The Book Show

It was a cracking line-up at this lunchtime recording of The Book Club for Sky Arts. It opened with a very current topic, the Kindle versus hardback books debate. Mariella Frostrupp – truly this woman never ages – questioned author Joanne Harris, Turner prize winner Jeremy Deller and ’80s pin-up Gary Kemp for their opinions, with Deller drawing an interesting parallel in the demise of music album sleeve art with first the rise of the smaller CD case and then of downloads.

Harris proved to be charming discussing her latest return to and relationship with her famous Chocolat protagonist Vianee, while later we were treated to a performance of one of Gary Kemp’s solo musical efforts that showed off his maturity and own vocal talents.

The bonus of The Book Club is that all of human culture can be found in books. And in Mariella’s safe hands this was a cultural delicacy to satiate the palette happily and leave it inspired to search further. Delightful.

The Old Market, 13 May 2012
Rating:
Victoria Nangle