TV link to books

[willow]

Don't Forget To Watch Or tape This TV Programme

There are 2 new book related TV programmes on this week.

Page Turners

BBC1 Monday and Friday 9.15 am - 10 am

This is a series looking at the most recently popular books. It will feature authors and reading groups.

Dickens In America

BBC Four Tuesday 8.30pm and 11 pm

'The actress and Charles Dickens enthusiast Miriam Margolyes sets out on a ten part literary voyage hoping to uncover something of the real man by retracing his 1842 tour of the East Coast of America and Canada' (The Times)

Both of these sound good and for once I've noticed them!!!!

If there are any more book related things coming up please let us all know!!!!!

Willow

[Kel]

Thanks for the info.But why does Page Turners have to be on during the day- I will miss it because my video does not work!

[willow]

Hi

I know it's so annoying. Eventually the powers that be might realise that those who enjoy reading may not only be those who don't work!!!!!!!

Willow

[Tess]

I'd forgotten that Page Turners was on, I shall have to set my video for tomorrow. It seems really silly to have it on at this time of the day, it would be better on BBC2 early evening. Does anybody know if it will get repeated?

[willow]

It's on again on Friday.

Todays programme was good.

'The Kite Runner' this included an interview with the author.

An article on bookcrossing.

'Dress your family in denim and corduroy' with David Sedaris in the studio.

Bob Dylan's autobiography discussed by Janet Street Porter and Phil Jupitus.

Next episode has 3 more books one of which is 'We have to talk about Kevin'.

willow

[Adrian]

I watched it and thought it was pretty good, though R&J should sue for copyright! It was a straight rip-off of their book club. Still, all the better for us readers. My problem was that I thought Jeremy Vine was just wrong as the presenter. His style is great for his Radio 2 show quizzing politicians but I didn't think he slotted in.

Also, you knew every book was going to be a "Page Turner." The best guest was Janet Street-Porter, who wasn't afraid to say that she didn't like the book. Like R&J's guests, the other celebrity reviewers all gushed over the book and couldn't find anything wrong with it. Makes me a little suspicious, but it could just my cynical nature.

Liked the bit on Bookcrossing. I signed up ages ago but have yet to release my first book! Must remedy that soon.

I thought it was on every day this week. Which bright spark thought scheduling it Monday and Friday mornings at 9:15 were the best slots for it?

[willow]

I agree I wasn't overkeen on Jeremy Vine either. Also I am a bit cynical about whether any book will not be a page turner. I thought JSP would say Dylan's wasn't.

Still better than no new programmes on reading!!!

willow

[megustaleer]

I think the choice of channel and presenter was deliberate. I think the idea is to try and infuse the common herd with an enthusiasm for books, and not keep them as a preserve for intellectual BBC2 viewers :D

Can't explain the time-slot 'though. What sort of show is usually on at that hour?

I noticed that of the members of the audience who gave their opinions, only one was male.

Liked the BookCrossing piece, perhaps if I accosted people and gave them books I'd have a better response than I have had so far from just leaving them lying about!

[Tess]

I forgot that it was on again this morning, it’s hard when you’re rushing to get out the door and being a female I am incapable of timing the video recorder :p

[Bill]

Fear not, Tess. It wasn't on this morning. It's not on again until Friday at 9.15 am.

[scarymary555]

Chris ......

Didn't like Jeremy Vine either.......would have preferred someone else, but who??

Mary x

[Adrian]

scarymary555 I'd have gone for John Sergeant. He's intelligent and doesn't have that inquisitorial aura of Vine.

[Tess]

Fear not, Tess. It wasn't on this morning. It's not on again until Friday at 9.15 am.

Thanks, for some reason I thought it was on Monday - Friday, lets hope I remember this Friday.

[megustaleer]

I forgot all about it this morning!

I remembered to put on the TV on Friday morning, but of course it was cancelled, then forgot all about it until 5mins ago.
Did anyone watch/video it today?

[Adrian]

megustaleer, I watched it today (like you I set the video last Friday but didn't realise events had meant a change in schedule).

I'm going off it. Partly because of the books they chose (I liked the sound of only one book, Inside Hitler's Bunker, and the other reviews actively put me off the other two).

Mainly, I disliked it because it is a preview of a book to be read, not a review in a Book Group sense. The guests can't talk about the ending or the Big Plot Twist in case they give anything away. R&J do the same. If you're going to mimic a real-life book group, assume the viewers have already read the book. As it is now, it's like a publishers' marketing dream, getting celebrities to promote a book and give the public enough to want to buy it, whilst giving nothing to the people who have already read it.

Did like Al Murray though. Good choice of guest. Pam Ferris too.

Of course, every one was again a "Page Turner."

[megustaleer]

Mainly, I disliked it because it is a preview of a book to be read, not a review in a Book Group sense. The guests can't talk about the ending or the Big Plot Twist in case they give anything away. R&J do the same. If you're going to mimic a real-life book group, assume the viewers have already read the book. As it is now, it's like a publishers' marketing dream, getting celebrities to promote a book and give the public enough to want to buy it, whilst giving nothing to the people who have already read it.



You think? Perhaps I belong to a very ill-disciplined Book Goup, as it is rare for us all to have read all the books (we meet quarterly to discuss 3 books). If anyone is only part way through a book we don't reveal the ending, just allude to it in a way that 'those in the know' can understand, and that encourages the laggardly reader to perservere.

The books for my postal Bookgroup arrive with a notebook of comments from previous readers, and again only allude to plot twists, or the ending, so that the book isn't spoiled for later readers.

The same applies to the various radio book discussion progs I listen to, although generally they are intended to recommend the books to those who have yet to discover them.

I suppose that's why this aspect of 'Page Turners' doesn't bother me. Can't say I've been inspired by the titles chosen so far (as revealed in the Radio Times). Won't make up my mind about it until I've seen a couple more. (if I remember to switch on/set the video)

[Adrian]

I've never been a member of a face-to-face or postal bookgroup megustaleer, so I can't comment. I just assumed that was the group was all about: reading the book first and thus being able to discuss the whole book. I have a silly thought of half the group with fingers in the ears going la-la-la! :)

[megustaleer]

I have a silly thought of half the group with fingers in the ears going la-la-la! :)

:p :D

[megustaleer]

Forgot to watch it yesterday morning, but had fortunately thought to set the video the night before, so have now seen it.

Don't know what happened to last Friday's prog., as this was the edition scheduled in the Radio Times.

"Let Me Go' by Helga Schneider is the only book featured in the show so far that I would like to read. Esther Rantzen was a fairly predictable reviewer, but Tony Hawkes? Anyway, both had sufficiently interesting things to say about it for me to add it to 'The List'

I was not happy with the footage of concentration camp prisoners being used to 'hype' a book, even a book on this subject.

Have never felt tempted to read a book by Penny Vincenzi, and although I didn't dislike the one Anita Shreve I've read, I would not look for another, and yesterday's show didn't change my mind.

I enjoyed the interview with David Nicholls. He was full of enthusiasm, and made me feel that his books would be fun to read.

Once more, just one token male contributor from the audience!

Bring back Janet Street-Porter, as a little acidity is needed! The blanket enthusiasm is a bit cloying. At least on Radio4's 'A Good Read' the contributors are allowed to say how much they hate a book!