Marie-Louise Patton

I died for 40 minutes - here's what it taught me about life After a cardiac arrest Patrick Charnley was clinically dead. He came back to life a changed man.

THIS, MY SECOND LIFE on BBC News

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

‘I was dead for 40 minutes’: How my brain injury made me a writer Patrick Charnley, the son of the author Helen Dunmore, discusses his debut novel and how a life-changing medical emergency helped him to find his voice

In today's Times online and in print this weekend read an interview with Patrick Charnley about his debut novel, This, My Second Life.

www.thetimes.com/culture/book...

This, My Second Life by Patrick Charnley review – an astonishing debut of recovery Drawing on his own near-death experience, the author finds a powerful intensity in this tale of a young man’s convalescence in a Cornish village

Today, the most gorgeous review in The Guardian that has perfectly captured This, My Second Life:

'The prose is spare and beautiful, the narrative simple but sound – it is as finely wrought as poetry.'

www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...

Ready to Talk with Emma Barnett - I Was Dead for 40 Minutes with Patrick Charnley - BBC Sounds After a cardiac arrest, Patrick Charnley was clinically dead. He came back a changed man.

Patrick is a guest on Emma Barnett's podcast Ready to Talk and discusses how his life changed after experiencing a brain injury. A moving, and inspiring conversation. Patrick's debut novel, which came from his exepriences, This, My Second Life is out 8 January.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

When a heart attack left me in a coma, my hallucinations inspired a novel – and a new life After his heart stopped beating for 40 minutes, the former lawyer experienced weeks of hallucinations. The visions he experienced during his recovery set him on the path to a new career

Patrick Charnley wrote about his experience of cardiac arrest, coma, open heart surgery and how this inspired him to write his first novel, This, My Second Life, out on Thursday. The book is so beautiful, and ideal to read at this time of year.

www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...

BBC Radio 4 - Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane, Episode 1: Anima Robert Macfarlane explores an idea that changes the world – that a river is alive.

Hello—Is A River Alive? has been adapted as Radio 4’s Book of the Week next week.
Five episodes, read by me—& we’ve folded in field recordings & some beautiful Max Richter music.
First episode, Anima, broadcasts tomorrow at 11.45am.
You can listen here:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

BBC Radio 4 - Start the Week, Advocating for nature Tom Sutcliffe with Robert Macfarlane, Monica Feria-Tinta and Patrick Galbraith.

Advocating for Nature: Robert Macfarlane is a guest on BBC Radio 4's Start the Week discussing his new book IS A RIVER ALIVE? (out Thursday!)

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Is this river alive? Robert Macfarlane on the lives, deaths and rights of our rivers As pollution levels hit record highs and fresh water becomes ‘the new oil’, is it time to radically reimagine our relationship to the natural world?

It's publication week for Robert Macfarlane's IS A RIVER ALIVE? and the press has started to run - first off, this mega serial in @theguardian.com

IS A RIVER ALIVE? is out on Thursday! 🌊🌳

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...

Woman's Hour - Disability and domestic abuse, Maternity care failings, Authors Labour MP Yuan Yang and Sanam Mahloudji, Gossiping - BBC Sounds Clare speaks to two of the women long-listed for the Women's Prize.

Tune into this morning's Woman's Hour to listen to author of You Didn't Hear This From Me: Notes on the Art of Gossip, Kelsey McKinney talk about the culutal implications of gossip and where this ancient art origiated. Such an interesting convo, book out now!
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Hello—in May I will be talking about & reading from Is A River Alive?
Dates & places below.
I actually can’t wait.
Please come along!
Summer & autumn dates to follow, including Scotland in August.

This novel about a disabled porn writer is one of the boldest I’ve read in years Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa was a literary sensation in her native Japan. Now translated into English, it tells the riveting story of a woman with a secret life

. @thetimes.com sums up #Hunchback perfectly: 'A disabled virgin with a secret life as a porn writer has to decide whether to give up her inheritance for sex...A brilliant, riveting book.'
Read the full review here:
@vikingbooksuk.bsky.social

www.thetimes.com/culture/book...

Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa review – favours for furikake The narrator muses on everything from pornography to David Lynch, in this gloriously transgressive debut from Japan

'Gloriously transgressive...Ichikawa uses the vantage point of her disability for a particular insight into human nature.'
@guardianbooks.bsky.social on Saou Ichikawa's International Booker Prize longlisted Hunchback.
@thebookerprizes.bsky.social
🌸Out now! 🌸

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...

I am thrilled to see HUNCHBACK on the International Booker Longlist! It's been a real highlight of the year working on this incredibly special and important novel. Congratulations to Saou Ichikawa and her translator Polly Barton! @vikingbooksuk.bsky.social 💻💖🌸

Save The Prince Charles Cinema The iconic Prince Charles Cinema in London’s West End future is under serious threat! We are beyond disappointed that our landlords Zedwell LSQ Ltd and their ultimate parent company Criterion Capital...

#SaveThePCC

Some of you may have read about the situation regarding our new landlord wishing to add a new redevelopment break clause, with only 6 months notice to our lease.

For now, we're simply asking you all to share & sign the petition below;

you.38degrees.org.uk/p/princechar...

The best new novelists for 2025 Welcome to our annual selection of the year’s finest debut novels. We have a proven track record in picking authors that go on to be loved by readers and win awards … from Douglas Stuart and Sally Roo...

Catherine Airey is an Observer Top Ten Debut Novelist for 2025!

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...

Secrets, lies and the ‘falling man’ of 9/11 — an epic debut novel Confessions, Catherine Airey’s impressive first novel, ranges from rural Donegal to New York over three generations of an Irish family

The news that a debut novel had a six-way auction gives me mixed feelings, so how does Catherine Airey's Confessions stand up?

A novel of dropping acid as the Twin Towers fall, of randy professors, of the olden days when computer games came on cassette tapes, and of impression ambition. My verdict👇

Confessions — girls, women, mothers Catherine Airey’s dynamic, generation-spanning and much-hyped debut is messy, bold and beautiful

A rave in the @financialtimes.com: 'Confessions is a messy, bold, beautiful book, and already builds anticipation for Airey’s next move.'
@vikingbooksuk.bsky.social

www.ft.com/content/5cc3...

Mothers and Sons by Adam Haslett review – a moving treatise of family dynamics The third book from the twice Pulitzer prize-nominated American author is a complex portrait of parallel lives on a par with the great Russian novels

'There is nothing obvious or easy in the way that Mothers and Sons comes together in its quiet and moving finale. This is a story that feels as deep and real as life itself – a beautiful portrait of a mother and son.'

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...

👼🏻 January in Lisbon 👼🏻

4pm, BBC Radio4, I'm talking to @jonathancoe.bsky.social about his new novel THE PROOF OF MY INNOCENCE alongside @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com exploring cosy crime, dark academia and 3 influences, including the 'requiem for the detective novel' that is THE PLEDGE 📚🎧📻 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Mothers and Sons by Adam Haslett — the ties that bind us The ‘Union Atlantic’ and ‘Imagine Me Gone’ author explores identity and familial bonds in his eagerly awaited new novel

‘Subtle, symphonic and satisfying’ @john-self.bsky.social on Adam Haslett’s Mothers & Sons publishing next month. www.ft.com/content/b802...

Best Books of 2025: 11 Releases to Add to Your Reading List With new titles by Annie Ernaux, Ocean Vuong, Eimear McBride and Constance Debré, here are the very best new books to add to your reading list this year

Fantastic to see two brilliant books I’m working on included in this list: Confessions by Catherine Airey (23 Jan) and Saou Ichikawa’s Hunchback (March) Thanks AnOther magazine! www.anothermag.com/design-livin...

Have you considered the Bible?

Myself and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell review – hidden gems A collection of articles, talks, letters and unpublished writing fills important gaps in the great naturalist’s life story

Gerald Durrell's Myself & Other Animals is 'Book of the Day' in the @theguardian.com. 'Truly there is magic here.'
@vikingbooksuk.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/books/2024/d....

Is it on your bedside table?

Some #35mm film scans from rural Belgium in September shot on #KodakPortra on a #canonae1.

Hello Sarah! Excited to see your name pop up here! I'm really well thanks, how are you doing? It would be lovely to see you if you're ever in London! Hope all is well at Brookes!

Early Christmas gift coming 5 December to Waterstones Piccadilly. Get your copy of Stanley Tucci's What I Ate in One Year signed by the man himself just in time Christmas! Details below: @penguinbooksuk.bsky.social @waterstones.bsky.social

www.waterstones.com/events/water...

Hotel Les Deux Gares, 5 minute walk from Gard du Nord and designed by Luke Edward Hall. It's beautiful inside and the breakfast is excellent!