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Take Four Books

BBC Radio 4
Literary Influence
Art
The Party
A Case Of Matricide
Women's Freedom
Covid-19
Betrayal
Revolution
Love
Lockdown
Activism
The Lord Of the Rings
Petersburg
Moby Dick
The Proof Of My Innocence
Old Soul
Florence
Renaissance
BBC Radio 4
Writing

Presenter James Crawford looks at an author's latest work and delves further into their creative process by learning about the three other texts that have shaped their writing.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes55Foundeda year ago
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ArtsBooks

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Artwork for Take Four Books

Latest Episodes

The much-loved Canadian writer and former Booker Prize winner, Yann Martel, speaks to Take Four Books this week about his new novel, and first for a decade - Son Of Nobody - and together with presenter James Crawford, they explore its connections to ... more

Northern Irish writer and multi‑award‑winning novelist Jan Carson talks to James Crawford about her new book and the three key influences that shaped it.

Her latest novel, Few and Far Between, transports readers to an alternative Northern Ireland, w... more

The writer Susan Choi speaks to Take Four Books about her novel Flashlight, and, together with presenter James Crawford, they explore its connections to three other literary works.

The novel, which began life as a short story in the New Yorker in 20... more

Bestselling author John Lanchester speaks to Take Four Books about his latest novel Look What You Made Me Do. Together with presenter James Crawford, they explore its connections to three other literary works. In black comedy Look What You Made Me Do... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Susan Choi
Author of Flashlight
Author
Episode: Susan Choi
John Lanchester
Author, journalist, and short story writer
Episode: John Lanchester
Jennifer Niven
Internationally best-selling American writer known for her novels including All the Bright Places.
Episode: Jennifer Niven
Bryan Washington
One of America's most exciting young authors, acclaimed for his tender explorations of love, alienation, sexuality, and belonging.
Episode: Bryan Washington
Rob Doyle
Acclaimed Irish novelist
Episode: Rob Doyle
Makenna Goodman
American author, essayist, and editor; author of Helen Of Nowhere
Episode: Makenna Goodman
Andrew Michael Hurley
Lancashire-born novelist whose work explores the landscapes of rural England in the genre of folk horror.
Episode: Andrew Michael Hurley
Karl Ove Knausgaard
Globally bestselling and critically acclaimed Norwegian author
Episode: Karl Ove Knausgaard
Olga Ravn
Acclaimed Danish author known for her novel The Employees and her latest work The Wax Child
None
Episode: Olga Ravn

Host

James Crawford
Presenter and host of the literary discussion series that explores authors' creative processes and influences.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#195
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#26
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#70
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#94
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#240
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#63
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#165
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#171
Germany/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#221
Italy/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#12
Ireland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#17
South Africa/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#24
New Zealand/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#30
Ireland/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#44
South Africa/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#72
Netherlands/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#81
New Zealand/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#93
Philippines/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#106
Denmark/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#120
Switzerland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#122
Sweden/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#166
Belgium/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#187
Philippines/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#195
Singapore/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#201
Netherlands/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#204
Sweden/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#217
Norway/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#224
Denmark/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#248
Spain/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Susan Choi
Q: You said Visitation inspired your approach to structure. How did that influence your decision to move through time in Flashlight?
Visitation encouraged me to think in terms of leaps across long spans of time, allowing a single scene to open into a much larger arc without feeling bloated, which I applied to Flashlight as the narrative expanded beyond a tight, 150-page scope.
John Lanchester
Q: How did the three comic novels influence Look What You Made Me Do?
They provide a wide range of tones and influences, showing that humor can coexist with seriousness, informing the character-driven narrative of the novel.
John Lanchester
Q: Did you initially conceive of the novel as a revenge story?
Yes, the revenge themes between the two women serve as a significant motor of the story, and I had that planned from the beginning.
John Lanchester
Q: Could you tell us about each of the two characters in your novel in turn?
Kate is in her mid-fifties, married to a successful architect, and appears to have a comfortable life, but she's not as benign as she first seems. Phoebe, on the other hand, is a young screenwriter with a spikier personality, showing a contrast between the two women.
Jennifer Niven
Q: So were you sort of exploring the own pressure you feel then in some of the writing in this novel?
Oh, definitely. I mean, I put, you know, always so many writers, we put ourselves in there.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Take Four Books

What is Take Four Books about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Exploring the intersection of literature and the creative process, this podcast takes listeners on a journey with authors discussing their latest works. Each episode focuses on an author who not only shares insights about their newest publication but also highlights three influential texts that significantly shaped their writing journey. This unique format offers a glimpse into the minds of acclaimed authors, revealing the deeper connections between their works and the literary influences around them, while simultaneously engaging with broader themes in literature, creativity, and personal identity.

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Which podcasts are similar to Take Four Books?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Take Four Books:

1. A Good Read
2. Bookclub
3. The Waterstones Podcast
4. World Book Club
5. Ask Penguin

How many episodes of Take Four Books are there?

Take Four Books launched a year ago and published 55 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Take Four Books?

Recent guests on Take Four Books include:

1. Susan Choi
2. John Lanchester
3. Jennifer Niven
4. Bryan Washington
5. Rob Doyle
6. Makenna Goodman
7. Andrew Michael Hurley
8. Karl Ove Knausgaard

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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