Helen Lederer and Ilaria Bernardini
Memoir, matriarchal life in 1950s Italy and cultural appropriation feature in this week's choices.
BOOKS:
WISHFUL DRINKING by CARRIE FISHER
FORBIDDEN NOTEBOOK by ALBA DE CESPEDES
YELLOWFACE by REBECCA F KUANG
Harriett's guests today are comedian and writer Helen Lederer known for so many roles including as Catrionia in Absolutely Fabulous. Recently she has published her memoir Not That I'm Bitter and set up the Comedy Writing In Print Prize. She has opted for the hugely witty and knowing memoir Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher detailing her tumultuous life as the child of two Hollywood stars who often couldn't separate fantasy from reality.
Ilaria Bernardini is an Italian novelist and screenwriter. She is currently working on Bernardo Bertolucci鈥檚 final script which Ilaria co-wrote with hi -The Echo Chamber. Her choice is the seminal feminist Italian novel Forbidden Notebook by the Italian-Cuban writer Alba de Cespedes about the inner life of an Italian housewife and Mama of the family.
Harriett's choice is Yellowface by Rebecca F Kuang - a cautionary tale for our times of plagiarism, cultural appropriation, social media storms and more.
Producer: Maggie Ayre
Last on
More episodes
Broadcasts
- Mon 15 Jul 2024 15:00麻豆社 Radio 4
- Thu 19 Sep 2024 23:30麻豆社 Radio 4
Books and Authors Podcast
Open Book for author interviews and A Good Read for recommended reads
Listen now to books on 麻豆社 Sounds
Escape with books & stories
Opening Lines
John Yorke unpacks the themes behind the stories in Radio 4's weekend afternoon dramas.
Books
Celebrating reading and the 100 novels that have shaped our world.
How many of these 100 Novels have you read?
After a passionate debate, our panel has come up with this surprising literary selection.