Francesca Wade, author of "Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife"
Gertrude Stein is a name that inspires equal amounts of both awe and fear in prospective readers. An absolute icon in her time, she was an unparalleled tastemaker: collecting work from Picasso and Matisse when they were unknown local painters; mentoring Hemingway and Fitzgerald as bright-eyed, unpublished hopefuls; and hosting ‘talk of the town’ salons at her Parisian abode. However, when it comes to her writing, things have always been a bit more complicated.To help me unpack the life, legacy, and ‘afterlife’ of this fascinating figure, today I have the pleasure of speaking with biographer, author and journalist Francesca Wade. Her new book, Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife, is set to hit shelves in the upcoming month. It was a great chat, and I hope you enjoy it.
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40:06
Sarah Maria Griffin, author of “Eat the Ones You Love”
In this episode, I’m joined by Irish writer Sarah Maria Griffin to talk about the four books that have most shaped her creative journey – from early influences to enduring literary obsessions. It’s a fantastic conversation, ending with her newest work, Eat The Ones You Love, a bold and visceral work of feminist horror. In the episode we talk about writing as transformation, the power and joy of horror, and what it means to create with teeth.Sarah Maria Griffin’s four books were:Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (1986)Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy (1990)Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay (2015)House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski (2000)Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading!
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46:28
Book Club Bites: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her latest novel “Dream Count”
Today’s episode looks a lot like the last one. Again, I wanted to dive deeper into one of our Book Club selections and in March, we read “Dream Count” by the Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. In this episode, we look at her biography, at this specific novel, and how it fits into her wider work. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and follow me on Instagram (@litwithcharles) to keep the literary conversations going. Let’s get more people listening - and reading!
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26:02
Book Club Bites: James Baldwin, author of "Giovanni's Room"
Today’s episode looks a little different – rather than interviewing a guest about their work, I’m getting to grips with our last Lit With Charles book club pick. We read James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room last month as a community, and I, along with many of you, absolutely loved it. So, I’m using this space to reflect on that experience, share my thoughts and feelings about the book, and take a moment to dive deep into Baldwin’s life and bibliography. I’d love to hear from you what you think about this new format, as something that could potentially slot in alongside our regularly scheduled content. Personally, I really enjoyed recording it, and I hope you get as much out of it as I have!If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and follow me on Instagram (@litwithcharles) to keep the literary conversations going. Let’s get more people listening—and reading!
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13:25
Oluwaseun Olayiwola, author of "Strange Beach"
Today, I’ve got an absolute treat for you: I sat down with Oluwaseun Olayiwola—poet, choreographer, and all-around creative powerhouse—to talk about his latest collection of poems, Strange Beach.Oluwaseun is one of those rare artists who moves seamlessly between the page and the stage. As a choreographer, his work has graced performance spaces from London to Paris, and as a poet, he’s got a voice that feels like it’s bending language in real time. His collection Strange Beach grapples with Blackness, queerness, intimacy, migration—all through a lens that feels at once deeply personal and intellectually expansive. It’s like standing at the shore of something vast, something shifting, something you can’t quite pin down but can absolutely feel.In our conversation, we get into the themes of the book, the connections between dance and poetry, and what it means to make art that moves—literally and figuratively.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and follow me on Instagram (@litwithcharles) to keep the literary conversations going. Let’s get more people listening—and reading!
Welcome to Lit With Charles, a podcast on all things literary!
I'm Charles Pignal, and every fortnight I’m asking guests about the four books which have made the biggest impact on their lives and work.
If you're like me, you love literature – but maybe aren't always sure what you should be reading. The aim of this podcast is to make literature exciting and accessible; in each episode writers, artists, and other interesting people are giving real recommendations, to help you discover new books and authors off the beaten track. Here at Lit With Charles, every book has a story to tell.
Ireland