The Book Show - Series Two

Episode One — Rachael King, Karlo Mila
In the first episode of series two of The Book Show, the studio panel (Dominion Post Books Editor Guy Somerset, scriptwriter Kath Akuhata-Brown and TV presenter Marcus Lush) review Steve Braunias's book How To Watch A Bird. Finlay Macdonald interviews Rachael King about her debut novel The Sound of Butterflies, and poet Karlo Mila talks to presenter Emily Perkins about her love for American poet Alice Walker's collected works.

Episode Two — Neil Cross, Paul Shannon
The Book Club (Guy Somerset, Marcus Lush and poet Selina Tusitala Marsh) are divided about Brit Ian McEwan's novella On a Chesil Beach. Roving reporter Finlay Macdonald talks to ex-pat English novelist and scriptwriter Neil Cross about how his eccentric childhood shaped his life and work. Auckland novelist Paul Shannon chooses Roddy Doyle's novel  A Star Called Henry for his talk with presenter Emily Perkins.

Episode Three — Bub Bridger, CK Stead 
In this episode of The Book Show, Paula Morris's American satire Trendy But Casual gets a unified thumbs up from the panel (Guy Somerset, Kath Akuhata-Brown and poet Anna Jackson). Finlay Macdonald is charmed by West Coast-based poet, performer and scriptwriter Bub Bridger, who discusses her late start to writing. Lastly author and academic CK Stead discusses early Henry James novel Washington Square with presenter Emily Perkins.

Episode Four  — Vincent O'Sullivan, Douglas Wright
Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s civil war novel Half of a Yellow Sun gets a positive reception by the studio panel (Guy Somerset, Anna Jackson and broadcaster Wallace Chapman). Finlay Macdonald ventures down to central Otago to visit writer-in-residence, Vincent O’Sullivan, who is working on a biography of Ralph Hotere. Then choreographer and writer Douglas Wright discusses German WG Sebald’s novel The Rings Of Saturn with host Emily Perkins. 

Episode Five — Chad Taylor, Stephanie Johnson
This week's panel (Guy Somerset, Marcus Lush and Wallace Chapman) have a mixed verdict over New Zealand-born novelist Louise Wareham Leonard’s Miss Me a Lot of. Finlay Macdonald asks neo-noir novelist Chad Taylor about the importance of a strong story. Then writer Stephanie Johnson shares her favourite novel, Erasure by American Percival Everett.

Episode Six — Vanda Symon, James George
In this episode, everyone on the panel (Somerset, Chapman and Kath Akuhata-Brown) finds something to love in Michael Ondaatje’s novel Divisadero. Finlay Macdonald meets Dunedin crime writer Vanda Symon, who made the change from pharmacist to novelist. Then James George talks about All The Pretty Horses, the Cormac McCarthy book that inspired his journey to become a writer.

Episode Seven — James McNeish, Stacy Gregg
Kicking off with the book club, Emily Perkins is joined by Chapman, Akuhata-Brown and Marcus Lush to discuss Sebastian Faulks new novel Engleby. Next up, roving reporter Finlay Macdonald meets with author James McNeish in Wellington for a wide-ranging chat. Finally, Perkins interviews Stacy Gregg, writer of "pony books for girls", on her appreciation for Rick Gekoski's Tolkien's Gown & Other Stories of Great Authors and Rare Books.

Episode Eight — Anne Salmond, Jo Randerson
This week's book club sees Selina Tusitala Marsh, Marcus Lush and Wallace Chapman discussing Princess Diana biography The Diana Chronicles, by Tina Brown. Finlay Macdonald then joins writer Anne Salmond in her Devonport home, to discuss her books on Captain Cook and her journey with learning Te Reo Māori. For the "writers talking about reading" segment, performer and author Jo Randerson talks about her love of Doris Lessing's work, especially The Fifth Child and its sequel Ben in the World.  

Episode Nine — Cilla McQueen, Joy Cowley
Book club panelists Guy Somerset, Anna Jackson and Wallace Chapman discuss Charlotte Grimshaw's crime novel Opportunity. Finlay Macdonald then travels to meet poet Cilla McQueen in her adopted home of Bluff, and hears how the blustery southern city has influenced her writing. For the "writers talking about reading" segment,  children's literary icon Joy Cowley showcases 1975 book Pligrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard.  

Episode Ten — Brian Falkner, Shonagh Koea
Owen Marshall's novel Dry Bread gets a cool reception from this week's reviewers. Reporter Finlay Macdonald meets Brian Falkner, an author who found his niche in junior fiction after trying his hand at romance novels. Then novelist Shonagh Koea talks to Emily Perkins about At Lady Molly's, the fourth book in Anthony Powell's series A Dance to The Music of Time.