Lit with Charles

• Michael Amherst, author of the "The Boyhood of Cain"

  Childhood, and specifically adolescence, is a period of life that can be pretty tough and at times traumatic. It’s very fertile ground for literature but it’s not easy to get right.  In this episode, I'm joined by Michael Amherst, the author of the upcoming novel The Boyhood of Cain which deals with the period of adolescence, and themes of moral & sexual turmoil. The book feels timeless, with an eeriness that mirrors the protagonist’s growing confusion about himself and the world around him.  Michael and I sat down for our chat in-person today, in a recording studio in West London. It was a pleasure to speak with him, and The Boyhood of Cain is a great read, which I can’t recommend strongly enough. It's not out yet, but it’s slated to hit the shelves on February 13th. So, keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming release or pre-order it through any self-respecting bookstore. Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading! Michael Amherst’s four books were: Peter Shaffer, Equus (1973) John Steinbeck, East of Eden (1952) Damon Galgut, In a Strange Room (2010) John Cheever, Collected Stories (but particularly ‘Goodbye, My Brother’) (1978)

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• Rachel Cockerell, author of "Melting Point"

  In today’s episode I have the pleasure of speaking with Rachel Cockerell, a London-based author, whose first foray into writing began as a family memoir, and evolved into a remarkable and innovative work of historical non-fiction called Melting Point. Melting Point is a great 2024 release from Headline, and will be coming out in Spring of 2025 in the States. The book was longlisted for the 2024 Baillie Gifford Prize, and explores the origins of the Zionist movement, and one of its particular, little-known chapters – the Galveston Plan.  Most interestingly, perhaps, is the structure – it’s a polyphonic blend of primary sources and texts, which she splices to build a story arc. The book is an absolutely fascinating read that touches on identity, belonging, and the search for a place to call home. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and would strongly recommend it. Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading! Rachel Cockerell’s four books were: Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert (2015) Lincoln in the Bardo, George Saunders (2017) The Old Ways, Robert Macfarlane (2012) Golden Hill, Francis Spufford (2016)

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• The Best Books I've Read This Year

  Well, we’ve made it to the end of 2024. I love putting together this list each December because it forces me to look back on a year of reading, try to create some order out of the chaos, and figure out what it is about the stories that I came across that I did and didn’t appreciate. Some books were clear losers. But some took me on crazy journeys, which I knew from the first few pages would stay with me long after the story was finished. I don’t want to spoil my picks here, so I’m not going to say what they are – you’ll have to listen to the episode for that! However, I can say that in the mix are a crime novel turned Hollywood classic, a powerful piece on colonialism, and an emotional contemporary book about addiction and artistry. So without further ado, here are my top five books for 2024 – and I look forward to seeing you all in 2025! Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading!

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• Lionel Barber, author of "The Gambling Man"

  There’s something about the idea of a ‘genius’ that has always captivated us. Whether it’s the artist painting their masterpiece or the entrepreneur betting on the future, we’re captivated by people who seem to see the world differently – and stake everything on that vision. While Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos might be household names, there’s one figure who I’d argue is even more fascinating: the maverick billionaire investor and founder of SoftBank, Masayoshi Son. Equal parts visionary and gambler, Masa as he’s more commonly known has built an empire on being an early investor in companies like Alibaba, Yahoo and Uber. My guest today is Lionel Barber. Lionel is an acclaimed journalist and author, best known for his 15-year tenure as Editor-in-Chief at the Financial Times. A veteran reporter, over the course of his career he has conducted interviews with a real ‘who’s who’ of the international stage, including Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel, Barack Obama, Donald Trump. His recent book, Gambling Man: The Wild Ride of Japan’s Masayoshi Son, takes readers on a journey through the life and business ventures of one of the tech world’s most thrilling figures. The book is a great read, and I strongly recommend it for anyone who’s interested in business, tech, or international affairs. It was such a pleasure to have the opportunity to sit down with Lionel and pick his brains, and I’m very pleased to be able to share our conversation with you. Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading! Lionel Barber’s four books were: Doctor Faustus, Thomas Mann (1947) The Maltese Falcon, Dashiell Hammett (1930) Present At The Creation, Dean Acheson (1969) Pachinko, Min Jin Lee (2017)

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  42:12
• Susanna Crossman, author of "Home is Where We Start"

  The memoir is a fascinating form to explore. I’m always intrigued as to how an author can adapt their life and fit it into the confines of a page. How does one capture all its complexities, contradictions, and fleeting moments, in a narrative that feels both honest and coherent? My guest today is Susanna Crossman, a British-French writer, essayist, and clinical arts therapist, who has just published Home is Where We Start with Penguin Random House. The book is her own account of growing up in ‘the fallout of the Utopian Dream’ – in a politically revolutionary Community in the late 1970s. In the fascinating work, she blends memoir and social commentary, weaving philosophical ideas into the wider narrative of her own experiences with community and disillusionment. It was great talking with Susanna today, and I’m so pleased to be able to share her insightful, nuanced thoughts about literature in general. Susanna has recently started a Substack, which you can check out here. Susanna Crossman’s four books were: On The Banks of Plum Creek, Laura Ingalls Wilder (1937) The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Milan Kundera (1984) Memoirs of Hadrian, Marguerite Yourcenar (1951) What is Ancient Philosophy?, Pierre Hadot (1995) Lit with Charles loves reviews. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review of your own, and follow me on Instagram at @litwithcharles. Let’s get more people listening – and reading!

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