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In 2009, Jessie Burton visited the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where she saw something that went on to transform her life. Petronella Oortman's doll's house became the inspiration for Jessie's debut novel, The Miniaturist, which was published five years later and went on to become an international bestseller. Eight years on from this success, as its sequel is published, Jessie takes Vic James back to the days when she began writing it. A time when she was doing office jobs by day, whilst trying to build a career as an actor by night. She reveals how seeing that doll's house sparked a story that explores feminism, racism and homophobia, in the form of a thriller intricately laced with a bit of magic. And she discusses the development of the key characters within - not least Petronella Oortman, whose doll's house it was.
Chocolat was Joanne Harris's third novel, famously made into a film starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp, bringing the writer worldwide recognition. Set in Southern France, it's a darkly magical modern folk-tale, in which food, namely chocolate confections, plays a central part. Readers delighted in the story of Vianne Rocher and her six-year-old daughter, Anouk, who set up a chocolate boutique during Lent, right opposite the church, much to the annoyance of the village priest, Francis Reynaud. It's an act that gently changes the lives of many of the villagers. Having recorded the audio book in recent years, Joanne has revisited the novel, and the writing process behind it. In conversation with Dr Vic James, she reveals how she drew inspiration from her French heritage, why the themes of indulgence and guilt, motherhood and patriarchy are so present, and crucially, about the importance of chocolate to the story. They're also joined by Laura Grandi who translated the novel into Italian, and has continued to work with Joanne ever since.
Welcome to Our Life In Books where we talk about our lives, books and everything in between! This week we’re talking all about dystopian books! We’ve read quite a few of them and also have SO MANY on our TBRs. Grab a cup of your favorite tea and join us and don’t forget to let us know about your favorite dystopian books! Our Life in Books Patreon- https://www.patreon.com/ourlifeinbooks Our Life In Books Tea- https://www.adagio.com/signature_blend/list.html?userId=696813O Our Life In Books Society- https://www.facebook.com/groups/ourlifeinbookssociety Our Life In Books Book Club- https://www.facebook.com/groups/ourlifeinbookssociety Follow Our Life In Books- https://linktr.ee/ourlifeinbooks_ Follow Elizabeth- https://linktr.ee/bookishconnoisseur Follow Samantha- https://linktr.ee/bookishstateofmind Items we mention: Outlander Tea by Riddles Tea Shoppe on Adagio- https://www.adagio.com/signature_blend/blend.html?blend=106950 Meet Cute: Some People are Destined to Meet- https://amzn.to/30gZapM The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh- https://amzn.to/2LGi80W Amplified by Lauren M. Flauding- https://amzn.to/2LHTwFg The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins- https://amzn.to/3070UC0 This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab- https://amzn.to/309NExj Dust & Pages Pins- https://dustandpages.com/collections/brand-new/products/devil-meet-angel-pin-set Divergent Quiz - https://www.epicreads.com/blog/divergent-quiz-factions/ Divergent by Veronica Roth- https://amzn.to/32T6SEb Maze Runner by James Dashner- https://amzn.to/2NoFMRK The Mortality Doctrine series by James Dashner- https://amzn.to/30uLnb7 The Host by Stephanie Meyer- https://amzn.to/30EEpAI Matched by Ally Condie- https://amzn.to/30DSb6F Ready Player One by Ernest Cline- https://amzn.to/30bs63q The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey- https://amzn.to/30eqjtp This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada- https://amzn.to/350RUhd Plague Land by Alex Scarrow- https://amzn.to/2LD63ts Gilded Cage (Dark Gifts trilogy) by Vic James- https://amzn.to/32Vprry The Warehouse by Rob Hart- https://amzn.to/307PmPA The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon- https://amzn.to/2O8kG9T The Girl in Red Christina Henry- https://amzn.to/32VeiXz #murdertrending by Gretchen McNeil- https://amzn.to/2QhkszH LIFEL1K3 by Jay Kristoff- https://amzn.to/2QjcrKV The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood- https://amzn.to/2LEDhIL Uglies by Scott Westerfield- https://amzn.to/30eVUft Delirium by Lauren Oliver- https://amzn.to/3304DiF Legend by Marie Lu- https://amzn.to/2Nq2xoe Cinder by Marissa Meyer- https://amzn.to/2NoGoqw The Selection by Keira Cass- https://amzn.to/30dKUPf Shatter Me by Teherah Mafi- https://amzn.to/2NqyBIB Red Rising by Pierce Brown- https://amzn.to/34XWFbk Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard- https://amzn.to/32SJQND
Screenwriter Andrew Davies talks to Samira Ahmed about his latest period drama, Sanditon, based on an unfinished novel by Jane Austen. They discuss what attracted him to the seaside tale, how lead character Charlotte Heywood is a very different kind of Austen heroine, and why he felt it was important to raise the issue of racial prejudice in Regency Britain. Writer and reviewer Vic James looks at Netflix’s reboot of the 1982 Jim Henson puppet film The Dark Crystal which is accompanied by an exhibition of sets, puppets and props at the BFI on London's South Bank. The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is a ten-part prequel to the original film charting the political awakening of a race of elf-like creatures who begin to question the regime of their oppressive rulers. It's 550 years since Europe’s most trenchant political writer Niccolo Machiavelli was born. In The Prince he laid bare the machinations of the Florentine Republic. Novelist Sarah Dunant, whose last novel In The Name of the Family features Machiavelli, and John Bowen, Professor of Literature at York University, discuss the ways in which writers have explored the relationship between citizen and state in times of political turmoil. Presenter: Samira Ahmed Producer: Harry Parker
Welcome to our life in books where we talk about our lives, books, and everything in between. This week we’re talking about how we got started in this fantastic bookish world. Be on the lookout for a south park reference, listen to our first viewer comment and enjoy us gush about all things bookish! Go check out our NEW tea! - https://www.adagio.com/signature_blend/list.html?userId=696813O Follow the Podcast Twitter- @OurLifeInBooks_ Instagram- @OurLifeInBooks_ Follow Elizabeth Twitter- @BookishBuff Instagram- @BookishConnoisseur Blog- www.bookishconnoisseur.com Follow Samantha Twitter- @SamanthaMcCombs Instagram- @bookishstateofmind Blog- www.samanthamccombs.com/bookishstateofmind Things We Mentioned: Adagio Tea- https://www.adagio.com Ms. Hudson Blend- https://www.adagio.com/signature_blend/blend.html?blend=19742 Shortcrust Blend- https://www.adagio.com/signature_blend/blend.html?blend=110344 Bright Ruin by Vic James- https://amzn.to/2SFlcM9 The Dark Deep by Ally Condie & Brendan Reichs- https://amzn.to/2Dg84ZJ You by Caroline Kepnes- https://amzn.to/2Rub9bv The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout- https://amzn.to/2DgZCcA The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory- https://amzn.to/2RuKtHv A Map of Days by Ransom Riggs- https://amzn.to/2RubxXv Adagio Advent Calendar- https://www.adagio.com/gifts/tea_advent_calendar.html Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake- https://amzn.to/2DhUjJS This Cruel Design by Emily Suvada- https://amzn.to/2SE5SPW Netflix: The Haunting of Hill House- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6763664/?ref_=nv_sr_1 Dan and Phil Games- https://www.youtube.com/user/DanAndPhilGAMES Pewdiepie- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-lHJZR3Gqxm24_Vd_AJ5Yw
Welcome to Our Life In Books where we talk about our lives, books and everything in between. In this episode we talk about thrillers, suspense, and real life scary stuff. Our teas are appropriately fallish and we get a serious case of the giggles. The best thrillers are always filled with murdery disappointment and weird agony. Elizabeth shows us her Wednesday Addams personality and Samantha explains how turkeys are out to kill us all! Remember to check your garages and do not trust anyone servicing your heater. New drinking game: drink every time one of us says “it’s so good.” Note: Sorry about the audio issues- we’re new at this but I promise it will get better. Follow the Podcast Twitter- @OurLifeInBooks_ Instagram- @OurLifeInBooks_ Follow Elizabeth Twitter- @BookishBuff Instagram- @BookishConnoisseur Blog- www.bookishconnoisseur.com Follow Samantha Twitter- @SamanthaMcCombs Instagram- @bookishstateofmind Blog- www.samanthamccombs.com/bookishstateofmind Things We Mentioned- Adagio Tea- https://www.adagio.com Riddle’s Tea Shop- https://www.riddlesteashoppe.com Dark Gifts series by Vic James- https://amzn.to/2q9NG3A You by Caroline Kepnes- https://amzn.to/2Sk4cew 25 Anniversary Edition of Voyager by Diana Gabaldon- https://amzn.to/2O63xdd Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas- https://amzn.to/2CHNNLd Owlcrate- https://www.owlcrate.com/refer/Eliza-YARZTPOH Little Inkling Designs Bookish Planner- https://littleinklings.ca/collections/just-added/products/always-fully-booked-2019-planner-pre-order Sadie by Courtney Summers- https://amzn.to/2EOBDD5 One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus- https://amzn.to/2CJuMrM The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins- https://amzn.to/2ELHOrE Last Podcast on the Left- https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/last-podcast-on-the-left/id437299706 Small Town Murder- https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/small-town-murder/id1194755213
This is the full 20 minute interview with Vic James about her latest book Bright Ruin wherein we receive insight into some of the inspirations for her book that we weren't able to get to on the air. Enjoy!
Two guests this week! Our first guest is author Vic James here to talk about her latest book in her Dark Gifts Trilogy, Bright Ruin.Our second guest is actor Josh Mikel of The Walking Dead fame here to talk about is work in the industry and his appearance at Gulf Coast Fan Fest next weekend.Top Nerd News covers Venom, Star Wars, Star Trek, and more.Skungy was stuck in a haunted house this weekend so we used his segment to mention the passing of Scott Wilson, do a review of the Movie Misquote Game, and talk about our attending Gulf Coast Fan Fest.
Breaking the Glass Slipper: Women in science fiction, fantasy, and horror
Today, the blunt reality of inequality and unequal distribution of wealth is more prevalent than ever. Our society is split into the haves and the have nots – the 1% and the 99%. A few individuals tend whole orchards of magic money trees; their extreme wealth is itself a form of magic. In her Dark […] The post Magic, Wealth and Power with Vic James first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Breaking the Glass Slipper: Women in science fiction, fantasy, and horror
Social inequality and the unequal distribution of wealth is more prevalent than ever and it’s a subject that sits at the heart of Dr Vic James’ fantasy trilogy. We talk to her about power plays and politics, female ambition, naughty aristocrats, class division, reclaiming the bitch and our fascination with family drama. Full episode notes […]
Breaking the Glass Slipper: Women in science fiction, fantasy, and horror
Today, the blunt reality of inequality and unequal distribution of wealth is more prevalent than ever. Our society is split into the haves and the have nots – the 1% and the 99%. A few individuals tend whole orchards of magic money trees; their extreme wealth is itself a form of magic. In her Dark […] The post Magic, Wealth and Power with Vic James first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Breaking the Glass Slipper: Women in science fiction, fantasy, and horror
Social inequality and the unequal distribution of wealth is more prevalent than ever and it's a subject that sits at the heart of Dr Vic James' fantasy trilogy. We talk to her about power plays and politics, female ambition, naughty aristocrats, class division, reclaiming the bitch and our fascination with family drama. Full episode notes […] The post S03, E16: Magic, Wealth and Power with Vic James first appeared on Breaking the Glass Slipper.
Sir Ian McKellen looks back at his acting life in anticipation of a film out later this year, McKellen: Playing the Part.Madeleine L'Engle's classic children's book A Wrinkle in Time has been made into a film starring Oprah Winfrey. The book itself was written in 1962 after being turned down by no less than 26 publishers. Professor Diane Roberts and Dr Vic James discuss the way in which the book reflects preoccupations in the author's own life, why it became one of America's most banned books and how its enduring appeal has resulted in numerous adaptations from film to tv, opera and graphic novel.Disability Champion for the Arts and Culture Sector is a brand new role created by the UK government. We speak to the newly appointed Andrew Miller who'll hold the post for a year. What change is he hoping to effect in terms of training, employment and access in the arts?Challenging the perceptions of her country using photography, world renowned artist Aida Muluneh gives an insight into the current arts scene in Ethiopia.Presenter: Stig Abell Producer: Sarah Johnson.
Author Victoria James, of the Dark Gifts series is our guest this week. http://www.vicjames.co.uk/Top Nerd News covers the Ant Man and Wasp Trailer, Stan Lee, Cloverfield, and more.Skungy's Pick of the Week is Monster Hunter. Skungy has an update on Red Dead Redemption. Lastly, Skungy gives us the Overwatch League updates.This Week in Geek History and Celebrity birthdays closes out the show.
Now just 18, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason won the title of BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2016. His choice of repertoire ranges from Shostakovich to Bob Marley and he plays live in the studio on the release of his debut album, Inspiration.Following the announcement of the death of Ursula K. Le Guin, the Earthsea writer's literary agent Ginger Clark and fantasy novelist Vic James discuss her legacy. Charles I (1600-1649) acquired and commissioned an extensive collection of art, including works by Rubens, Van Dyck, Holbein and Titian. Jerry Brotton, author of The Sale of the Late King's Goods, assesses the new Royal Academy exhibition Charles I: King and Collector, which includes works reunited for the first time since the 17th century.As two Belfast-based arts institutions - the arts complex The MAC and the Ulster Orchestra - receive emergency funding after financial problems put them at risk, the BBC's Northern Ireland Arts Correspondent, Robbie Meredith, discusses the current state of arts funding in Northern Ireland.Presenter: Alex Clark Producer: Jerome Weatherald.
We open this week with Top Nerd News covering Star Wars Land at Disney, the return of The Walking Dead, Hayley Atwell as a possible Doctor, and more.Our phone in guest is Ming Chen @mingchen37of AMC's Comic Men talking about the state of the comics industry as well as his appearance at Pensacon February 17th - 19th.Also, we have a special guest interview with author Vic James @DrVictoriaJames talking about her new book Gilded Cage available February 14th.We close out the show with Word of the Day, This Week in Geek History, and Celebrity Birthdays.
A new musical, Everybody's talking about Jamie, is based on the story of a 16 year old boy determined to go to his prom in a dress and become a drag queen. Samira Ahmed went to rehearsals to meet Dan Gillespie Sells from band The Feeling, and screenwriter Tom MacRae who have created their first musical, as well as Jamie Campbell, now 21, on whom it is based. Vic James's debut novel, Gilded Cage, is set in a Britain where the magically-skilled aristocracy compels all commoners to serve them for ten years. Vic wrote it on Wattpad, an online storytelling website. It was read over a third of a million times and went on to win Wattpad's Talk of the Town award. She joins Samira, live. The Allure of Napoleon is the opening exhibition in the Bowes Museum's year-long celebration of its 125th anniversary. Dr Tom Stammers, lecturer in European Cultural History at the University of Durham, discusses this show which presents Napoleon as one of the first celebrity statesmen, who burnished his ascent from political outsider to national leader with the power of art.Hacksaw Ridge has six Oscar nominations; including Mel Gibson for Best Director. The film tells the true story of Desmond Doss, the first conscientious objector to earn the Congressional Medal of Honour for saving the lives of 75 soldiers in Okinawa, one of the bloodiest battles of WWII. It's been hailed as a new kind of war movie because it graphically exposes the effects of guns on the human body while celebrating a central character who refuses to pick one up. Michael Leader reviews.This evening is Burns Night when, all over the world, people celebrate the great Scottish makar, Robert Burns. Front Row has a reading his work from Scotland's current Makar, Jackie Kay. Producer: Julian May.
For the first Uncaring Universe of 2017, we're joined by the brilliant Vic James, debut author of Gilded Cage, an alternate-modern British dystopia with fantasy elements. Listen in as we discuss why Wattpad helped Vic write the novel, her journey to a Pan Macmillan publishing deal, the next wave of online writing platforms, and lots of amazing discussion about the fascinating events of Vic's life that informed the themes of the novel. Follow Vic on Twitter: @DrVictoriaJames And Danny: @madquills And UU @uncaringunicast Danny on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/madquills Get the book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01E5JN2WE/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 Uncaring Universe on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/uncaring-universe-podcast/id985787268?mt=2 Uncaring Universe is a monthly podcast dedicated to conversations with awesome creators. Thanks for listening.
Epigraph We are fucking thrilled to have Michael Kindness and Ann Kingman on Episode 11. Michael and Ann are the hosts of the late, great Books on the Nightstand podcast and sales reps for Penguin Random House. This episode is sponsored by Books & Whatnot, the newsletter dedicated to books, bookselling, and bookish folk. We were too excited about hosting Books on the Nightstand to mention Books & Whatnot on air, but you should definitely check out the newsletter archive here. Follow Books & Whatnot on Twitter at @booksandwhatnot. Introduction In Which Ann Doesn’t Let Us Set Anything on Fire, Emma Makes Coworkers Awkward, Michael Activates Host Mode, and Kim Finds a Book Too Relevant We’re drinking Cider House Drools (local hard cider, shot of rum, dash of bitters). The alternate drink is the Out-cider (sub bourbon for rum). Or, if you’re Michael and rockin’ the cold medicine, tea. Ann had originally planned to have us drink Charles Dickens’s punch, which involves a shit ton of alcohol and, uh, fire. If you’re braver than we are, here’s the recipe: https://food52.com/blog/18626-the-punch-you-add-a-spoonful-of-fire-to-literally What We’re Reading: Emma is reading: Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame by Mara Wilson and Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson (Bonus reading! Check out The New Yorker article about the new Shirley Jackson bio: The Haunted Mind of Shirley Jackson) Michael is reading: Shadow Man by Alan Drew (pubs 23 May 2017... also mentioned: Gardens of Water) Ann is reading: The Stars Are Fire by Anita Shreve (pubs 2 May 2017) Kim is reading: Trainwreck: The Women We Love to Hate, Mock, and Fear... and Why by Sady Doyle Emma and Kim just read Vicious by V E Schwab (shout out to book club!) Chapter I [11:00] In Which We Discuss the Noble Role of the Bookseller to Booksellers and How To Be an Introvert in a Socially-Focused Industry Ann and Michael work for this little publishing house you’ve probably never heard of named Penguin Random House. Yeah, we think they should have called themselves the Random Penguin House, too. Be among your people at BookRiot Live. They have designated reading rooms, for all y’all introverted book nerds. We see you. Chapter II [19:20] In Which We Unveil the Creation Story of Books on the Nightstand, Michael Issues a Mea Culpa for not Reading Ann’s Recs Sooner, and Kim Wonders About Knitting Podcasts Books on the Nightstand readers voted on what Michael should read over the summer. The results: So, due to popular demand, Michael finally read Ann’s recommendations from yeeeeeeears ago: Stoner by John Williams and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. He also recently discovered how great Stephen King is and treated himself to Salem’s Lot for Halloween. Ann recently reread The Secret History by Donna Tartt. She also loved The Nix by Nathan Hill and Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill by Candice Millard Check out the last eight years of Books on the Nightstand episodes at their website: http://booksonthenightstand.com/podcasts. BTW, Booktopia is still alive via Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, VT. Field trip? Michael’s Recent Favorite Comics/Graphic Novels/Graphica: The Vision by Tom King DC: The New Frontier by Darwyn Cooke Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan Emma follows up with a rec for Joyride by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, then we all nerd out about Lumberjanes. (Seriously, y’all. it’s awesome.) Chapter III [35:10] In Which Ann Wants to Read The Road Set at a Boarding School, Kim is Uncomfortable with Magical Realism, and We Crush on Bookstores Ann’s book description guaranteed to get her reading: A dark and disturbing apocalyptic story collection of thrillers set in boarding schools. The Unfinished World: And Other Stories by Amber Sparks The Secret History by Donna Tartt The Secret Place by Tana French Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel The Road by Cormac McCarthy Favorite Short Story Collections Strange Pilgrims: Twelve Stories by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Emma has to name drop Kelly Link (obvi) and everybody flips out. Ann: Tenth of December by George Saunders. She also loves the individual stories “Anything Helps” by Jess Walter (from We Live in Water) and “Governor’s Ball” by Ron Carlson (expanded upon in Ron Carlson Writes a Story) Desert Island/Station Eleven/Wild Books Michael used to say The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, but he doesn’t actually... like reading Shakespeare, so maybe not. So then he thought he’d pick 100 Skills You'll Need for the End of the World (as We Know It) by Ana Maria Spagna, illustrated by Brian Cronin. But, naw, nevermind. He’d bring DC: The New Frontier by Darwyn Cooke. Ann would take The Complete Essays by Michel De Montaigne, because she got a crush on him due to How to Live: Or a Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer by Sarah Bakewell. Go-To Handsell Michael: Any Human Heart by William Boyd and Stoner by John Williams Ann - The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell (IT’S ABOUT JESUITS IN SPACE, GUYS) Bookseller Confessions Michael still hasn’t read Great Expectations. But, I mean, he read A Christmas Carol, so he’s read Dicken’s okay? Also, he hasn’t read Sandman by Neil Gaiman. Neither has Emma. Or Kim. But we’ve read Alan Moore’s Watchmen, so that balances out, right? Right?? Ann convinced hundreds of people to read War and Peace with her, but only got to page 75. At least she’s inspiring. Bookstore Crushes Ann: Green Apple in San Francisco, CA (featured in Ep 8 with Pete Mulvihill) Michael: Powell’s Books in Portland, OR (featured in Ep 3 with Kevin Sampsell) Favorite literary podcasts The Readers Literary Disco What Should I Read Next Chapter IV [52:45] In Which Michael and Ann Tell Us About Two Three Books They Can’t Wait for Us to Read Michael: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah Gilded Cage by Vic James (pubs 14 Feb 2017) The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti (pubs 28 March 2017) Ann: The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel (pubs 7 March 2017) American War by Omar El Akkad (pubs 4 April 2017) Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny (pubs 23 May 2017) Epilogue [1:05:50] You can follow Ann and Michael on Twitter at: Ann: @annkingman Michael: @mkindness They’re also on Instagram, Litsy, and Goodreads, so look them up there. You can find us on Twitter at @drunkbookseller and everywhere else as DrunkBooksellers (plural). Aaaaaaand, we’re about to launch an Instagram account, so you should probably start following that @DrunkBooksellers. Our dear friend and fellow bookseller is in charge of it, and it’s gonna be weird and wonderful. Here’s a teaser: Emma tweets @thebibliot and writes bookish things for Book Riot. Kim tweets occasionally from @finaleofseem, but don’t expect too much.