Talking Non-Fiction, with Tom Rowley of Backstory • Episode #160

Exploring literary worlds beyond fiction: a dive into non-fiction

 

Join Kate, as she ventures to South London to visit Backstory, a unique indie bookstore founded by former journalist Tom Rowley. Rowley shares his journey from journalism to opening a bookshop, the challenges and joys of running a bookstore, the importance of community engagement, and launching the second issue of the Backstory Magazine. 

 

We then turn our attention to non-fiction, pulling out some favourites, both backlist and new releases. As Tom says, 'I just read. I want good stories, I don't care whether they're true or not'

 

00:40 A visit to south London's indie bookshop Backstory, and why Kate's name is on the wall

 

01:53 From journalism to bookshop owner: Tom's lockdown dream comes true

 

04:25 Embracing the community: the transition from market stall to bookshop

 

09:26 Launching Backstory Magazine: a new chapter in storytelling

 

14:54 Exploring non-fiction: feel the fear and read it anyway

 

17:49 Just what is deep backlist? Tom's first recommendation is My War Gone By, I Miss it So by Anthony Lloyd (September Publishing)

 

20:18 Kate recommends Fall: The Mystery of Robert Maxwell by John Preston (Penguin)

 

22:46 Tom's next pick: Maurice and Marilyn: A Whale, A Shipwreck, A Love Story by Sophie Elmhurst (Penguin)

 

25:52 Kate pulls out The Wager by David Grann (Simon & Schuster) (and we also talk about Devil in the White City by Erik Larson [Penguin])

 

29:08 Tom recommends The Trading Game by Gary Stevenson (Penguin)

 

31:15 Great minds think alike: Kate and Tom both recommend The Moth and the Mountain by Ed Caesar (Penguin), author and now DJ!

 

35:32 An aside from Kate about The Possessed by Elif Batuman (Granta)

 

37:17 Towards the end of the episode we reach 'peak Tom', with Little Englanders by Alwyn Turner (Profile)

 

41:17 Book club reads: Red Memory by Tania Branigan (Faber) and Close to Home by Michael Magee (Penguin)

 

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