Chapter 1: What books have been adapted into exceptional films?
Hello, everybody. Welcome to the bookshelf. We are live in Dublin, Ireland. Great to have you with us. This is our third. We could be completing the trilogy. We may not ever do this again. But, you know, we're kicking it along the road and we're just very heartened by the response, which has been enormous. A lot of you, I passed by, when I parked my Noddy, it's a little red Ford Fiesta.
True story. And you know, when you go into the app and it says park, and what is your car? And it's got park Noddy. So anyway, when I parked Noddy up the road, I walked past and I saw at least three different people in their cars having their lunch on their own. And I thought, that'd be quite an interesting beginning for a book, wouldn't it?
Why are they in the car on their own having their lunch? Are they being hassled at work? Are they just really busy? Are they lonely?
Don't put the camera on himself there for a minute. Eating his lunch? On purpose or? By accident. By accident. All right, Tom, do you want to swap? No.
No.
That's so funny. Tom, you'd think that was Tom in the studio. Actually, that was a shot of Tom in his car on his own having his lunch because he gets such bad treatment. Anyway, we are here and we are a great cameo performer. Not since Alfred Hitchcock has anyone cameoed so beautifully. Since we last spoke... Well, I was in London for 24 hours. We will talk about that just because it's London.
What else? I want to tell you about the book I finished last weekend, which I loved. I bumped into Neil Jordan, the film director, and we got talking about books. So I want to tell you about that because he was so interesting. I was in London to talk to A.A. Dand, author of The Chemist, which we had a book club, an office book club over there.
uh in london and that was that was really i was that was really interesting a fascinating guy talk about that um got home last night and watched the end of slow horses five i know it's been around for 100 years but i didn't get to see the last episode what a finish what a show i'll talk about meeting gary allman as well because that was quite nice not a name dropping today but why not um watch good fellows good fellows if that's the english version
I say, funny how? In what way do you find me amusing? Is it because I'm a circus act? No, but it's actually referring to Goodfellas.
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Chapter 2: How does 'The Director' by Daniel Kehlmann explore historical fiction?
Goodfellas. I would really love to watch that. Goodfellas. May watch Casino as a direct result of watching Goodfellas. Casino is the great underestimated gangster film of its time, I say. I got into Hatchard's, Hatchard's Bookshop in London, so I want to talk a bit about that. Also, I'm going to talk at length about The Beckhams. No, I'm joking.
Now, even though that's what everyone wants to talk about, did you see, was your algorithm not just stuff of people pretending to, people's reaction to watching Brooklyn? Is that his name? Beckham. What's the kid's name? Brooklyn. No, because we're going to talk about Brooklyn, the book, but that's another story. We have a lot of, we've got a huge reaction. I put up a...
an Insta post about books that have transitioned into movies perfectly. Now we're not trashing movies because we know that so many, most movies you've ever seen were books originally, right? From It's a Wonderful Life to Remains of the Day and so on. So what we'll do is we'll have a look at some of your suggestions that you loved. I put up three that I plucked from my shelf this morning.
And Trump has gone completely mad, in case you didn't know. And so I've got quite an interesting suggestion for you to read. Remember last week I talked about 1984? Well, I'm going somewhere else this week. So we have lots of places to go. If you want to get involved, send a message and say hello. We got a big response to last week's, which was short books. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.
What else did I suggest? All Quiet on the Western Front. What a great book and film. And Stazzyland, which is also excellent by Anna Fonder. Paul Byram, who, by the way, if you don't know Paul Byram, Go to Spotify and listen to his music.
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Chapter 3: What are the differences between the book and film adaptations of 'Atonement'?
He's just such a great talent. Went to see him at Christmas doing songs and it was a joy. Cheers for these, he says. I always end up going to bookshops never knowing what to get. Loving the podcast for this reason coupled with the conversations. Thank you, Paul. Mary Carol says, I read The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. I've seen the movie too.
It's a profound read that stays with you and makes you realize how much we take for granted the small actions in our everyday life. Exactly that. Maeve says, I did a review of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly with you in Galway many moons ago, Ryan. You did. We did. It's still very special. Thank you. Lovely to hear from you, Maeve.
Sinead, Staziland's outstanding and I'm fond of narrating it so well. Piers Norton says, says, thanks for reminding me of All Quiet on the Western Front. I loved it.
Chapter 4: How does 'Trainspotting' reflect Scottish culture in its adaptation?
I'm going to buy it again for my son. Do that. Morpheus says, it's amazing that you channel your energy into this man. Something machines can never replace is the enthusiasm of another human being suggesting a book. Which is why... I love bookshops and nearly everyone who works in bookshops, some can be real, but most of them are brilliant.
No, but you know the way, there's always, we'll ask Tony, Tony comes in, yes, Tony, where are you from? 1876. I'm talking about London mostly, but in a nice way. Karen says, thank you for taking the time to share your recommendation. Not usually a big reader, that's fine. 2026 is the year I plan to step away from my phone forever. and enjoy reading more. I appreciate your suggestions. It's great.
Oh, my book suggestion for this week is so good. I can't wait to share it with you. Circa says, this new book club is great. This is the lunchtime special that we do. It's like speeding down a highway, grabbing books, films, a new series, and now baking. Let's face it, most people only cook about two recipes from cookbooks because you can never find the ingredients.
My daughter has a home economics book and you can always find the ingredients in the house. bingo Samantha says Ryan listening to your pod love it regarding home economic cookbook have you seen the Gerry Adams cookbook yes I have it's very home eccy after years of picking up and dropping books I did the 50 page rule also and now I've set a reading task of one book a week this year I will say
Don't put yourself under pressure when it comes to reading because then it stops being enjoyable. Steady as she goes. If you don't reach your one week and you go, oh, I didn't do it. It's okay. It's like Strava. It's very competitive. You're comparing.
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Chapter 5: What makes 'The Remains of the Day' a standout adaptation?
Just read. Just enjoy it. It's a book. So good luck, though. It's great. It's great that you're doing that. Another says, thanks for the recommendations. Need to get inspiration to read. I love the sound of the first one. The diving bell and the butterfly.
haven't read properly in a long time recently read Poor by Katrina Sullivan who was a guest in our bookshelf who I'm meeting tomorrow for coffee how about that she wrote Poor and I haven't seen has anyone seen the play the dramatic drama version I'd love to see it anyway well done to Katrina I'll see her tomorrow anyway I'm delighted that that worked out well another when I get readers block I go short short stories Oscar Wilde Chekhov Clara Keegan all the light stuff
I love having recommendations. If I was going to short stories, I'd go to Donal Ryan. And then if I wanted to go completely head melt, brilliant, the original Black Mirror, I'd go to Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected. Amazing. Another last one then. Brilliant. Just what I need to up my resolution of reading more and doom scrolling less. The doom scrolling is a curse, isn't it?
Okay, lots coming in already. Welcome, everybody. Great to have you with us. And I'll just say one because she's in Sydney, Australia, which is crazy. And that is Cathy. Cathy, welcome. So wherever you are in the world, and if you happen to be tuning in, I hope you're enjoying it. Broomfield Bound says, lunch and book chats. This is bliss. Well, you and me both.
So the book, I was trying to get it before Christmas and I couldn't because it seemed to be sold out all over the place.
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Chapter 6: Which adaptations have surpassed their original texts?
Then eventually I got it and it was kind of, hadn't even been put on the shelf yet. I asked for it and they said it's behind. I do this thing in the bookshop. I try and find the book without asking the person. I don't know why. I love the joy of, I'm like a pig with a truffle. I'm trying to find the book before I have to hassle the assistant. But anyway, I had to hassle the assistant.
Maybe it was in the wrong place. Yeah, I was looking in the wrong place. Anyway, they said, we have it. It's called The Director. The Director by Daniel Kelman. That's K-E-H-L-M-A-N. German, it's translated. So you're going, okay. Cover of it's really interesting. It's orange and it's this kind of cartoon...
profile of a face with with little glasses and what it is is how do i describe this properly it is set in the 1930s he's a famous hollywood director who actually existed so it's historical fiction his name is pabst p-a-b-s-t if uh and he's making his movies and then uh he's doing only okay he goes has to go home to to uh austria ostland that has become because the nazis have taken over
And the next thing you know, he's kind of looking after his mother or whatever. He gets somebody from the ministry comes along and says, now you'll be making films for us. And he says, I don't think so. That's not really my thing. I'm known as Paps the Red. I'm essentially a communist over in the United States. And they said, no, you'll be making films for us.
And if you don't, you can go to the camp. Now, which one would you like to do? He said, when do I start? This sort of thing. And he starts making these films. And it's about his kind of descent into collaboration, almost against his will. And he's got a wife who sees what's happening and a son who may or may not join the Nazi youth. So on it goes. It's so beautifully written.
So it's like it's quality reading, but it's also a great punchy story. That's what I love. The combination of those two is great. So that's it. Book of the Week.
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Chapter 7: What are the challenges in adapting literary works to film?
The director, Daniel Kelman. Read it fast. That's why I mentioned I bumped into Neil Jordan, the great Oscar-winning director. He won it for a screenplay for The Crying Game. I think that was his Oscar, but he's a great director. And he was saying that he had read the director, loved it, and actually offer me contact details for the writers. I don't want to get in touch with them another time.
But in the middle of it all, he has a new book out, which I'm extremely excited about, Neil, which is the science fiction. So I'll come back to you on that, but I believe it's great. Diane McGonigal says, Ryan, delighted to be off work for one of these. Looking forward to the book recommendations. And you're in Donegal and a long time fan. Thank you.
I am so happy the lads included that when they put it in. My ego is... Aoife says, I'm standing here baking, listening to you talk about books. It's a good day. What are you baking? That's kind of nice. James says, Ryan, challenge for you. Name some great books that are based on TV or movies or other source material. Name some great books that are based on TV movies.
Does that mean that the TV movies came first and then they... Okay, I can't think of any to hand. I'll come back to you on that in a second. The play adaptation of Poor is incredible. Oh, that's great to hear. Good. Jessica's in India. What part of India? How's it going? And finally, from here, Steffi says, what did you think of the Shackleton Museum? I'm from a thigh. Thanks for visiting.
So they've opened up a Shackleton museum that's not called a museum. It's called the Shackleton Experience. If you're interested in the world of Ernest Shackleton, you will love this museum. It's in Athion County, Kildare. They've done a magnificent job on it. He's an intriguing character. Of course, he was born in Kildare, just nearby Kilkee, I think it is.
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Chapter 8: How can listeners engage with future episodes of The Bookshelf Live?
And he lived there until he was about six and went to Dublin and then went to London. And then he became an explorer. He nearly ran for... He ran for office and didn't get elected in the UK. And then he invented a cigarette, a type of cigarette. He was a bit of a hustler, to be honest, but he was always interested in exploration and so on.
So they've done this amazing... They've found the cabin that he died in, actually, in his last expedition is there, the actual cabin. And it was...
renovated by a bunch of people in Letterfrack in Connemara in the west of Ireland so it's all connecting very nicely there they have a beautiful statue of him outside and there's a little cinema that shows footage of Shackleton you can watch a TV series on it starring Kenneth Branagh if you want but that museum experience I loved it and comes with a huge recommendation
Meanwhile, Joan is in Lanzarote enjoying the show. Good on you. In the sunshine. I miss that. I was in London yesterday. I stayed in Soho for the first time, actually. I had a very nice evening in Soho with some pals. And the next day I went for a nice little breakfast near Soho Square and made my way into a meeting at 12 in the news building there.
just on London Bridge, and then into the book club, which is the office book club. About 100 people and me on stage with an author. So we've had some great authors there for that. And yesterday it was A.A. Dan, that's D-H-A-N-D, who's the author of The Chemist. I might have mentioned it before, but he was really interesting.
His parents owned a corner shop, had been subjected to quite a bit of racial discrimination and unpleasantness. But his dad one day turned around and said to the young lads, And he brought a can of beer out and he said, the story goes along the lines of, right, lads, now you're roughing me up and you're acting a maggot and you're giving me hell. So I have a can of beer here.
We either drink this together or I'll take yous all on. And they got so freaked out by that because, you know, a bully taken on, you know, is a bully quite easily defeated in the end of the day. So they said, all right, what? We share the beer? Yeah, we share the beer. And they became not friends, but it's just style. So he went on then to one, he wanted to better himself.
He wanted to work in, but he wanted to work at a counter as well. So he became a chemist. And as a chemist in a pretty rough part of town in Leeds and Bradford, he saw potential in storylines. He said, there's a fine line between medication and poison. But you can weaponize what you have in the chemist if you want to get rid of the bad guys. And that's a great, it's a great book.
call the chemist I think you'll really enjoy it and he was brilliant now one of the things we're saying now Jimmy's Barbershop looking great Ryan greetings from West Clare lovely appreciate that our old friend Mark from Scarbetus good man Mark went to see the Bone Temple yesterday I love the 28 Days Years Later series it was fab particularly the Iron Maiden scene I haven't seen it I'm nearly I'm nearly have you seen it oh yeah
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