Jul 30, 2026 · 48 min · 13 segments
This week, we meditate on childhood memories with TLS Ackerley Prize-winner Geoff Dyer; and Ben Street on the tricky business of artists at the cinema. 'Homework', by Geoff Dyer 'The Hollywood…
Ben StreetGuest
Alex ClarkHost
Geoff DyerGuest
Lucy DallasHost
Honestly, our very own Mary Beard, who has not been allowed to talk about it and has not talked about it to us, but she is the chair of this year's Booker Prize judges and they have released their long list.
I anyway, and I think you too, Lucy, are pretty delighted to see Gwendolyn Riley there who came to talk to us about her book, didn't she?
read all of them i have to admit to quite a lot of ignorance here there's one i would really like to read actually i'm sure i'd like to read lots of them that's i think i if i can guess what it is is
You see, I thought that'd be right up your street, but maybe you've already read that.
No, I think he's absolutely brilliant, but I have to brace myself a bit because they're so terrifying.
No, I do think he's just absolutely brilliant, but I would like to read it, but I have to brace myself.
because it's one of those things that I really love a campus novel, but a campus novel with a kind of slight difference in the sense that there is a narrator.
An out of work actor who has to sit in the back of the university lecture theatre dressed in a black leather bag.
And I suppose the question is, and I don't know because I haven't read it yet and I will do, we will report back.
Honestly, our very own Mary Beard, who has not been allowed to talk about it and has not talked about it to us, but she is the chair of this year's Booker Prize judges and they have released their long list.
I anyway, and I think you too, Lucy, are pretty delighted to see Gwendolyn Riley there who came to talk to us about her book, didn't she?
read all of them i have to admit to quite a lot of ignorance here there's one i would really like to read actually i'm sure i'd like to read lots of them that's i think i if i can guess what it is is
You see, I thought that'd be right up your street, but maybe you've already read that.
No, I think he's absolutely brilliant, but I have to brace myself a bit because they're so terrifying.
No, I do think he's just absolutely brilliant, but I would like to read it, but I have to brace myself.
because it's one of those things that I really love a campus novel, but a campus novel with a kind of slight difference in the sense that there is a narrator.
An out of work actor who has to sit in the back of the university lecture theatre dressed in a black leather bag.
And I suppose the question is, and I don't know because I haven't read it yet and I will do, we will report back.
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