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SJ Watson on his new novel Second Life

News and features from the world of books, presented by Mariella Frostrup. SJ Watson, best-selling author of Before I Go to Sleep, discusses his new novel Second Life.

S J Watson's first novel Before I Go To Sleep was an international hit - it's been published in over 40 languages and adapted into a Hollywood movie. He talks to Mariella about writing the follow up, his new thriller Second Life. And about the impact that seeing his debut made into a film has had on his writing.

Also on the programme Ann Morgan discusses her quest to read a book from every country in the world in just one year, and Turkish novelist Elif Shafak reveals the book she'd never lend.

And with Valentine's Day approaching writer Rebecca Stott considers some literary declarations of love - from women.

Available now

28 minutes

Read the first chapter of ' Second Life' by S.J Watson

by S.J Watson

Booklist

Before I Go to Sleep by S.J Watson

Second Life by S.J.Watson

The Bastard of IstanbulΒ  by Elif Shafak

Hayy ibn Yaqhdan by Ibn Tufail

Reading the World by Ann Morgan

Next Week's Close Reading: 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie' by Muriel Spark

Miss Brodie said, β€˜So I intend simply to point out to Miss Mackay that there is a radical difference in our principles of education. Radical is a word pertaining to roots – Latin radix, a root. We differ at root, the headmistress and I, upon the question whether we are employed to educate the minds of girls or to intrude upon them. We have had this argument before, but Miss Mackay is not, I may say, an outstanding logician. A logician is one skilled in logic. Logic is the art of reasoning. What is logic, Rose?’ 'β€˜To do with reasoning, ma’am,’ said Rose, who later, while still in her teens, was to provoke Miss Brodie’s amazement and then her awe and finally her abounding enthusiasm for the role which Rose then appeared to be enacting: that of a great lover, magnificently elevated above the ordinary run of lovers, above the moral laws, Venus incarnate, something set apart. In fact, Rose was not at the time in question engaged in the love affair which Miss Brodie thought she was, but it seemed so, and Rose was famous for sex.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Mariella Frostrup
Interviewed Guest SJ Watson
Interviewed Guest Ann Morgan
Interviewed Guest Elif Shafak
Interviewed Guest Rebecca Stott

Broadcasts

  • Sun 8 Feb 2015 16:00
  • Thu 12 Feb 2015 15:30

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