The Hypothetical Bookshelf is a kind of desert island discs for books currently in development.
Inspired by Italo Calvino’s essay ‘Whom do we write for? Or The Hypothetical Bookshelf’ this is a podcast that asks writers what other works their writing is in conversation with, looking for the ways new work can make connections between different books on a writer’s and reader’s hypothetical shelf.
I’ll be interviewing a different author each time and asking them to name five books of fiction or non-fiction that can be put beside their own on that imaginary bookshelf. Guests include: Deepa Anappara, Lara Haworth, Hester Musson, Heidi James, Kiare Ladner and Irenosen Okojie.
Calvino also writes about how this juxtaposition and conversation between different works can question ‘the established scale of values and code of meanings’ generally accepted by the wider culture and I’m keen to test that theory, asking authors about different approaches to storytelling techniques and traditions, to inspire listeners with new reading lists and new creative practices.
Coming to all your favourite podcast platforms soon…