Radar: What I'm Reading, Watching, Listening To This Week

Reading

Precipice by Robert Harris

This is not my first Robert Harris novel, as I read Enigma before. Having led a school trip to Bletchley Park, I enjoyed delving into the world of one of the codebreakers and their romantic entanglements. So, I’m glad that Precipice, Harris’ latest historical novel hasn’t disappointed. Harris writes in a very image-driven manner which leads to an immersive and reading experience. I enjoy the way that he, as the author, doesn’t get in the way of the story, and that, more importantly, this is a book which actually contains a story with, you know, an actual plot where things actually happen - remember books like that? Reading this is such an antidote to so much of the bloated, literary fiction we’re presented with today. I haven’t read all of the Robert Harris novels, and a review in The Sunday Times mentioned this isn’t even one of his best, but if that’s the case then I’ll look forward to the others, because, for now, this is an excellent summer read. It’s the definition of a page-turner - recommended. 

Listening

I seem to be listening to more and more radio recently. I just find it such a relaxing way to switch off at the end of the day. I bought myself a pair of over-ear headphones recently, which is more of an incentive to listen to radio. It was such a pleasure to listen to Pascale Petit’s choices on Poetry Please (BBC Sounds), and the opening reading of Edwin Muir’s 'The Horses' was electrifying and everything you would want from a reading. The Scottish actor who read the poem did a magnificent job at bringing Muir’s imagery to life. Les Murray’s ‘The Quality of Sprawl’ also had me mesmerised from start to finish (note to self: go back to his work!).  Remember that you can sign up to my Book Club where we'll be discussing Pascale's latest collection 'Beast' here:

TPW Book Club: Beast

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Book Now

The Diary of a Nobody (BBC Sounds) was written in 1892 by George and Weedon Crossmith and is absolutely hilarious. In this version on BBC Sounds, it’s read by Arthur Lowe, the same actor who played Captain Mainwaring in Dad’s Army. It centres around Charles Pooter, a London clerk, and his suburban travails - it is pure comedy and I’ve been loving it. 

Simon Hopkinson: A Life Through Food (BBC Sounds)

For regular readers of my blog, you’ll know that I love food: thinking about it, writing about it, cooking and eating it. Well, I can now add to that list that I love listening to people talk about food. I think I’ve listened to all of the Desert Island Discs episodes which feature chefs, and I’ve worked my way through all the ‘Life Through Food’ episodes I can find on BBC Sounds. This interview with Simon Hopkinson is excellent - he’s unpretentious and discusses his life growing up in the north west, starting his own restaurant, becoming an Egon Ronay inspector, and then setting up Bibendum restaurant. His Good Cook series was also excellent and I’d recommend that too. His recipe for parmesan biscuits is a winner. 

Watching

Here We Go (BBC iPlayer) is back. I’ve long been a fan of this fly-on-the-wall family comedy, featuring Jim Howick, Katherine Parkinson, Alison Steadman and Tom Basden, and have really enjoyed the first episode, in which the family get locked into their house by their new smart-locks.