This Writing Life
Episodes
Friday Feb 23, 2018
Episode 139 - Leila Slimani - Lullaby: Part 2
Friday Feb 23, 2018
Friday Feb 23, 2018
Part two of Leila Slimani's conversation with This Writing Life podcast about her new novel Lullaby begins with a discussion of objectification: in this case, of the nanny who cares for the children of the Masse family. Slimani talks about her own vexed relationship with the woman who cares for her own children, about the power struggles in that interaction and finally about the idea of tragedy in the novel. We talk Mary Poppins, Mrs Doubtfire, and why Lullaby refuses both visions of modern childcare.
Part three to follow.
Thursday Feb 15, 2018
Episode 138 - Leila Slimani - Lullaby: Part 1
Thursday Feb 15, 2018
Thursday Feb 15, 2018
Leila Slimani's second novel Lullaby is a phenomenon. Having sold over 600,000 copies and won the Prix Goncourt in her adopted homeland of France, the book is now spreading around the world in various translations. A movie has begun filming in France and there are rumours of a Hollywood adaptation as well. The reason for the fuss is a plot that grips like a thriller and prose that dissects contemporary life like the most acute literary novel. The nanny of the well-to-do Masse family murders the two children in her care. From this terse, shocking opening, Slimani rewinds to examine the pressures that led up to the tragedy.
In Part One of our conversation at her London publishers, Slimani talks about titles, tragedy, modern parenting, the challenges of being a nanny and how families rely on women from across the world to facilitate their lives.
Part two to follow.
Wednesday Feb 07, 2018
Episode 137 - Lynn Shepherd: Part 4
Wednesday Feb 07, 2018
Wednesday Feb 07, 2018
Lynn Shepherd was the first ever This Writing Life recorded. The final part of our conversation begins with a discussion of social media and publicity, and the part both play in her writing life. From here we zoom through the joys and trials of writing novels: bad days, bad reviews, and how her close friends and confidents help her through. We end by looking to the future, and by asking: what has Lynn learned from her writing life so far.
Lynn's website can be found: here.
Saturday Feb 03, 2018
Episode 136 - Lynn Shepherd's Advice to Budding Writers
Saturday Feb 03, 2018
Saturday Feb 03, 2018
As a trailer ahead of part four of This Writing Life podcast's conversation with novelist Lynn Shepherd, she offers some advice to budding writers...