Open Book Unbound

We discuss the story 'Straight First Time: Sewing Lessons" by Jay Whittaker and the poem 'Instruction' by Hazel Hall. Photo by pina messina on Unsplash

This month, Claire and Marjorie discuss Open Book's latest theme, Our Earth. Reading Katharine Macfarlane's short piece 'Tethered to the Earth' and a poem by A J Stockwell, they explore resilience, learning to learn, generational change, understanding, and bravery as we picture the Earth's – and our – survival.

This month, Claire and Marjorie delve into Open Book's latest theme of Inheritance. Reading Helen Lyttle's 'Arthur's Gift' and A E Housman's 'Soldier from the wars returning', they look back at writings inspired by the hard realities of global conflict that can help us imagine a more hopeful future. -- Open Book Unbound Episode 68 – Inheritance Hosts: Claire Urquhart and Marjorie Lotfi Producer: C...

Join Claire and Marjorie as they welcome summer with a joyful celebration of George Mackay Brown's life and works. This month, they read Ros Taylor's 'My Uncle George', as well as 'Pilgrimage' by Lynn Valentine and 'Caithness' by John Glenday, originally published in 'Beyond the Swelkie': a collection of poetry and prose created to celebrate the centenary of George Mackay Brown. -- Open Book Unbou...

Claire and Marjorie are back with another delicious episode of Open Book Unbound. This month, they take a bite out of Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin's short story, 'All Fruits are Rebels at Heart' and Edna St Vincent Millay's poem 'Never May the Fruit be Picked' as they delve into the theme of Defiance. -- Open Book Unbound Episode 66 - Defiance Hosts: Claire Urquhart and Marjorie Lotfi Producer: Colin Frase...

We're excited to host a world premiere of new writing in this month's Open Book Unbound. Claire and Marjorie read an excerpt from Alycia Pirmohamed's 'Trigger Notebook: Fragments of Poetry Along the Coastline of My Memory' and the stunning poem 'Portobello in Spring' written in response by Roshni Gallagher, exclusively for our podcast. -- Open Book Unbound Episode 65 – Fragments Hosts: Claire Urqu...

Spring has arrived, bringing chattering birds back to our gardens. Inspired by Scottish Book Trust's 2024 Book Week Scotland theme of 'Hope', Claire and Marjorie read Britta Benson's short story 'My first Emily' and Emily Dickinson's poem 'A bird came down the walk'. -- Open Book Unbound Episode 64 – Hope Hosts: Claire Urquhart and Marjorie Lotfi Producer: Colin Fraser Short Story: 'My first Emily...

Step into the wild with Open Book Unbound. Reading 'Roots' by Sarah Whiteside and 'Camping at Bearna' by Jane Clarke, Claire and Marjorie explore themes of overwhelm, escape, parenthood and returning home. -- Open Book Unbound Episode 53 – The Wild Hosts: Claire Urquhart and Marjorie Lotfi Producer: Colin Fraser Short Story: 'Roots' by Sarah Whiteside Poem: 'Camping at Bearna' by Jane Clarke Find...

This month, we're taking a moment to relax and explore the Night Sky. Reading 'Lying Down to Look Up' by Anna Levin and 'I saw no Way–The Heavens were stitched' by Emily Dickinson, Claire and Marjorie think about fond childhood memories of stargazing, the overwhelming vastness of space, and consider the world around us as an evolving mystery to be shared with family and friends. -- Open Book Unbou...

Welcome back to Open Book! Claire and Marjorie kick off 2024's podcasts by exploring Open Book's latest theme, Machines. Reading Ruth Gilchrist's short story 'Engine Oil' and Walt Whitman's poem 'To a Locomotive in WInter', they discuss the importance of holding silence, career paths, and the mechanical orchestra of trains. -- Open Book Unbound Episode 61 – Machines Hosts: Claire Urquhart and Marj...

Happy New Year from Open Book! Celebrate the start of a new year with this special bonus episode as Claire and Marjorie discuss the peaceful and the powerful nature of the sea. Sit back and relax as we discuss LG Thomson's short story 'True Tales from the Sea by a Fisherman's Wife' and Niall Campbell's poem 'When the Whales Beached'. -- Open Book Unbound Episode 60 – Sea Hosts: Claire Urquhart and...

Claire and Marjorie usher in December with warm, poignant readings of Adrija Ghosh's short story 'Satsuma' and Tim Tim Cheng's poem 'Sonnet with Skylines'. Inspired by Open Book's latest theme, Postcards, join Claire and Marjorie in this final episode of 2023 as they discuss relationships, distance, loss, the sense of home, and the act of reaching out to loved ones. -- Open Book Unbound Episode 59...

Inspired by Glasgow Women's Library's 30th anniversary celebrations and their Open the Door Literary Festival, Open Book's latest theme is Protest. Reading Jackie Kay's powerful 'A Life in Protest', written in response to Ingrid Pollard's work and 2021 exhibition 'No Cover Up', and Eloise Greenfield's thought-provoking 'Jinny's Freedom', Claire and Marjorie question how far we've come, how far we'...

This month, Claire and Marjorie dive into Open Book's latest theme, Lost and Found. Reading Lynn Gee's short story 'Tortoise' and John Burnside's poem 'On the Vanishing of my Sister, aged 3, 1965', they discuss the highs and lows of pet ownership, Edinburgh's secret gardens, changes that come with loss and discovery, and taking on the role of observer. -- Open Book Unbound Episode 57 – 4 September...

What is nostalgia, and what happens when our memories aren't accompanied by the rose-tinted memories typically associated with the feeling? As Open Book welcomes the new theme of nostalgia for this month's sessions, Claire and Marjorie read short story 'Reverie' by Kimberley White and 'Nigh No Place' by Jen Hadfield. Open Book will be at Edinburgh International Book Festival at various dates throu...

This month, Claire and Marjorie examine the letters of Henrietta Liston, a British botanist, world traveller and wife of diplomat Robert Liston. Liston documented her travels with meticulous detail in her journals, letters and personal documents which form part of the Liston archive held at the National Library of Scotland (NLS). Thanks to the NLS, Marjorie has spent time delving into the archive,...

We discuss 'The Race' by Tom Murray and the poem 'Us' by Zaffar Kunial.

We discuss 'The Allotment' by Morgan Melhuish and 'Catalogue of my grandmother’s sayings' by Claire Askew

We read ‘Blue’ by Liz Holliday and 'Song of the Mainland’ by Miriam Nash.

We read the story 'Practising' by Priscilla Thomas and the poem 'I Wanted Music' by Sarah Ruhl

We discuss the story 'Dinnerplate Identities' by Britta Benson and the poem 'A Tray of Frozen Songbirds' by Pascale Petit.

We discuss the story 'Shipbuilding' by LG Thomson and the poem 'Not Unequal to Many' by Jay Gao.

We discuss the story 'Sunday Surprise' by Sarah Tinsley and the poem 'Twenty-two' by Theresa Muñoz.

We read the story 'Waiting' by Alexa Kellow and the poem 'a pint for the true shepherds' by Helen Mort

We feature Victoria Kennefick's poem 'A Young Girl Discovers Her Reflection' and the short story 'Carnival Night' by Rebecca Savage.