Books and Authors

Harriett Gilbert talks to children's writer Eleanor Updale and TV and radio presenter Andrea Oliver about the books they love: 'Love and Summer' by William Trevor, 'Like Water for Chocolate' by Laura Esquivel and 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' by Mohsin Hamid.

William Boyd discusses his latest novel Waiting for Sunrise. With World War One looming, it embraces a sphere of sex, psychoanalysis, scandal and spies.

Harriett Gilbert is joined by guests Bonnie Greer and Simon Brett to discuss three favourite books, in the first of a new series of A Good Read: 'Blind Sunflowers' by Alberto Méndez, 'The Art of Coarse Acting' by Michael Green and 'The Shipping News' by E. Annie Proulx.

Mariella Frostrup speaks to Catherine Fletcher who discusses her non fiction book Our Man In Rome: Henry VIII and His Italian Ambassador; Horror fiction with Helen Dunmore who explains why she wanted to be part of this genre and the inspiration behind her novel The Greatcoat; depictions of students in literature - Ben Masters, author of new book Noughties and Prof John Bowen discuss whether we have we moved on from toffs, geeks, rebellion and beer.

Mariella talks to Susan Hill about her bestselling Woman in Black; she hears how to write about places you've never been; Matt Thorne takes a look at debut novels to watch in 2012 and historian Kate Williams talks about her new work of fiction.

Mariella talks to Gillian Slovo about her new novel set between the deserts of North Africa, Ben Kane brings Spartacus the Gladiator to life and Philip Jones, Deputy Editor of the Bookseller, discusses the impact of Amazon’s expansion into the traditional publishing arena.

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.

With a scholar and an actor, Frances Fyfield visits London's Victoria and Albert Museum to explore the frantic manuscript of Dickens' historical thriller 'A Tale of Two Cities'.

Mariella Frostrup and her line up of comedians and authors debate their funniest book. Taking the stage in the Radio Theatre to convince an audience that their choice is the most chortle-worthy will be Jo Brand, Tony Parsons, A L Kennedy, Christopher Brookmyre and John Sessions.

Mariella continues her celebration of funny books and funny writers with award winning comic novelist Christopher Brookmyre discussing why Jeff Torrington's 1992 Whitbread Award winning novel "Swing Hammer Swing" is his choice for Open Book's Funniest Book. In the concluding part of Open Book's Mini History of Comic Writing resident expert John Mullan joins award winning screenwriter Sir Ronald Harwood to discuss the two comic writing giants of the 20th century - P G Wodehouse and Evelyn Waugh. And Gaza through the eyes of a British Palestinian - Selma Dabbagh discusses her debut novel "Out Of It".

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.

Chief Executive of Oxfam Barbara Stocking, and historian Lucy Worsley discuss their favourite paperbacks with Harriett Gilbert: 'Must You Go' by Antonia Fraser, 'Food in England' by Dorothy Hartley and 'Brighton Rock' by Graham Greene.

Tony Parsons opts for The Virgin Soldiers in the search for Open Book's Funniest Book and Mariella Frostrup talks to Jenny Uglow in the next in the series of Open Book's mini-history of comic writing. Suzy Feay and Elvie Wyld run through some of their choices for the most readable books of 2011.

Editor of The Lady, Rachel Johnson, and journalist and broadcaster Martin Kelner pick their favourite books to discuss with Harriett Gilbert: 'Still Missing' by Beth Gutcheon, 'London Belongs to Me' by Norman Collins and 'The Bottle Factory Outing' by Beryl Bainbridge.

Mariella Frostrup continues her celebration of funny books and funny writers with award winning writer A L Kennedy selecting Evelyn Waugh's The Loved One as her favourite funny book. The second installment of Open Book's mini-history of comic writing invites actress Fiona Shaw to join our resident expert John Mullan, Professor of Literature at UCL to explore the impact of Shakespearean and Restoration comedy on the development of the comic novel. And Sarah Hall, award winning writer of four novels, talks about her first collection of short stories The Beautiful Indifference.