Open Book

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BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

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Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Programme looking at new fiction and non-fiction books

Programme looking at new fiction and non-fiction books, talking to authors and publishers and unearthing lost classics

Lee Pelligrini

Open Book: Tragicomic Writing

Tragicomic Writing

BBC Radio 4 - Open Book, Tragicomic Writing

Alex Clark explores tragicomic writing with Paul Murray, Katherine Heiny and Josie Long.

Alex Clark is joined by Irish writer Paul Murray to talk about The Bee Sting, and Katherine Heiny and Josie Long discuss their new short stories.

Author of Skippy Dies and The Mark and the Void, Paul Murray talks to Alex Clark about his latest tragicomedy novel, The Bee Sting. Set in small town rural Ireland, it tells the story of the dysfunctional Barnes family as their car business, and their relationships, fall into crisis. 
We also hear from author of Standard Deviation and Early Morning Riser, Katherine Heiny and comedian, Josie Long, about their new collections of short stories: Games and Rituals and Because I Don't Know What You Mean and What You Don't. They talk to Alex about why their humorous fiction is so often rooted in the ridiculous moments of everyday life. 
And Jen Beagin gives us insight into her funny, idiosyncratic novel Big Swiss and why she written a sex therapist called Om as her comedic fall guy.

Book List – Sunday 18 June and Thursday 22 June

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
An Evening of Long Goodbyes by Paul Murray
Skippy Dies by Paul Murray
The Mark and the Void by Paul Murray
Finnegans Wake by James Joyce 
Ulysses by James Joyce 
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan 
Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny
Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny
Single, Carefree, Mellow by Katherine Heiny
Games and Rituals by Katherine Heiny 
Because I don't know what you mean and what you don't by Josie Long 
Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding 
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby 
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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