Podcast Summary
Men's Health, Film Release, Crime Novel: Discussed upcoming film on Apple TV, emphasized importance of men's health through Movember, and reviewed Susie Steiner's crime novel with unique character development and realistic portrayal of a flawed yet determined police officer.
The discussion covered various topics including the upcoming release of a new film on Apple TV, the importance of men's health, and the review of Susie Steiner's crime novel "Missing Presumed." The film, titled "The Last Days of American Crime," is directed by the creator of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" and stars Matt Damon and Casey Affleck. Movember, a global men's health organization, was highlighted during the conversation, emphasizing its efforts to advocate for men's health and create a healthier society for everyone. The group's work was discussed in detail with Sarah Cochlan, Men's Health Advisor at Movember, and Dr. Zach Seidler, Global Director of Men's Health Research at Movember. The group also reviewed Susie Steiner's crime novel, praising its unique character development and realistic portrayal of a flawed yet determined police officer. The book's central character, Manchester, is a complex woman who faces self-doubt but remains committed to doing good in the world. The conversation also acknowledged the importance of independent bookstores and their role in introducing readers to new favorite authors.
Well-written characters: Discovering well-written characters in a recommended book can lead to a deep appreciation for the writing and offer insights into complex relationships and personalities among the characters, making them feel more engaging and three-dimensional.
The power of a well-recommended book and the joy of discovering complex and relatable characters cannot be overstated. As listeners heard from Liz's experience, the anticipation and eventual borrowing of Susie Steiner's book from Coventry Library led to a deep appreciation for the writing and the intricately developed police characters. Sharon also shared her gratitude for the book club, which provided a safe space for reading and discussing books without fear of judgment. Both listeners praised the book's ability to explore relationships and personal complexities among the police characters, making them feel more three-dimensional and engaging. The book also offered an insight into the politics and background pressures of the police force, adding depth to the story. Overall, the listeners' reviews emphasized the importance of well-written characters and the joy of discovering them in a recommended book.
Language evolution and reader experience: Language constantly evolves and some readers may find it irritating, but it's important to appreciate the depth and complexity of stories and discover new authors.
While some readers may be concerned with grammatical errors in a book, others are more focused on the story and its characters. This was evident in the discussion about the book "Missing, Presumed" and the various responses from book club members. Some members were annoyed by the use of present participles instead of past tense verbs, while others saw it as a natural evolution of language. Another interesting point that came up was the experience of Tom, Susie's husband, who came on the podcast to discuss the book after Susie's death. He shared that he had never met anyone who had read Susie's books before, which highlights the unique experience of being a writer and the disconnect between the writing world and the reading world. Despite the small annoyances, the book was widely loved by the book club members, who appreciated the depth and complexity of the story. It also served as a reminder of the importance of discovering new authors and continuing to read their work. Furthermore, the discussion touched on the changing nature of language and the potential irritation it may cause for some readers. It's a reminder that language is constantly evolving and that everyone may have different opinions on what is grammatically correct. Lastly, the upcoming release of a new film, "The Instigators," was announced, adding to the excitement of the podcast and the book club members.
Susie's Inspiration: Susie drew inspiration from crime fiction and her journalism background to create a commercially successful novel with strong characterization, description, and dialogue, despite initial struggles with plot.
Susie's creation of the character Manon Bradshaw emerged from her desire to write a commercially successful novel and her strengths in characterization, description, and dialogue. Despite her initial struggles with plot, she found inspiration in crime fiction and her background as a journalist. Susie's writing process was private, and she sought help from experts for research. Her first drafts received feedback from trusted friends, and her novels showcased both strong plot and character development. Despite her own health issues, she continued to write and publish acclaimed novels. Susie's self-awareness and introspective nature are reflected in Manon's character, and her ability to balance doubt and brilliance resonated with her readers.
Susie's writing impact: Susie's writing, specifically her character Manon Bradshaw, left a lasting impression on readers and has potential for a successful TV series despite challenges in completing work due to health issues and complex characters beyond crime stereotypes. Cover debate may mislead genre expectations.
Susie's writing, particularly her beloved character Manon Bradshaw, has left a lasting impression on readers and has the potential to be adapted into a successful television series. However, the discussion also touched upon the challenges Susie faced in completing her work due to her health issues, and the complexity of her characters that go beyond typical crime novel stereotypes. The cover of the book, "Missing, Presumed," was debated as potentially misleading, as it may suggest a different genre than what the novel truly offers. Overall, the book club participants expressed a deep appreciation for Susie's writing and the unique blend of crime investigation and character development that she brought to the table.
Reading Tastes: Listeners have diverse reading tastes, from appreciating challenging vocabulary and intriguing plots to finding excessive long words and meandering plots frustrating. Discovering new authors and genres is important while acknowledging individual preferences.
While some listeners, like Louise, appreciated the new vocabulary and intrigue from a challenging read, others, like Charmaine, found the excessive use of long words and meandering plot frustrating. The group discussed various books, including recommendations from past podcasts and personal preferences, showcasing the diversity of reading tastes among the listeners. Louise shared her emotional connection to a recently deceased author's work, while Alex praised a thrilling story with relatable characters. The group also shared a humorous excerpt from a book that made them laugh. Overall, the book club highlighted the importance of discovering new authors and genres while acknowledging individual preferences.
Discovering lesser-known books: Explore the joy of discovering lesser-known books through book clubs and recommendations from friends and bookshops. These hidden gems may not have made it to the best-seller charts but are worth sharing and re-reading.
The Book Club discussed the joy of discovering lesser-known books, some of which may not have made it to the best-seller charts but are worth sharing and re-reading. The speakers, Jane and Fi, expressed their gratitude to Hazel from Dalich Book Club and the bookshop for introducing them to the author Siobhan Wallace and her book. They encouraged listeners to recommend books for future discussions and mentioned plans for a possible autumn book club. They also mentioned the upcoming release of a new film, "The Marine," starring Matt Damon and Casey Affleck, and urged listeners to take notes on a potential criminal conspiracy in the book. The podcast is produced by Eve Salisbury and executive produced by Rosie Cutler, and can be heard live on Times Radio Monday to Thursday, 2-4 pm. Listeners can access the radio online, on DAB, or on the free Times Radio app.