{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/b644b510-9fe8-45c8-8fff-a33612adac66/67d2919efa7cec3676eb7e23?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Ben Okri and Colum McCann","description":"<p>Sir Ben Okri and Colum McCann join Joe Haddow for a war of the words... </p><p><br></p><p>This is Ben's second appearance on Book Off! (The first author to ever appear on the pod twice)</p><p>Let's see if he's learnt anything from the last time!</p><p><br></p><p>He chats about his woozy new novella - \"Madame Sosostris And The Festival For The Broken-Hearted' - and the poem that inspired it. We also learn he has read 'War &amp; Peace' FOUR times! And so we get a full Ben Okri style review... </p><p><br></p><p>Colum's new novel - 'Twist' - is a darkly epic tale of connection, disconnection and destruction. He chats about his research on ships in South Africa and his fascination with what's under the sea - deep down.</p><p><br></p><p>The writers also discuss the importance of artists and books in this turbulent time, and recommend us some brilliant novels too. </p><p><br></p><p>THE BOOK OFF</p><p>\"Le Grand Meaulnes\" by Alain Fournier </p><p>VS</p><p>\"When The Bulbul Stopped Singing\" by Raja Shehadeh </p>","author_name":"Book Off!"}