclusive preview podcast. This author is an independent creative. Please support him on PATREON or PAYPAL.

PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY is the first heartwarming book from the Curled Up and Cozy Collection, a charming and quirky magical realism series from the author of FITZMARBURY WITCHES, #1 Amazon Best Seller in several dark fiction categories. Audio drama exclusive preview! Allow me to introduce you to your eccentric new London neighbours! Some harbour secrets. Some stumble, tumble, or tiptoe through their days. Others hurtle towards outlandish destinies. PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY is as snug as an English country village, as intriguing as a Miss Marple mystery, and as enthralling as Tales of the City. This book is a literary antidote to the lock-down blues. PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY is available on Amazon from September, 2021. Be enchanted by author D. J. Swales' debut feel-good novel of spell-binding and quirky magical realism fiction. The pages of PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY will charm readers of Strange Weather in Tokyo, Tales of the City, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Convenience Store Woman, The Diary of Adrian Mole, The Nakano Thrift Shop, and Palace Walk. Meet these neighbours and more: Josie is an nocturnal neighbourhood seer and midnight street dancer. Mr. Bootle is the owner of an esoteric bookshop haunted by a ghost named Jemima. Jasper Mince lives a clandestine rent-free life under the bed of an unwitting local resident. Mallory Blunder is a flamboyant purple-gowned theatre impresario who swings from one stage disaster to another. Mrs. Sorpresa owns and runs a cavernous invitation-only Colombian cafe and bakery, while quietly nursing a broken heart . Mrs. Hargreaves and her two children cultivate a fifth floor ramshackle balcony farm nicknamed, The Hanging Gardens of Bloomsbury. Danny Savarino must confront the disappearance of his parents and and investigate their mysterious sightings around the world. Listen now, your new neighbours are waiting . . . Be charmed by this first book in the CURLED UP AND COZY COLLECTION, a series of charming short-chapter books inspired by Japanese popular fiction authors such as Hiromi Kawakami, Sayaka Murata, and Haruki Murakami, and the work of Armistead Maupin, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Naguib Mahfouz, Sue Townsend, Salley Vickers, and Matt Haig. Enjoy this audio drama exclusive preview podcast. This author is an independent creative. Please support him on PATREON or PAYPAL.

Turtle was conceived during an eventful skinny-dipping session on the coast of North Wales. He is obsessed with trapping pigeons for their "good luck feathers", using skills he claims to have acquired from staying too long in his mother's womb. We learn how Turtle has employed these unappreciated skills around the world . . . PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY is the first heartwarming book from the Curled Up and Cozy Collection, a charming and quirky magical realism series from the author of FITZMARBURY WITCHES, #1 Amazon Best Seller in several dark fiction categories. Audio drama exclusive preview! Allow me to introduce you to your eccentric new London neighbours! Some harbour secrets. Some stumble, tumble, or tiptoe through their days. Others hurtle towards outlandish destinies. PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY is as snug as an English country village, as intriguing as a Miss Marple mystery, and as enthralling as Tales of the City. This book is a literary antidote to the lock-down blues. PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY is available on Amazon from September, 2021. Be enchanted by author D. J. Swales' debut feel-good novel of spell-binding and quirky magical realism fiction. The pages of PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY will charm readers of Strange Weather in Tokyo, Tales of the City, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Convenience Store Woman, The Diary of Adrian Mole, The Nakano Thrift Shop, and Palace Walk. Meet these neighbours and more: Josie is an nocturnal neighbourhood seer and midnight street dancer. Mr. Bootle is the owner of an esoteric bookshop haunted by a ghost named Jemima. Jasper Mince lives a clandestine rent-free life under the bed of an unwitting local resident. Mallory Blunder is a flamboyant purple-gowned theatre impresario who swings from one stage disaster to another. Mrs. Sorpresa owns and runs a cavernous invitation-only Colombian cafe and bakery, while quietly nursing a broken heart . Mrs. Hargreaves and her two children cultivate a fifth floor ramshackle balcony farm nicknamed, The Hanging Gardens of Bloomsbury. Danny Savarino must confront the disappearance of his parents and and investigate their mysterious sightings around the world. Listen now, your new neighbours are waiting . . . Be charmed by this first book in the CURLED UP AND COZY COLLECTION, a series of charming short-chapter books inspired by Japanese popular fiction authors such as Hiromi Kawakami, Sayaka Murata, and Haruki Murakami, and the work of Armistead Maupin, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Naguib Mahfouz, Sue Townsend, Salley Vickers, and Matt Haig. Enjoy this audio drama exclusive preview podcast. This author is an independent creative. Please support him on PATREON or PAYPAL.

Jasper Mince recalls the tragic and fortuitous events leading to the day he came to be living secretly under the bed of his host. PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY is the first heartwarming book from the Curled Up and Cozy Collection, a charming and quirky magical realism series from the author of FITZMARBURY WITCHES, #1 Amazon Best Seller in several dark fiction categories. Audio drama exclusive preview! Allow me to introduce you to your eccentric new London neighbours! Some harbour secrets. Some stumble, tumble, or tiptoe through their days. Others hurtle towards outlandish destinies. PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY is as snug as an English country village, as intriguing as a Miss Marple mystery, and as enthralling as Tales of the City. This book is a literary antidote to the lock-down blues. PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY is available on Amazon from September, 2021. Be enchanted by author D. J. Swales' debut feel-good novel of spell-binding and quirky magical realism fiction. The pages of PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY will charm readers of Strange Weather in Tokyo, Tales of the City, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Convenience Store Woman, The Diary of Adrian Mole, The Nakano Thrift Shop, and Palace Walk. Meet these neighbours and more: Josie is an nocturnal neighbourhood seer and midnight street dancer. Mr. Bootle is the owner of an esoteric bookshop haunted by a ghost named Jemima. Jasper Mince lives a clandestine rent-free life under the bed of an unwitting local resident. Mallory Blunder is a flamboyant purple-gowned theatre impresario who swings from one stage disaster to another. Mrs. Sorpresa owns and runs a cavernous invitation-only Colombian cafe and bakery, while quietly nursing a broken heart . Mrs. Hargreaves and her two children cultivate a fifth floor ramshackle balcony farm nicknamed, The Hanging Gardens of Bloomsbury. Danny Savarino must confront the disappearance of his parents and and investigate their mysterious sightings around the world. Listen now, your new neighbours are waiting . . . Be charmed by this first book in the CURLED UP AND COZY COLLECTION, a series of charming short-chapter books inspired by Japanese popular fiction authors such as Hiromi Kawakami, Sayaka Murata, and Haruki Murakami, and the work of Armistead Maupin, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Naguib Mahfouz, Sue Townsend, Salley Vickers, and Matt Haig. Enjoy this audio drama exclusive preview podcast. This author is an independent creative. Please support him on PATREON or PAYPAL.

Jasper Mince is a troubled runaway from Yorkshire. He lives secretly in Ridgmount Gardens, coming and going by stealth. He works a security job nearby, sharing his shift with a culinary Hungarian, who obsesses over a cake named Marmalade Whoopsy. Dressed like a ninja, Jasper watches Josie depart on one of her nocturnal jaunts. PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY is the first heartwarming book from the Curled Up and Cozy Collection, a charming and quirky magical realism series from the author of FITZMARBURY WITCHES, #1 Amazon Best Seller in several dark fiction categories. Audio drama exclusive preview! Allow me to introduce you to your eccentric new London neighbours! Some harbour secrets. Some stumble, tumble, or tiptoe through their days. Others hurtle towards outlandish destinies. PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY is as snug as an English country village, as intriguing as a Miss Marple mystery, and as enthralling as Tales of the City. This book is a literary antidote to the lock-down blues. PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY is available on Amazon from September, 2021. Be enchanted by author D. J. Swales' debut feel-good novel of spell-binding and quirky magical realism fiction. The pages of PEOPLE OF BLOOMSBURY will charm readers of Strange Weather in Tokyo, Tales of the City, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Convenience Store Woman, The Diary of Adrian Mole, The Nakano Thrift Shop, and Palace Walk. Meet these neighbours and more: Josie is an nocturnal neighbourhood seer and midnight street dancer. Mr. Bootle is the owner of an esoteric bookshop haunted by a ghost named Jemima. Jasper Mince lives a clandestine rent-free life under the bed of an unwitting local resident. Mallory Blunder is a flamboyant purple-gowned theatre impresario who swings from one stage disaster to another. Mrs. Sorpresa owns and runs a cavernous invitation-only Colombian cafe and bakery, while quietly nursing a broken heart . Mrs. Hargreaves and her two children cultivate a fifth floor ramshackle balcony farm nicknamed, The Hanging Gardens of Bloomsbury. Danny Savarino must confront the disappearance of his parents and and investigate their mysterious sightings around the world. Listen now, your new neighbours are waiting . . . Be charmed by this first book in the CURLED UP AND COZY COLLECTION, a series of charming short-chapter books inspired by Japanese popular fiction authors such as Hiromi Kawakami, Sayaka Murata, and Haruki Murakami, and the work of Armistead Maupin, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Naguib Mahfouz, Sue Townsend, Salley Vickers, and Matt Haig. Enjoy this audio drama exclusive preview podcast. This author is an independent creative. Please support him on PATREON or PAYPAL.

Hi Should-Heads! This is a fun but expensive episode. We're joined by Claire Handscombe, author, bookseller, noted West Wing enthusiast and podcaster! Claire came with a great list of recommendations and they all sound amazing. You're going to want to take notes and hit up your library or favorite bookstore (or Blackwell's.com--just one of many hot tips we get from this episode). Want to read some amazing books before most people can? Sign up for Book of the Month and use our promo code WHATYOUSHOULDREAD at checkout to get your first box for just $9.99. Check out their February selections:     https://www.bookofthemonth.com/the-best-new-books  Rachael Reads on Youtube:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHYcyAEteFiL-sLHZVLX6nw Bachelor Nation reading challenge:         https://www.instagram.com/p/CJl3uDVJmuc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Tis the Damn Readathon (Taylor Swift challenge):    https://twitter.com/damnreadathon Currently Reading: Julia: Olive (Emma Gannon--one of Claire's recommendations!) and Temporary (Hilary Leichter)Kelly: The Kingdom of Back (Marie Lu)Rachael: Graceling series (Kristin Cashore)  Recent Acquisitions:Julia: none, somehow Kelly: Life in the Balance (Jen Petro-Roy), Cool For the Summer (Dahlia Adler), Sloppy Firsts re-release (Megan McCafferty) and Wings of Ebony (J Elle)  Rachael: Love is For Losers (Wibke Brueggemann)Other Books Mentioned (Claire bankrupts us): Unscripted (Claire Handscombe), The Office of Historical Corrections (Danielle Evans), Oh My God, What a Complete Aisling (Emer McLysaght), the Georgia Nicolson series (Louise Rennison), Eleanor Olyphant is Completely Fine (Gail Honeyman), One Day in December (Josie Silver), Act Your Age, Eve Brown (Talia Hibbert), Olive (Emma Gannon), The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 and 3/4 (Sue Townsend), One Day (David Nicholls), Love, Nina (Nina Stibbe), Freshers/Freshmen (Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison), The Paris Connection (Lorraine Brown) and the collected works of Kazuo Ishiguro. Follow Claire Handscombe: Twitter: @bookishclaire and @britlitpodcastInstagram: @claireandherbooks Podcast: https://linktr.ee/britlitpodcast Buy Unscripted: https://bookshop.org/books/unscripted/9780997552324  Follow What You Should Read: Twitter:    @wysr_podcast Instagram:    @wysr_podcast Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/115539912-what-you-should-read-podcast YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCfNtid_b0R14otSPRZTkmQ www.whatyoushouldread.com Don't forget about our next book club! We're discussing Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro! It comes out on March 2 and you can email your thoughts or find us on social media! We're really excited for this one--and its special guest! Theme song by Violet Gray:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOQUkSoVPZkfsXtMWLoZV5Q

The second episode of our 2020 two-part special, and our festive holiday gift to you. Amy, Abbie, and Jess talk about how their reading habits changed during the pandemic and which books and audiobooks saved the day. We also hear from authors Jenny Eclair, Bali Rai, and Sally Gardner about their comfort reads. Tayari Jones, Yangsze Choo, Georgette Heyer, Jane Austen, Sue Townsend, L.M. Montgomery, Marian Keyes, Roald Dahl, Gabriel García Márquez, Maggie O'Farrell, P.G. Wodehouse, Kiley Reid—all get a look-in as writers that have brought us comfort and cheer. There's also a literary game with absolutely no prizes but lots of jingly bells.

The podcast about what funny people read...This week, comedian Tez Ilyas talks to Lucy Danser about some of his favourite books.Who is Lucy Danser?Lucy is a writer, producer and all around storytelling person. Follow her on Twitter @LucyDanser or visit www.lucydanser.co.ukBooks/Authors mentioned in this episode:The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 by Sue Townsend: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/362/9780141046426Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/362/9780141324906How Not to Be a Boy by Robert Webb: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/362/9781786890115This Is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/362/9781509858637Finding My Voice by Nadiya Hussain: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/362/9781472259974The Faraway Magic Tree by Enid Blyton: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/362/9781444959451Famous Five by Enid Blyton: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/362/9781444935011Secret Seven by Enid Blyton: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/362/9781444952452The Hobbit by JRR Tolkein: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/362/9780261103283Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkein: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/362/9780261103252Point Horror by VariousRomeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/362/9780230232082Brother in the Land by Robert Swindells: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/362/9780241331231To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/362/9781784752637Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D Taylor: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/362/9780140371741The Colour Purple by Alice Walker: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/362/97814746072541984 by George Orwell: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/362/9781847498571Animal Farm by George Orwell: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/362/9781925788754The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/362/9780241981382The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/362/9780099464464The Secret Diary of a British Muslim aged 13 3/4 by Tez Ilyas: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/362/9780751582185*Tez's ChoicesFeatured Bookshop:Notting Hill Book Exchangehttps://mgeshops.com/pages/notting-hill-comic-exchangeTwitter @ComicExchangeNHOther Links:Tez Ilyas' Official Website: https://tezilyas.comYou can follow us on Twitter & Instagram @comicsbookspodPlease share, rate and subscribe.Produced by Lucy Danser & Joseph Bellcomicsbookspod@gmail.comwww.comicsbooks.co.uk See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sue Townsend, author of the cult classic Adrian Mole series, joins Aggers for a chat in 2012.

Jenny welcomes Andrew to discuss books, and we discuss myth and folk tale retellings, classics, and reading around the world. Andrew finishes every book he starts and has been in the same book group for 20 years. Download or listen via this link: Reading Envy 194: Squirreling Books Away Subscribe to the podcast via this link: FeedburnerOr subscribe via Apple Podcasts by clicking: SubscribeOr listen through TuneIn Or listen on Google Play Or listen via StitcherOr listen through Spotify New! Listen through Google Podcasts Books discussed: Middlemarch by George EliotThese Ghosts are Family by Maisy CardOld School by Tobias WolffThe Book of Longings by Sue Monk KiddSwansong by Kerry Andrew Other mentions:The Corpse Washer by Sinan AntoonThomas HardyD.H. LawrenceThe Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne BrontëShirley by Charlotte BronteJane AustenBBC Radio 4 - In Our Time podcastLiterary Disco PodcastSilas Marner by George EliotThe Mill on the Floss by George EliotThe Sound and the Fury by William FaulknerAs I Lay Dying by William FaulknerUlysses by James JoyceUlysses dramatisationWar and Peace by Leo TolstoyThe Eighth Life by Nino HarataschwiliSolar Bones by Mike McCormackMilkman by Anna BurnsThe Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Age 13 3/4 by Sue TownsendPatsy by Nicole Dennis-BennThe Shadow King by Maaza MengisteAn Untamed State by Roxane GayThe Secret History by Donna TarttRobert FrostAyn RandErnest HemingwayNew Yorker Podcast - Tobias WolffThe other Tobias WolfeMarian KeyesThe Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk KiddThe Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk KiddThe Gnostic Gospels by Elaine PagelsThe Da Vinci Code by Dan BrownMolly BrownFolk on Foot PodcastEverything Under by Daisy Johnson (and it's Oedipus, not Hansel and Gretel!)Country by Michael HughesThe Silence of the Girls by Pat BarkerA Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes The Prince of West End Avenue by Alan Isler (not available in USA)IraqiGirl: the Diary of a Teenage Girl in Iraq Related episodes:Episode 099 - Readalong: The Secret HistoryEpisode 176 - Best of 2019Episode 182 - Reading Slump with Eleanor Thoele Episode 192 - Sly Milieu with Thomas Stalk us online:Jenny at GoodreadsJenny on TwitterJenny is @readingenvy on Instagram and LitsyAndrew at GoodreadsAndrew is @andrew61 on Litsy

Barbara Rosenblat is one of AudioFile’s original Golden Voice narrators, and she is a wonderful chameleon who makes listeners believe in every character she voices. To listeners’ great delight, many of those characters are outrageous! She delights in Sue Townsend’s hilarious send-up of the royal family, THE QUEEN & I, and in Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones, or the iconic Amelia Peabody from Elizabeth Peters’s long-running mystery series. She has also narrated serious literary work, including SUITE FRANCAISE by Irene Nemirovsky, and is a master of accents. She has more than 60 AudioFile Earphones Awards to her name. On today’s episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Barbara’s narration of a light romp that makes for great listening right now, Judith Deborah’s SOUP TO NUTS. Barbara creates wonderful vocal portraits of all of the vibrant characters in a touching story about food, friendship, and love. Comfort food and comfort listening for every season. Published by Judith Deborah. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of the complete Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library and the all-new Edgar Rice Burroughs Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s humour to be found in so much literature. And then there’s humour that is literature. This episode, curated by Kaivalya Dasu, brings together a set of readings that will remind us that literature is not just for quietly sinking into with our minds, but also for diving into joyously so that we can bubble up with laughter, or float back up to the surface with a smile. Books featured in this episode: Cocktail Time by P G Wodehouse (read by Kaivalya Dasu) The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 ¾ by Sue Townsend (read by Maya Bhagat) The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (read by Aniruddha Dasu) Brisingr by Christopher Paolini (read by Pakhee Jha) The original piece featured in the episode was written and read by Fleurette Modica

Welcome to the latest edition of For Your Ears Only. At the time of writing we are still in lockdown and restricted on our everyday social activities so we hope you are all keeping well and hopefully you’ll find some titles to entertain you and to keep you company among this season’s new books. We have the newest titles from Tracy Chevalier with “A Single Thread” and Jojo Moyes with “A Giver of Stars. Perhaps you fancy a classic spy story, so may be tempted with Len Deighton’s “The Ipcress File” or Ken Follet’s “Eye of the Needle”, or just want something to make you laugh, in which case Sue Townsend’s “Queen Camilla” is one to try.

Pictured: Dr Bill Frankland Julian Worricker on: Dr Bill Frankland, who survived three years in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, studied under Alexander Fleming, and brought the pollen count into the public arena…. The radio drama producer, John Tydeman, whose work contributed to the success of Joe Orton and Sue Townsend…. Alexander Thynne, better known as the Marquess of Bath, an artist and aristocrat, whose home was the Longleat estate in Wiltshire…. And the actress, Honor Blackman, remembered most for her portrayals of Cathy Gale in The Avengers and Pussy Galore in Goldfinger. Interviewed guest: Paul Watkins Interviewed guest: Sir John Tusa Interviewed guest: Enyd Williams Interviewed guest: Nesta Wyn Ellis Interviewed guest: Dr Josephine Botting Producer: Neil George Archive clips from: Desert Island Discs: Bill Frankland, Radio 4 09/08/2015; See You Sunday, BBC One Wales 17/03/1991; BBC Oral Histories: John Tydeman; The Mole Truth, Radio 4 20/12/2008; Desert Island Discs: The Marquess of Bath, Radio 4 07/01/2001; The Thynne Blue Line, BBC TV 11/07/1971; Jools Holland, Radio 2 16/05/2011; The Avengers, ABC 1961. Interviews in this programme with John Tydeman were taken from his contribution to the BBC Oral History Collection, an archive of more than 600 interviews with former BBC staff. For more information see: https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/100-voices/

Click here to buy: https://adbl.co/2ZPDHQK *FROM THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF CALLING MAJOR TOM* 'I loved it. Nostalgic without being saccharine, hopeful, real characters with edge. A brilliant book.' - Hayley Webster For elderly churchwarden Arthur Calderbank, there's no place like home. His home just so happens to be a graveyard. He keeps himself to himself, gets on with his job, and visits his wife everyday for a chat. When one day he finds someone else has been to see his wife - and has left flowers on her grave - he is determined to solve the mystery of who and why. He receives unlikely help from a group of teenage girls determined to break out of the poverty trap by emulating their Britpop heroes and forming a band, and as Arthur and the girls try to find answers, he soon learns that there is more to life than being surrounded by death. Set when we were all common people and things could only get better, this is an uplifting story about the power of a little kindness, friendship and community, for readers who enjoy Sue Townsend, Ruth Hogan and Joanna Cannon.

This week we are heading to beautiful Birmingham and visiting the home of politician, author and feminist superstar Jess Phillips! Jess is the MP for Birmingham Yardley, previously worked for Women's Aid and continues to campaign for equality and recognition on a vast array of issues. She's also the author of two books: Everywoman: One Woman’s Truth About Speaking the Truth and Truth to Power: 7 Ways to Call Time on B.S. We talked to Jess about her adoration of Sue Townsend, misleading English lessons and the problems connected to buying books in the middle of the night.BOOKSDaisy Buchanan - The SisterhoodJess Phillips - EverywomanJess Phillips - Truth to PowerDouglas Coupland - All Families Are PsychoticLeo Tolstoy - War and PeaceMargaret Atwood - The TestamentsMargaret Atwood - The Handmaid’s TaleAldous Huxley - Brave New WorldSue Townsend - Secret Diary of Adrian MoleSue Townsend - The Queen and IGeorge Orwell - 1984Roald Dahl - The TwitsRoald Dahl - Danny the Champion of the WorldRoald Dahl - The Giraffe and the Pelly and MeRoald Dahl - BoyRoald Dahl - George’s Marvellous MedicineRoald Dahl - MatildaRoald Dahl - Charlie and the Chocolate FactoryPhilip Pullman - Amber SpyglassL. Frank Baum - The Wizard of OzPL Travers - Mary PoppinsJudy Blume - ForeverJudy Blume - Starring Sally J Freedman As HerselfSalman Rushdie - Satanic VersesMadonna - SexDH Lawrence - Lady Chatterley’s LoverThomas Hardy - Tess of the d'UrbervillesAda Calhoun - Wedding Toasts I’ll Never GiveCaitlin Moran - How To Be a WomanJohn Le Carre - Tinker Tailor Soldier SpyJohn Le Carre - Constant GardenerSally Rooney - Normal PeopleCaitlin Moran - How To Be FamousAnna Hope - ExpectationMarian Keyes - Sushi For Beginners See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

From the well knows book series by Sue Townsend, Lucy and Anthony chat about all things Adrian Mole. What do book adaptation bring to the West End and is Adrian Mole strictly for family audiences?

'Mrs Thatcher' by Adrian Mole read by Beca Lipscombe. 'Mrs Thatcher' appears in 'The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4' by Sue Townsend, first published in 1982 by Methuen. A transcript can be found at http://thewonderingminstrels.blogspot.com/2005/02/mrs-thatcher-sue-townsend.html More from Beca Lipscombe can be found at www.ateliereb.com

Another chance to listen to the writer speaking to Sue Lawley in 1991. Her most famous creation was Adrian Mole, and, in many respects, his life mirrored her own: like her hero, she came from a poor but not deprived background and always nursed a secret ambition to be a writer. She talks to Sue Lawley about her life and work and carefully selects eight records which remind her of some of the most significant events in her life. Favourite track: Violin Concerto in D by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Book: Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis Luxury: Swimming pool of champagne

As Evelyn Waugh's classic first novel Decline and Fall has been made into a new BBC television series starring Jack Whitehall, we speak to its adapter James Wood and literary critic Suzi Feay and discuss how Waugh's distinctive but potentially offensive brand of satire plays for a modern audience.Sunday 2 April 2017 is the 50th birthday of Adrian Mole, diarist, poet and would be novelist. In 1982 Leicester-born Sue Townsend took the publishing world by storm with her first book, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 and became the best-selling author of the 1980s, with follow up volumes until her death in 2014. Adrian's poems are now published together in one volume, Adrian Mole the Collected Poems. Radio 4's Poet in Residence Daljit Nagra reads and discusses them with Stig.A new touring play Offside focuses on the beautiful game and puts women centre stage. Poet Hollie McNish, who co-wrote the play, joins director Caroline Bryant to discuss their depiction of women, football, race, sexuality, and the politics of the sport across the centuries.This year Australian artist Patricia Piccinini drew bigger crowds that any contemporary artist worldwide. While the Tate Modern in London remains the most popular modern and contemporary art museum in the world. Facts revealed this week as The Art Newspaper publishes its annual museum and exhibitions visitor surveys. Javier Pes, the papers' editor in chief, talks us through the results.Presenter: Stig Abell Producer: Ella-mai Robey.

Already a wildly popular author thanks to her memoir Love, Nina and bestselling debut novel, Man at the Helm, Nina Stibbe returns with Paradise Lodge. Set in a 1970s ramshackle old people's home, this lovingly created story of chaos, love and elderly people is told from the perspective of a 15 year old girl who works there. If there's an heir to Sue Townsend, it's surely Nina Stibbe. In this event recorded live at the 2016 Edinburgh International Book Festival, she talks to James Runcie.

Stand Up, actor and writer Isy Suttie joins Robin and Josie this week to talk about her new book, The Actual One. As usual, the conversation meanders through all sorts of stuff from stand up to Jane Eyre to poo to Sue Townsend. They also establish a new comedic cliche to replace the differences between men and women; The differences between Bronte fans and Austen fans. It’s bound to catch on.

Aparna Nancherla, Jonathan Van Ness, Phill Jupitus and Shappi Khorsandi join host, Dave Holmes to quiz about Daleks, soccer, "meatlegging" and musicals. Aparna Nancherla wants to plug her new comedy album, Just Putting It Out There and recommends Jaqueline Novak's book How to Weep in Public: Feeble Offerings on Depression from One Who Knows. Jonathan Van Ness wants to plug his Funny or Die series Gay of Thrones and his own MaxFun podcast Getting Curious. Jonathan recommends The Great British Baking Show which runs on PBS and Netflix. Phill Jupitus is playing Bottom in The Theatre Royal Bath's upcoming production of A Midsummer Night's Dream and re-joins the cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang later this summer. Phill recommends the Essays of E. B. White and The Great British Sewing Bee. Shappi Khorsandi wants to plug her new novel Nina is Not OK. You can find Shappi's live gig dates here. Shappi recommends the work of British comic novelist, Sue Townsend. A good place to start is The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4. Dave Holmes is on Twitter @DaveHolmes and hosts his live quiz show, The Friday Forty at LA’s Meltdown Theatre on the second Friday of every month. Dave's new book Party of One is available for pre-sale now. You can let us know what you think of International Waters and suggest guests through our Facebook group or on Twitter. Written by Sarah Morgan and Riley Silverman. Recorded at GuiltFreePost in London by John Purcell Shackleton and at MaxFunHQ in Los Angeles. Produced by Jennifer Marmor and Colin Anderson.

Nick sits with Robert Gordon to discuss what they thought of the new musical by our friends Pippa Cleary and Jake Brunger's new musical of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged Thirteen and Three Quarters - based on the novel by Sue Townsend of the same long title.

With James Naughtie. In a special 200th edition of the programme we celebrate the centenary of author Patrick O'Brian and Allan Mallinson is our guide to the first in his hugely popular series of Napoleonic naval stories, Master and Commander. Known as the Aubrey/Maturin novels, the twenty books are regarded by many as the most engaging historical novels ever written. Master and Commander establishes the friendship between Captain Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin, who becomes his ship's surgeon and an intelligence agent. O'Brian won fans not just because of the story-telling and his power of characterisation but also his detailed depiction of life aboard a Nelsonic man-of-war : the weapons, food, conversation and ambience, the landscape and the sea. Master and Commander was first published in 1969 and the twentieth novel in the series Blue at the Mizzen, in 1999, a year before O'Brian died. Allan Mallinson also writes novels about the Napoleonic wars and knew O'Brian. And as always on Bookclub a group of invited readers join in the discussion. December's programme marks the 200th edition of Bookclub which began in 1998 and has featured the world's leading authors from the late 20th/early 21st century like Toni Morrison, JK Rowling, Hilary Mantel, Salman Rushdie, Martin Amis, Paul Auster, Alan Bennett. James Naughtie's impressive list of guests also includes writers who are no longer with us like Muriel Spark, Gore Vidal, Douglas Adams, Carol Shields, and Sue Townsend. All are available online to download and keep forever, via the programme's website bbc.in/r4bookclub . Presenter : James Naughtie Interviewed guest : Allan Mallinson Producer: Dymphna Flynn January's Bookclub choice : A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka.

With Razia Iqbal. Actor Mark Strong and director Ivo van Hove discuss their new production of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge. Mark Strong explains why this play, and the role of Brooklyn longshoreman Eddie Carbone, persuaded him to return to the stage for the first time in a decade. Bernadette Peters is one of Broadway's most critically acclaimed performers, known as a key interpreter of Stephen Sondheim's musicals. In London to perform at the Olivier Awards, Bernadette Peters discusses her relationship with Sondheim and the resilience needed to maintain a long career. Best-selling author Harlan Coben talks about his latest thriller, Missing You. He discusses creating his protagonist Kat Donovan, an NYPD cop, the current "golden age" of crime writing and the impact that the internet and online dating sites have had on the police thriller. The Lunchbox, an Indian film from director Ritesh Batra, explores a mistaken delivery in Mumbai's famously efficient lunchbox delivery system that connects a young housewife to an older man. Anil Sinanan reviews. We remember the author Sue Townsend, who has died aged 68. In a Front Row interview from 2012 she discusses her unusual sense of humour and what she wants next for Adrian Mole.

Terry Deary, author of Horrible Histories, and Iranian-born British comedian Shappi Khorsandi talk to Harriett Gilbert about their favourite books. Terry chooses a novel by G.K. Chesterton: The Napoleon of Notting Hill. Shappi's favourite is Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction, by Sue Townsend. And presenter Harriett Gilbert talks about John McGahern's masterpiece, Amongst Women. Produced by Beth O'Dea.

Sue Townsend: Of Me - Billie Holliday; Stand By Me - Ben E King

Richard Coles with musician and activist Billy Bragg, poet Murray Lachlan Young, Prof Harry Rothman, son of Benny Rothman, the leader of the Mass Trespass on Kinder Scout to mark the 80th anniversary of the climb that won our generations' right to roam, Simon Wheatcroft an blind ultra-marathon runner, a feature about a homeless man from London, James Bowen, who was adopted by a cat and now they're constant companions, and Adrian Mole author Sue Townsend's Inheritance Tracks.Producer: Rachel Simpson.

On this programme, The Reading Room Book Group review the latest novel from Secret Diary of Adrian Mole author Sue Townsend, The Woman who Went to Bed for a Year. and we talk to Georgia Twynham, author of The Thirteenth about the third book in her teen fantasy series, Nyteria Rising. We also have poetry from Adrienne Silcock and Peter Kerr gives us his nomination for our 101 Books To Read Before You Die.

Including interviews with actress Olivia Colman and writers Peter Ackroyd, Sue Townsend and Charlotte Keatley. Also John Wilson explores why so many of this year's BRIT nominees take literature as their inspiration and we examine why there is no UK e-book chart.

With Mark Lawson. Mark Eccleston reviews Black Gold, a film about warring Arabian tribes during the 1930s oil boom, which was financed by Qatar and stars Antonio Banderas as a desert sheikh and Freida Pinto as a harem charmer. Three decades after publishing the first of her hugely successful Adrian Mole books, Sue Townsend talks about her new novel about modern family life, The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year, and how losing her eyesight has affected her writing process. Charlotte Keatley's play My Mother Said I Never Should is, according to the National Theatre, one of the most significant plays of the 20th Century. Charlotte tells Mark about her latest play, Our Father, and explains why writing a play is like unravelling a dream. Producer Timothy Prosser.

Mariella and John Mullan discuss listeners' recommendations for funniest book, Sue Townsend responds to her balloon debate victory, an interview with online publishing sensation Amanda Hocking, and Samantha Harvey talks about her new novel All is Song.

Mariella continues Open Book's celebration of funny books with writer and comedian Jo Brand, whose choice for Open Book's Funniest Book is "The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 and Three Quarters" by Sue Townsend which was first published in 1982. In Open Book's Mini History of Comic Writing Professor of Literature at UCL John Mullan is joined by former politician, writer and Dickens fan Roy Hattersley to discuss the genius of Charles Dickens' comedy. And novelists as critics - how carefully do writers have to proceed when reviewing the work of fellow writers? DJ Taylor, Booker-nominated for his novel Derby Day, and fellow writer and chief book reviewer for Time Magazine. Lev Grossman discuss.

Guest interview with Adrian Mole author Sue Townsend who has an impressive list of disabilities and ailments to her name. News, chat, music and lots of razor sharp raspberry ripple sauce. With Liz Carr and Rob Crossan.

James Naughtie is joined by Sue Townsend to discuss the life of her best loved comic creation Adrian Mole.

The castaway on Desert Island Discs this week is writer Sue Townsend. Her most famous creation is Adrian Mole, and, in many respects, his life mirrors her own: like her hero, she comes from a poor but not deprived background and always nursed a secret ambition to be a writer. She'll be talking to Sue Lawley about her life and work and carefully selecting eight records which remind her of some of the most significant events in her life.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Violin Concerto in D by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Book: Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis Luxury: Swimming pool of champagne

The castaway on Desert Island Discs this week is writer Sue Townsend. Her most famous creation is Adrian Mole, and, in many respects, his life mirrors her own: like her hero, she comes from a poor but not deprived background and always nursed a secret ambition to be a writer. She'll be talking to Sue Lawley about her life and work and carefully selecting eight records which remind her of some of the most significant events in her life. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Violin Concerto in D by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Book: Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis Luxury: Swimming pool of champagne