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We're heading into the dark underworld of crime and trials in this episode of the Penguin Podcast, so prepare for a little sleuthing, a little violence and a lot of intrigue!

Leading us into the world of espionage and conspiracy is the master of the spy novel himself - John le Carré - with two short extracts from the audiobook edition of his new book A Delicate Truth.

Following that we have Paul French, author of Midnight in Peking, talking about his new Penguin Special, The Badlands: Decadent Playground of Old Peking.  Fact is stranger than fiction in his tour of old Peking's criminal underbelly, and there are certainly a few sinister characters that could warrant a book all on their own!

We then have an interview with debut author Austin Ratner whose book, The Jump Artist, explores the remarkable true story of Philippe Halsman, a photographer of the greatest names of Bohemian Paris, and his involvement in a shocking murder trial that shook Europe.

Finally, we have an audiobook extract from James Oswald's Natural Causes, read by Ian Hanmore.
*Warning* This book opens on a crime scene, so if this extract causes adverse symptoms of extreme fear, call the special Natural Causes Helpline on 0800 083 0414.

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In this episode (which is a bumper one, *concidentally* timed just before the Webby voting closes) we’re thinking about nostalgia - about periods of history that spark a lot of memories, about personal pasts and things we miss, or things we’re glad are over! So where better to start than with two of our longest serving and highly esteemed editors, Tony Lacey and Eleo Gordon, talking about the days of publishing during the Mad Men years and how things have changed. Thank you to everyone who supplied questions on Facebook, there were some gems that Tony and Eleo were thrilled to answer. Next we’re off to the Yorkshire of the 1950s, with a reading from Bobby on the Beat, Pamela Rhodes true story of life as a policewoman then. Following that we have a telephone interview with the charming Mollie Moran, author of Aprons and Silver Spoons: The heartwarming memoirs of a 1930s scullery maid, who transports us back to a London we would barely recognise. Next we go a little more modern with not one but two very different readings on Thatcher’s England. First up is a reading from Dominic Sandbrook’s Seasons in the Sun: The Battle for Britain, 1974-1979, followed by an extract from Charles Moore’s official biography, Margaret Thatcher. We then have an interview with Jay Griffiths, author of Kith, who questions how happy modern day childhoods really are, and thinks about what exactly childhood is supposed to be. Next we move on to the historical fiction with a reading by Bee Ridgway from her utterly engrossing historical romance The River of No Return. Finally, we have an interview with Alicia Foster, about her new book Warpaint, a compelling tale of truth and lies, tragedy and black comedy, loosely based on the lives of four painters during the World War Two.

In Webby related news, a huge thank you to everyone who voted for us, and to those who didn't there's still time! Help us to waddle to a Webby here.  And if you didn't catch our Best Bits trailer, head over to SoundCloud or check out our dedicated board on Pinterest.

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Us Penguins would like to present you with a challenge.  Now we know life can be frantic and it sometimes feels like you don’t have time to get round to the things that you want to do.  We certainly understand how you feel here at Penguin Towers.  But, we think that if there’s one thing you can always make time for its reading.  The thirty-minutes on your bus journey into work, the five-minutes before you go to sleep, the ten-minutes when you wake up and don’t want to get of bed – they’re all times when you can squeeze in a few extra pages.  Just think how many books you could get through if you did!  If you find you are one of these people or want to be, then we have just the thing for you.

Early this year Penguin launched Readarama – a reading challenge, led by "The Reader", to read a book a week.  You can either read the books selected by The Reader week-on-week or you can pick your own list of books and share how you’re getting on. 

If, however, you still need convincing that 2013 is the Year of Reading, then this week's podcast will show you what fantastic books you could be delving into.

In week 6 of Readarama The Reader picked Pat Barker’s moving novel Toby’s Room set during The First World War and we have an extract to showcase the breadth to which Pat Barker demonstrates human desire, wartime horror and the power of friendship.  After that we have an exclusive interview with Ruta Sepetys talking about her latest book Out of the Easy, The Reader’s choice in week 7, set in the sordid French Quarter of 1950s New Orleans.  Next we listen in on a conversation between two exciting debut authors talking about the art of writing about time travel and historical fiction.  Elizabeth Fremantle, who’s book Queen’s Gambit was picked up by The Reader in week 8, explores Henry VIIIs Tudor court and the life of the only woman to outlive him – Katherine Parr.  Joining her is the author of The River of No Return, Bee Ridgway – a must read for fans of The Snow Child or The Night Circus.  Unfortunately it’s not out until May, but you can join The Reader in a few weeks time to read it as soon as it’s out!  Finally, we have an interview with Graeme Simsion on his hilarious heart-warming book The Rosie Project, which tells the story of socially challenged genetics professor Don Tillman in pursuit of a wife.  This is on The Reader’s list for next week, so if you want to start joining in on the challenge, then we can’t think of a better book for you to start with.

So if these little tasters aren't enough to persuade you to join in Readarama then we can’t think what will!

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Other books already featured on the Readarama list:

Readarama Links:

Blog - www.readarama.co.uk

Facebook - www.facebook.com/readarama

Twitter - #Readarama

In Other News!

We have some very very very exciting news to share - The Penguin Podcast has been nominated for a Webby Award (think Digital Oscars) in the Radio and Podcast category.  And so we’d really like to thank you lovely listeners for following our podcast and listening along.  As part of the judging process, the public will get a chance to vote for one of the nominees in each category.  We're up against some huge players, including CNN and The New Yorker, so we’d love to give them a run for their money.  You can vote online in a matter of seconds by clicking this link.  Let's show everyone just how amazing the Penguin Podcast listeners are!

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This year marks the 150^th anniversary of the tube, so we thought we’d take a look at the great capital we’ve been journeying around underground since 1863. First up we have a reading from Elif Şhafak's powerful novel Honour, a masterfully-woven story of the love, loss, and betrayal experienced by an immigrant family in 1970s London. Next we talk to one of Penguin's publicists, Mari Yamazaki, about the Penguin Lines series; a collection of tales from twelve bestselling authors, each inspired by a different tube line. After that we look at London in a rather different light, with an extract from Charlie Higson’s post-apocalyptic horror, The Enemy, which is read by Paul Whitehouse.  If you live in North London beware – Camden will never feel the same again! To finish off our literary look at London life, Iris Jones Simantel, the author of Far From the East End, talks to us about her moving tale of being a young evacuee during the Blitz, moving out to the Welsh countryside, and back again.

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In honour of Mother’s Day this Sunday (a gentle reminder to any absent-minded sons and daughters out there) we're taking a look at some suitable Spring publications. They're heart-warming, dramatic and above all contain a resounding message to make the very most of the loved ones in your life – especially when the going gets tough.

To start us off we take a look at Above All Things with the author Tanis Rideout: a heart-wrenching novel based on British mountaineer George Mallory's fatal attempt to climb Everest, and his wife Ruth, who is left waiting for him to return to her. It’s sure to tug at your heart-strings!

Next we have an extract from An African Love Story, Daphne Sheldrick’s best-selling memoir of her life in Kenya, filled with romance, life, and elephants.

After that we celebrate the everyday reasons that make life worth living – mothers especially! – with a reading from The Sweetness of Life, Françoise Héritier’s philosophical look at the moments in life that we all cherish.

We then have an extract from Lesley Pearse’s Forgive Me, a gripping story of love and forgiveness between a mother and daughter.

Finally, we hear from Natalie and Kylie, our resident Penguins, for a bit of mother’s day gift-buying inspiration.  Hopefully we're leaving you armed with ideas to hit the bookshops to pick up a good read or two, along with a lovely bouquet of flowers!

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Happy Valentine's Day Listeners! Today we've got a bit of romantic themed podcast for you, and we thought we would try to appeal to everyone’s hearts with a bit of a mixed bag. First up, something for the daters with a terrible true tale of the most awkward date ever from Lucy Robinson, author of A Passionate Love Affair with a Total Stranger. Next, for the old romantics, we have an impressive but simple recipe from Jules Clancy’s Five Ingredients, Ten Minutes. Following that, we have something for the saucier listeners with an audiobook extract from Sylvia Day’s raunchy title Seven Years to Sin. For those who are more interested in the physiological aspect of love there’s an extract from the book Anatomies by Hugh Aldersey-Williams all about the human heart.  Next we have some readings from Penguin’s Poems for Love, because what would Valentines Day be without some poetry for the bitter, the happy and the plain loved up? And finally, for those of you who haven’t yet bought your valentine a gift, we have some book recommendations from some of us here at Penguin towers.

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Penguin Recommends:

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We thought we’d start the new year with some resolutions, and as we’re a bit late hopefully we can provide fresh inspiration for anyone who's already broken theirs.

We kickstart this episode with Judith O’Reilly who, last year, did 365 good deeds, which she's written about in her book A Year of Doing Good. Following that, we have some motivating words for any smokers out there trying to quit, from the Worldwide Director of Allen Carr's Easyway (International) Ltd.  Next we have a chat with Merle and Khan, Penguin's very own diet guinea pigs, who fill us in on their success with The Alternate Day Diet by James B. Johnson and Donald R. Laub. And lastly, we have an inspiring extract from Susan Cain’s heartfelt book Quiet.

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External links:

Jam Jar Army

WellPenguin Facebook page

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Merry Christmas!  We’re back, as promised, for the second part of our Bumper Christmas Podcast.  We are so excited, as I’m sure all of you are, about tomorrow... spending time with the family, eating a massive Christmas lunch, playing games and snoozing in front of the television.  But for now, if you find yourself madly rushing around getting everything ready, why not take a quick break, put your feet up, help yourself to a mince pie (or mini chocolate yule log) and relax listening to our Penguin Podcast. 

We're going to start with something for the teenagers and uni students.  Ben Masters, author of Noughties and Joe Thomas, star from The Inbetweeners and Fresh Meat, reminisce about their uni days and interview each other on writing the book and recording the audiobook.  We then have an extract from a Charles Dicken’s classic.  No not A Christmas Carol, as fitting as that would be on Christmas Eve, but another of his fantastic Christmas reads The Chimes, read by Geoffrey Palmer.  Following this, the legendary Dick Francis’s son Felix joins us to talk about his book Bloodline and how he’s following in his father’s writing footsteps.  We then have a Christmassy cocktail recipe from Margot Henderson’s You’re All Invited, read by her editor Juliet Annan.  So if you’re having a Christmas party tonight or just fancy a change from mulled wine, we suggest you run out and get the ingredients (see below), because it’s delicious!  Finally, we’re going to play a wonderful extract from a much loved Children’s Christmas book.  This year The Snowman has been brought back to life in The Snowman and the Snowdog, so what could be better than listening to Raymond Briggs’ classic, heartwarming tale ready by Andrew Sachs.

One more thing, there's a price promotion over the Christmas period on Penguin's bestselling eBooks.  So listen out for it at the end of the podcast.

Finally Penguin would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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Ingredients in Margot Henderson's Gin/Vodka martini from You're All Invited:

a bag of ice

3 shots of icy cold Tanqueray gin or Russian Standard vodka

1/2 a shot of Noilly Prat or other dry vermouth

lemons

olives in brine

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We have a bumper festive podcast lined up for you.  So big, that we’ve split it into two parts.  We have something for everyone in the family – the wee toddler to the moody teenager; the frantic parents to the snoozing grandparents and not forgetting the other relatives knocking back the brandy!  So gather everyone round and listen to what we have in store.

First up, something for the children with an extract from The Third Wheel, the latest book in the hugely popular series Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney.  Next, Amanda Brookfield, author of The Love Child, empathises with all the parents rushing around doing last minute shopping for presents and the Christmas lunch in one of her short stories, titled Beating the Winter Blues.  Following this, we have an informative piece for the historians in the family on Shakespeare’s London, by Neil MacGregor, author of Shakespeare’s Restless World.  We then move on to an interview with 2012’s busiest woman Clare Balding, talking about her autobiography My Animals and Other Family.  Finally we have a hilarious clip for everyone from Dawn French’s latest novel Oh Dear Silvia.

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Our aim in this episode is to make you feel good, be it by improving your life or helping you to improve the lives of others. And as a result we have quite a diverse program for you!

You’ll learn why a book of restaurants, none of which A.A. Gill would want to eat in, is actually a good thing, in our coffee table favourite Pu Pu Hot Pot. You’ll also discover more about The Yellow World and the bravery of author Albert Espinosa, in an extract from his speech to the Teenage Cancer Trust. (We apologise for the background laughter, he really is very funny!) We’ve got an audiobook extract of Clare Balding’s heart warming memoir, My Animals and Other Family, as well as relationship advice from Meredith Goldstein, who writes a daily love advice column and is the author of The Wedding Guests. We know that there’s nothing like food to cheer the soul, so we’ll be having a chat with Catherine Hill of The Weekend Cookbook, who tells us how to prepare our cupboard for easy and delicious meals and guides us through her recipe for parma ham and mozzarella melts – yum! To finish us off, we have an interview with Ravina Bajwa, our Audiobooks Managing Editor , who'll be telling us all about the Turning 18 project, a series of audio stories written and read by refugees and published by Penguin to mark 18 years of The Refugee Council’s Children’s Section.

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